The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-06
SILVER BILL PROSPECTS.
TIE OUTCOME OF THE FIGHT IN
TaE HOUSE IN DOUBT.

The Claim That the Senate Measure
Kills the Legal Tender of Silver
Certificates Causes Division in the
Ranks of the Silver Men-Closure
Still Uncertain.
WASHINGTON. July 5-Everybody,tn the
House this morning was discussing the pros
poets Of the silver bill. Il is clear that
Representative Culberson, chairman Of the
judiciary COMMITTEES, has discounted his
free silver friends by his statement that the
Senate bill would destroy the legal tender
character of the treasury notes issued under
the terms Of the act of 1890. which the bill re.
peals. The result Of that declaration has been
to create a division among the free silver
men. A number of them, including Mr. Bland
himself, accept Mr.. Culberson's opinion
aud believe that the bill will have
to be amended 10 cure the defect.
Even so ultra an advocate as MIR. Pierce
takes this view, but he is very much put
out that Mr.. Bland should have made this
statement in advance Of consideration Of
the bill IN committee, as he thinks it will
tend TO strengthen the opposition.
On the other hand, large number, prob
ably majority of the democrats, and no
inconsiderahle number of republicans, take
issue with Mr.. Culberson's views and hold
that the bill does not in any way affect the
legal tender character Of the greasy notes.
There are many different methods of reason
ing by which they arrive at this conclusion,
but probably one of the simplest and clear
est is that stated by a distinguished demo-
cratic senator, who says that congress can
do nothing to impair a contract already ex
isting, and that, as the notes show on their
face, they are contracts pure and simple. A
large number Of republicans take the posi-
tion that the act could not be made retro-
active, and that therefore no amendment Is
necessary.
BLAND SUSPICIOUS.
These opinions do not satisfy Mr.. Bland,
who is evidently under suspicion that his
political enemies are digging a pit for his
feet by facilitating the passage of bill
which the President might veto without
committing himself upon the merits Of the
silver question. A democratic member OF
the committee ou rules, who takes issue
with Mr.. Bland, said as to this objection
that the President would not veto the bill
upon any such indirect ground as the
possible legal construction Of one Of its
provisions, but with his usual directness
would stamp 10 with his disapproval be-
cause it was free coinage bill. The
broaching OF this legal question has had
the effect TO cause some members to talk
of referring that feature Of the bill to
the judiciary committee for examination
and report, but IL is probable that
this will come 20 nothing and that
the coinage committee will be left to deal
with the matter in its own fashion. Mr..
Bland, the chairman, has called a special
meeting of the committee for tomorrow at
10 o'clock and he will try to force the fights
ing. The Rnsi-silver democrats will not
wait to make a fight in committee, but
have already begun to obstruct the bill by
striving to have it referred to various COM
mittees supposed to be hostile to the meas
ure. They have not been able as
yet to get any assurances of support
from the republicans and are
extremely ANXIOUS as to the outcome.
With the aid OF the republicans In a refusal
to vote, quorum could probably be broken
and action upon the bill be indefinitely
postponed. But the republicans are main
tanning an air Of reserve, and are not giving
any comfort 30 the anti-silver democrats.
There has been no conference ameng them,
but many OF them said this morning that in
the absence Of any programme they shall
vote against the bill 80 as to go on record,
and will not assist in any obstructive move
ment.
EFFECTs OF AMENDMENT.
An amendment of the bill by the House
Is not likely to be so serious Ia its effects
upon the final passage of the measure as
has been generally supposed, il the present
programme OF the silver men is carried out.
They intend to pass the bill and an amend
ment, il the latter Is found to be necessary,
and send it back to the Senate with a re-
quest for a conference. By so doing
they say they will avoid the dan
ger of having the bill smothered
-, kt,.A Ara afAh
tuted with a majority adverse to free silver
coinage. The Senate has rarely refused TO
accede to such a request and the presump-
tion is that there would be but one test vote
upon the adoption of the motion to accede
to the request of the House, and that as a
conference report the bill would be 30
privileged as to be sure OF speedy action.
The committee on rules of the House did
not meet this morning. but will try to get
together tomorrow. Mr.. Catchings
says that SO far the majority of the
committee has not had any conference
respecting the treatment of the silver bill
and he is not prepared now to say whether
the committee will require petition signed
by a majority of the democrats before they
will report a special order for it's considera-
tion. He says that, and the remark may
have some Significance, the status of the bill
ia materially different from that of the bill
reported by the House coinage committee.
In which case q petition was required.
There is now pending before the rules COM
mittee a resolution introduced by Mr.
Pierce setting apart a day left in blank in
July when IL shall be in order to move to
suspend the rules of the House and pass any
bill. The ordinary rules Of sus-
pension, which shut Off filibuster-
ing, would apply in that case,
but there is further proviso that major
ity vote instead of two-thirds shall be sutfi-
cient to pass the bill. The resolution is, OF
course. intended to meet the case of the
silver bill. The committee also has before
it Mr.. Catchings' resolution, introduced on
Saturday last, making next Thursday sus-
pension day in place Of yesterday. which
was a holiday. This resolution was in-
tended TO secure vote upon the tariff bills
still pending ON the calendar, but it may be
that the committee will amalgamate the
resolutions, although this will encounter the
objection Of the republicans. who intend to
flibuster against the tariff bills, but have
not as yet determined to do so az ainst the
silver bill. Meantime conferences are in
progress in various parts Of the House and
the aspect Of the case is subject to change
every moment.