St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-21
PROGRAMME NEEDED.
House Democrats See Danger o.
Tangle Ahead.

Tangle Ahead.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-There is a
feeling of uneasiness on the part of the
of business in the house and DISPOSE
ton to get together and agree upon a
programme of business. At present
matters are simply drifting along, and
it is desired to bring order out of the
confusion which prevails. The silver
question is the most dIScouraging ele-
ment. The tariff bills and the regular
annual appropriation bills will soon de-
mand great deal of attention, and it is
agreed that there must shortly come a
time when programme of bust
ness for some months to come
must be settled upon if anything
is to be accomplished. The absence of
Mr.. Catchings delayed meeting of the
rules committee for some days past,
and the health of the speaker has made
1t necessary that he should seek res
pite from public affairs while the
house is temporarily in recess, on &C
count of the visit of number of men,
bers to Chicago.
Meanwhile call for caucus has
scented to Mr.. Holman, the chairman of
requisite number of names, the call will
be issued by Mr.. Holman. That gentle
man said today that it was simply a
matter as to the date to be fixed for the
caucus. He said this date would be
fixed early next week. 1t is probable
that the whole Democratic policy
will be considered at the caucus
and programme of action outlined as
far as possible. The silver men all say
that they have no intention to antago-
nZe the tariff and other measures, and
that they are as good tariff reformers as
any other members of the house. They
say, however, that they will not consent
that the tariff and other measures shall
be used to prevent consideration of the
silver bill, and that should they ascer-
tain that this is the policy of the pro-
motors of the tariff bill, they will insist
in season and out of season on taking
up the silver question.
Chairman Bland, OF the coinage COM
mittee, voiced the sentiments of:his assO-
ciates today, He said: Before we take
up the tariff bills and appropriation
bills, there must be an agreement on
just what we are going to do. There
must be an understanding from the be-
ginning, or else silver will be here as
long as the tariff and appropriations,
and will be talked of as much as any
thing before the house. l am in favor
of tariff reform, and of considering the
tariff bills; but if their programme is
to keep the tariff here always, and not
to do anything on the silver question,
then we will consider them all together.
There Is no disposition against taking
up the tariff, provided we can have an
understanding that it is not to be run as
a machine to knock out silver. i have
heard reports that the tariff was to be
kept here, not for the purpose of pass
ing tariff bill, but to kill silver. l
want it understood that [ don't think
there is any such intention. 1t would
be making mere child's play of the
tariff, and using it as an anti-Silver club.
''But if such an invitation should be
disclosed we will take the opportunity
to force silver to the front, and talk sill
yer Oh the tariff and every other bill. l
do not believe, as have said, all these
reports and rumorS about knocking out
silver with the tariff and the apprOpria-
ton bills, but we do not intend that a
minority shall run over majority in
that way, and we have majority in
favor of the silver bill. The silver bill
Will not be kept down by any tactics of
that kind. Silver will be kept forward
constantly. and by attempting to keep
it down they would make 1t the biggest
issue of all. / shall not obstruct the
tariff bills, but we must know what is to
be done about consideration of the sill
yer issue. They cannot paddock a
mans mouth or stop bringing up the
question:" said Mr.. Bland in conclusion,
"and don't think they will attempt to
kill silver with the tariff"