Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-09
The FREE-COlNkGE BILL.
Non-ActiOn in COmmittco-NO Quorum
\ Meeting To-day.


WASHINGTON, July S.-Tho free-silver
members Of the House Committee on
Coinage, Weights and Measures were IN
able 90 muster their full strength at the
meeting held this morning for considers
ton of the Senate frec-sIlvor bill. There
are thItO cr voting members of the com
mittee. but only eleven were present, tie
abscntecs bong Messrs. Mckeighan ana
klcGro. Mir. IcEeighan is on his way TO
Washington. and it ~ expected Will arrive
later IN the dav. Mr.. kilgore Is in
the CITY Six of those present were
free-silycr men and the remaining five
auti-free silver men-the free silver men,
although IN majority on the committee,
lacking one If a quorum by themselves.
vote was taken on motion 10 lay the
bill on the tablc-a motion calculated 10
bring out tho strength Of the RESPECTIVE
sides; but ihc anti-freo silver men declined
to vote. and thus thWarted any attempt to
reach a final vote on the oil at the meet
ing.
When the meeting was called TO order
the irsc-sllVCr men were IN the minority.
/ hey therefore did not act on the aggres-
sive but quietly let the other side d. all
the talking. After n time. however, other
silver men appeared and they sought TO
have the discussion brought to a close
and action taken.
The first move calculated to delay action
on the blll vas made 10y Representative
Abncr TAYLOR. Of Illinois (autl-irce com
age, who moved that the bill be referred
10 subcommittee Of three members,
with authority TO investigate and report
concerning the alleged legal Deficiencies
OF the bill-thOse defects. which, It Is
asserted, impair the logal-tender quality OF
the Treasury notes issued under the act OF
1880 and DESTROY tho power of the Secrc-
tary Of the Treasury to redeem the notes
outstanding.
The sree-coinage men were prompt 70
realize the eject Oi such reference rs
thls. They knew 10 meant delay IN GET
ting vote on the blll Ia committee
thing which they would not brook. If pos
sible. After some discussion the silver
men suggested compromise by express
ing willingness to acccdc To tho request
for the appointment of committee u
three If an agreement might be reached
for vote on the bill Tomorrow morn
ing AT 10 o'clock. The offer was, however,
refused.
Before acting on Mr.. Taylor's motion
for an investigating committee Mr.. John
son. of North Dakota. offered an amend !
mcnt 10 the bill So as TO restrict tie
coinage 10 the American product, and 10
this motion Mr. Robertson. OF Louisiana. |
offered a substitute that the bill be i'm
mcdatelY reported To the House with a
favorable recommendation. Before action
was taken on Mr.. Robertson's substitute
Mr.. johnson withdrew his amendment,
and Mr.. Robertson then offered his pro-
position as substitute for Mr.. TAYLOR
motion 10 refer the bill to "A committee OF
three.
Mr.. c. W. Stone moved that the bill be
reported with a recommendation that II
be 'aid on the table. A vote was taken on
tins motion and resulted o to G-the
antl-Silvcr men declining to vote. As this
vote showed one less than u quorum, and
IA the hour for the meeting of the House
had almost arrived, the tTec-silyer men
came to the conclusion. III view of their
inability to secure quorum, that 1t
would be useless TO try TO force action al
this time, and So an adjournment WAS
taken until this evening at 6.30 O'Clock.
The free-slvor men hoped that Nc
keiehan would be on hand at that hour.
The House was still in session al $3.50
o'clock, and as the committee has no au-
thorlty 10 SIT during the sessions OF the
House the cali for the meeting was va
Gated. Chairman Bland has called another
meeting Tor O'Clock tomorrow morning.