Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-13
FREE HLvER'S CRITICAL STAGE,
A Battle Royal to Be Fought
i'm the House Today.
The Friends of Free Coinage Will
Put Forth Their Best Efforts.
II Defeated in the Test Vote Today They
Will Give Up the Fight-The
Chances Are Against
the Measure.
Rx the Associated Pr ress. /

WASHINGTON, July 12.-Preparations
for the battle royal expected tomor-
row, when an effort will be made to
bring the senate silver bill before the
house for action, were made today The
anti-silver men make the best show of
real confidence, although the details Of
their campaign are not made public. 1t
may be predicted that the Republicans
and Democrats opposed to the passage
of the bill will unite in voting against
the adoption. of a rule making the bill a
special order for consideration tomorrow
In fact Reed said the Republicans will
vote against the special order, and hope
to be able to defeat it with the aid of a
few Democratic votes. Tracey says the
present disposition is to allow short
time for debate before the previous ques-
tion is ordered on the adoption of q
special rule, for the purpose of allow
ing certain Democrats who favor
free silver coinage to explain why
they do not believe the rule should now
be adopted, and why they will vote
against it. The antis assert that they
will be able to defeat the rule by ma
jority of twenty, but they are taking no
chances and are working hard to get out
a full vote, and have also been arrang-
ing pairs for absent Republicans. The
free coinage men are likewise striving to
poll their full strength tomorrow. If
three Mississippi Democrats arrive, as
expected, every silver Democrat will be
accounted for, save one, and they will
get a full vote. Privately they admit
that the bill is in very critical posi-
ton, but they hope to succeed, and at
any rate they intend to do their best,
and then if the rule is defeated they
will abandon the fight.
THE BILL TO BE AMENDED.
A call for caucus last night was ad-
drested to "all friends of free silver"
but only two Republicans, Bowers of
California, and Clark of Wyoming,
obeyed the summons. Fifty or sixty
Democrats were present, and Dockery
of Missouri was in the chair. Bland
made an argument in favor of the bill.
In the course of his argument he stated
that the anti-silver men would take
every possible method to prevent silver
legislation, and cautioned the friends of
silver to be on their guard. Represen-
tative Culberson, chairman of the
committee on judiciary, argued
that the Stewart bill was le-
gally defective. He was ably
seconded by Terry of Arkansae, who
spoke in the same vein. After further
debate, the caucus agreed to recommend
that the bill be amended in two particu-
lars: First, by providing that it shall
not affect the legaltender quality of the
treasury notes issued under the act OF
1890, or 'ob1ige the treasury to redeem
them; and second, the authority given
to coin the bullion now in the treasury
shall not interfere with the coinage OF
silver when presented by private par
ties. A committee on parliamentary pro.
ceedings and a committee to summon
absentees were appointed, and the eau
Gus adjourned.
TO BE SETTLED TODAY.
CHICAGO, July IA Washington spe-
cial says: The silver bill will come be-
fore the house tomorrow. Speaker Crisp
is determined it shall be settled. The
opponents of free coinage feel confident
of their strength. and are ready for the
issue. They may vote to defer consid-
Grafton of the measure until next De-
cember, or wait until the free silver
men have the bill just as they want
it, then rally to defeat it for
good and all. Caruth of Kentucky
who voted for the bill before, said today
he would now oppose it at every stage,
and knew number of others who have
decided upon like change of front. He
gave as the reason for changing his
position the fact that his party had
adopted an anti-free coinage plank at
Chicago, and it was his duty better to
support the party or get out of it. The
Republicans with few exceptions will
fight the free coinage men, and with the
Democratic antis are confident of de-
feating the bill.