The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-17
GOLD BUGS FIL|BUSTER,
Opening Of the Fight in the House
Against Free Silver
Coinage
Yellow Metal Men Propose to Oh.
struct All Legislation to
Defeat Silver.
Democrats Not Agreed ms to whether tho
TariH or Silver Shall Have tho
Right of Way. -.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 16.---The donations OF
western farmers and millers to the stary.
ing millions Of Russia have Mt last served a
purpose in the house. They served as
bludgcon for the gold men to-day to oppose
for five hours steady the march of the lower
house toward free coinage legislation. In
to-day's struggle politics had no place
filibnsterers and opponents being alike
members OF the democratic party. Tracy
(N. ~ led the fight against consideration
of the resolution authorizing the transpor-
tation of food donations to the starving
Russians, but did so simply because he
desired to keep as many measures ae
possible in the way of the Bland
free coinage bill. There are now
Russian relief resolution and several
other measures on the calendar of unfin-
ished business and it is the plan of Tracy
and followers to flibuster against all these
measures in order to prevent tho free coin
age bill ever being reached on the calendar
and passed by the house. The free coin
Bland bill before it can pass to the calen-
dar of unfinished business which would be
within two days after being reached in
OFueF OF consideration.
The speaker pro- tenn, Dockery, stated
that the first unfinished business was Kill
ghre's motion to table the motion to recon-
slider the vote by which the house indefip-
itely postponed the senate joint resolution
authorizing the secretary of the navy to
transport contributions for the relief of the
suffering poor of Russia. Blount (Ga.)
suggested that q resolution upon which
motions were pending was improperly
placed upon the calendar of unfinished
business. On this question there was much
desultory debate and finally Tracy IN. W
came forward in the roll of filibusterer,
with a motion that the house take a recess
for an hour Pending this Owens (O.)
moved adjournment, but it was lost. On
Iracy,s motion no quolum voted, and when
he raised the point tellers were ordered.
On vote by tellers, a quorum appeared after
q weary wait, and then Tracy demanded
the yeas and nays. The motion for recess
was defeated, six to 1856, many opponents Of
the silver bill withheld their vote in hope
Of breaking quorum, Immediately Tracy
was on his feeg with a motion to adjourn,
which was defeated by thirty five to lao. The
question recurred on the motion to table
the motion to reconsider the vote by which
the Russian relief resolution was indetin-
itely postponed. 1t was tabled without
division, thus finally defeating the measure.
Bland, leader of the silver men, said
there was no occasion for tilibusterinp.
The silver question, he said. seemed to give
some of its opponents the hydlophoDia.
Silver men do not intend to present the
petition to the rules committee asking q
special order for the silver bill until Catch
ings returns. Whether or not q special rule
will be given before the tariff is taken up
be could not say. Personally lbs thought it
would be much better to get the silver
question out of the way Inst, but should
not antagonize other democrats if they
want to take up the tariff first. On this
question of whether the tariff or silver
come up first, it is evident the democrats
are greatly divided. No conclusion will be
reached for several DAYS and meanwhile
,he anti-silyer men believe the greater do
ay they can secure tho better. Bartine
Nov.) said to-day he thought about ten
'epublicans III the house would vote for
rec coinage, but did not like to say posi-
lively.