The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-09
FREE SILVER Is DOOMED.
The STEWART BILL PRETTY SURE
TO BE BEATEN.

WASHINGTON, July S-The developments
in the the free silver fight to-day were all
encouraging to the democrats who are
fighting the Senate bill. The loosely drawn
and ambiguous bill which bears Senator
Stewards name was taken up by the House
committee on coinage this morning and at
the opening of the proceedings George Fred
Williams said: 81 for one shall not oppose
unreasonably the reporting Of this bill to
House. We. shall beat 1t if it comes to
voten
go, that's your opinion said Mr.. Pierce
of Tennessee with a sneer.
II am talking of what know" said Mr..
Williams. The bill will be beaten and
badly beaten"
Mr.. Pierce flushed hotly, but said no
more.
his doubt about the ability of the
sound money democrats to defeat
the bill by 80 votes, although
he admitted that the chances of defeating it
seemed good. Mr.. Williams said to him:
81 know what my figures show. The men
who voted for free silver before, and who
now say they are going to vote against it,
may be liars. l don't know anything about
that, but believe they are honorable men
We have in our canvass put no one down as
opposed TO the bill who has declared his op-
position to IT."
The absolute gain of votes against the
Senate bill was seven and the sound money
democrats are greatly encouraged by the
results of their labors. The meeting OF the
coinage committee to-day had no direct re-
suite on the fate Of the bill. A motion was
made to report the bill back to the House
favorably without an amendment. On
this the anti-silver men, democrats and
republicans, did not vote aud
so there was no quorum. The committee
will meet again tomorrow. Mr.. Kilgors
of Texas kept away from the meeting, but
Mr.. McKeighan of Nebraska will be here
tomorrow, which will give seven votes
and a quorum in favor of the bill. The
auti-silver men on the committee will op-
pose any amendment to the Senate bill.
They don't propose to help perfect the
measure.
To-day Mr.. johnson of North Dakota
moved to restrict the scope OF the bill TO the
American silver product, but the amend
ment was not voted on by the committee.
Mr.. Taylor OF Illinois proposed that three
lawyers on the committee make an investi-
cation Of the legal points that have been
raised against the bill, but this was voted
down.
George Fred Williams argued that the
opinion of the officers of the treasury de-
partment as to the legal effect Of, the
| act should be obtaiged, so that it might be
definitely understood just what responsi-
| bility they were prepared to assume This
! he thought was necessary, owing to the
| doubt as to the effect it would have on the
one hundren and odd millions
| of coin now outstanding and
on the bullion in the treasury
which secures them. The question OF the
legal tender quality OF these notes under
| the Senate bill was not so important as the
| question whether the Secretary of the
| Treasury would undertake to redeem them
when they came in to pay customs dues,
which would be the use to which
they would, he believed, at once
be put If this bill became law.
Another flaw in the bill hSs been discovered
In the last clause, where the words ''coin
certificates" are used. The question is
asked, what Is coin certificate! In all
probability all sides will agree that a vote
on the bill shall be taken in the coinage
| committee on Monday. That is the arrange
ment tonight.
DETAILED ACCOUNT.
By the associated Press.
WASHINGTON, July 8.-The fres silver
members Of the House committee on coin
age, weights and measures were unable to
muster their full strength at the meeting
held this morning for consideration of the
Senate free silver bill There are thirteen
voting members OF the committee, but only
eleven were present to-day, the sbsentees
being Mes3rs McKeighan aud Kilgore Mr..
Mckeighan is on his way to Washingt) N
and, it expected, will arrive latter in the
day. Mr.. Kilgore is in the city. Six of
those present were free silver men although
| in q majority on the committee lacking one
OF quorum by themselves. When the
vote was taken on the motion to lay the bill
! kk... Ill -1-..I
out the strength OF the respective sides, the
anti-free silver men declined to vote, and
thus thwarted any attempt to reach final
vote on the bill at the meeting.
When the meeting was called to order the
free silver men were in a minority. They
| therefore did not act on the aggressive. but
quietly let the other side do all the talking.
After time, however. other silver men
| appeared aud they sought to have the dis
cussion brought to a close and action taken.
THE FIRST MOVE FOR DELAY.
The first move calculated to delay action
on the bill was made by Abner Taylor or
Illinois, an anti-free coinage member, who
| moved that the bill be referred
to a subcommittee of three mem
bers, with authority to investigate
| aud report concerning the alleged legal de-
| ticiency of the bill--those defects which, it
is asserted, impair the legal tender quality
Of treasury notes issued under the act OF
1890 and destroy the power Of the Secretary
of the Treasury to redeem the notes out
| standing.
The Tree coinage man were prompt to
realize the effect OF such reference as this.
They knew it meant delay In getting vote
! on the bill in committee, a thing which
they would not brook if possible. After
| some discussion, the silver men sug-
| gested a compromise by expressing
willingness to accede to the request
for the appointment Of a committee Of
| three If an agreement might be reached for
vote on the bill tomorrow morning at 10
O'Clock. The offer was, however, refused.
Before acting on Mr.. Taylor's motion for
an investigating committee, Mr.. johnson
of North Dakota offered an amendment to
the bill so as to restrict coinage to the
American product. To this motion Mr..
Robertson of Louisiana offered a substitute
that the bill be immediately reported to the
House with a favorable recommendation.
Before action was taken on Mr..
Robertson's substitute Mr.. johnson
withdrew his amendment aud Mr.. Robert
son then offered his proposition as a substi
tute for Mr.. Taylor's motion to refer the
bill TO a committee OF three. @. w. Stone
moved that the bill be reported with a
recommendation that it be laid on the table.
The vote on this motion resulted to 6,
NBn. g.. all