The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-08
Prospects of the silver Bill.

The indications are that the silver bill
will be passed by the House. 1t was sent to
the coinage committee yesterday, and 1t
will soon be reported favorably. Mr.. Bland,
the chairman OF the committee, Is deter
mined TO get it before the House as soon as
possible, and as majority Of the committee
favor free silver coinage he will have no
trouble IN getting favorable report with-
In day or two.
The reasons for thinking the bill will be
passed by the House, Notwithstanding the
efforts Of the anti-silver democrats, and
Notwithstanding the fact that one free silver
coinage bill has been defeated this session,
are that quite a number OF the members.
both democrats and republicans. are afraid
they would not be able to get back to
congress il they voted against 1t. II is
even said that Speaker Crisp has intimated
that be will bring in closure rule, without
being asked to do SO by a m ajority OF the
democratic members, in order to facilitate
the passage of the bill. The bill could not
be passed without such a rule, because the
anti-silver democrats could defeat It by fill
clustering. When the free silver coinage
bill was defeated In the earlier part Of the
session Speaker Crisp said he would not or
der the closure rule unless petitioned TO do
so by majority Of the democratic mem
bers. II his present position is rightly un-
derstood be has changed his mind, and now
proposes to assist in passing the silver bill
even though a majority Of the democrats OF
the House are opposed toit.
The anti-silver republicans Of the House
are anxious that the bill shall be passed.
They will not assist the anti-silver demo-
Gratis In opposing it. They will vote against
it in order to put themselves on record.
They are satisfied that the President will
veto it, and they want him to have the
chance to do so. The republican leaders are
Of the opinion that If be should veto the bill
he would stand much better chance of
carrying New York and Connecticut than
he does now. And they are satisfied that
the veto would not cost him any of the
western states.
There is one feature Of the bill that makes
Mr.. Bland unhappy. 1t is that which pro-
vides for the repeal Of the act Of July IA,
1890. He himself raised the question
whether the repeal Of that act would not
destroy the legal tender quality of the
treasury notes issued under it. Mr.. Culber-
son, chairman Of the judiciary committee.
aud other distinguished lawyers OF that
committee, say it would. Some OF
them go even so far as to say the repeal of
the act would amount to reputation Of
those notes. If there is anything In these
opinions the President would have good
grounds for vetoing the bill without COM
uniting himself either for or against the
free coinage Of silver,
The question relative 10 the effect Of the
repeal of the act of 1890 is a very important
one, and it is not strange that it makes Mr.
Bland uneasy. To amend this bill and send
it back to the Senate would be virtually
burying it for this session, because it could
not be passed again in that body before ad-
journment. 1t is far from certain, there
fore, that the bill will get to the President
and IL it does he may veto it on the ground
that it is unconstitutional.