The sun., 1892-03-25


the Biii, Made by MIR. burrows OF Mich.
igan. Would Have Prevailed Had NoS
the Speaker Voted md Made n Tie-Thsu
aMotion to Reconsider the Vote by which
Mr.. Burrows's Motion Vns Lost Was
Made and Cnrried-The Question Reeur.
ring on tho Motion to Table, It Was Lost
by . Close vote-Mr. Bland rhen Tried -
Force Vote on the Bill. but Failed, aaa
at 1e.35 the House Adjourned, Thas
killing tho Bill. for the Time Being.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-Fortuno smiled on
the anti-silver men in Congress to-day with
such surprising geniality that they snatched
practically victory from the very Jaws OF
defeat They expected to see the Bland bill
passed by the House. or Mt least put into
parliamentary shape for passage at an early
day. by an overwhelming majority. The
friends OF the bill were rs joyful as their oppo-
nents were sorrowful. but at the end Of day
OF running debate and exciting cross firing,
parliamentary juggling and general ex.
element. the battle ended with tho
FREQ coinage men routed. apparently
beyond hope of recall. An unlock ed for com.
hination Of anti-sil>cr men and Republicans
sprang upon them Mt the moment OF their VIC
tory. and rendered all hope OF the passage Of
the Bland bill futile. for the presentat least
The scenes in the House from the hour Of s
o'clock until midnight and later have seldom
been excelled for interest and ex-
element and were at ono time high.
ly dramatic. especially during the incidents Of
the Speakers casting the tic vote in tho
most important roll call Of the day.
the speech Of Bourke Cochran. the general
ship Of Julius Caesar Burrows for the Republi-
cans. tho unaccountable absence OF Repre-
oAak. CA,II IL
impaired. and the significant action OF Con-
testee Rockwell in voting with the free silver
men.
The galleries were crowded to sufYocation all
tho evening by vast crowd. drawn to tho
Capitol by the light in the dome announcing
that there was something to be seen and heard
in the big building on the hin Members who
had been in their seats all day were
tagged and weary by the unpleasant
overheated air. the floor Of the House
was strewn with papers and debris
and on every hand there were signs Of par-
liamentary struggle suggestive Of tho up
roarious days OF tho Fifty-lrs Congress. when
Ton Reed was in the chair bulldozing Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike. and running the
House altogether to suit himself The chief
difference to-day between the expired Con-
gress and the present was that Speaker Crisp
confined himself strictly to his duties as pro.
siding officer.
When the House convened this morning
there was a general feeling among oil
those who are interested in the silver
question that a substantial majority OF the
members were prepared to vote with Mr..
Bland in favor OF free silver. Up to the
hour Of meeting tho anti-silvcr men were
unable to make any satisfactory agreement
with tho Republicans. Tho latter refused all
propositions submitted. and were disposed to
content themselves with voting against tho
bill. Later In the day tho Republicans held q
conference. and Mr.. Burrows OF Michigan was
directed to take charge of the RepubI-
can end OF the opposition. When the
vote on his motion to lay the Bland bill on the
table was announced everybody was sur
prised almost beyond expression. No one
for moment imagined that the contend
ing forces were so equally divided.
Several OF the free silver men are
absent. but even il the bill should eventually
pass which Mt this time is exceedingly doubt
full. the effect OF today's proceedings is far
from satisfactory to the advocates Of
free silver. Many OF tho Southern
men who have been voting for free
silver to-day arc but half-hcnrted in their
work. and privately admit that they nro voting
against their convictions to crafty the wishes
OF their constituents. Altogether. the friends
Of tho Bland bill are sadly detected tonight.
and Its opponents. although surprised almost
beyond speech. are corrcspondngly happy.
One vote was all that WAS necessary to dis
pose Of the Silver I'LL and put it out Of tho way
for tho remainder of the session. but it was not
at tho propcr time. The result
was one Of the closest and most stubbornly
battles ever fought in tho halls OF
Congress. 1t was generally understood that
the final struggle was to take place to-day. and
in consequence tho House wing OF
the Capitol has been crowded all day
with men and women eager to got q
view Of the proceedings The reserved gal.
leres We're given up almost entirely to the
ladies'. and some of them remained in their
seats from noon until late into tho night. The
specchrs lcfore the voting began were devoid
Of special interest. with the exception Of the
brilliant oratoricGl effort Of Bourie Cochran In
opposition to free silver There woro a num-
ber of Nvo-mnuto speeches on both sidos Of
the question. md ono minute WAS granted
Amos Cummings to declare himself in
opposition 10 TIE bill in Difference
10 the wishes Of his constituents.
There We're many consultations among the
anti.silver men and the Republicans. and it
was not until late in tho afternoon that the
consented to help the ant-silver
men in their fight against the bill.
AT O'clock Mr. Bland called for the previous
question on the hill. Speaker Crisp made the
usual announcement. and instantly MIR. Bur-
rows Of Michigan was on his feet with II coun-
er motion to lay the hiI on tho table. Ills
,ntry ilto the fight WAS ut once recognized as
novo on tho part of tho Republicans to
lelp tho AGtl--iivcr men XIII the bill
At that moment nearly every member OF the
House was on his feet and the greatest con-
usion prevailed. Tho spectators In the gal
cries looked down upon the excited crowd OF
legislators and entered into tho spirit OF the
occasion. Speaker Crisp debated for a mo-
ncnt aS to whether Mr. Bwrrows's motion to
ny on the table took precedence over tho de-
nand Tor the previous question. Mr.. Burrows
cad the rule on the subject. which showed
!early that a motion to lay on the
aldo WAS in order at tha, time. The
oh call was therefore taken on the motion,
Many of the mru rrs hti provided thcm-
ewes wiil printed roll calls, aud as each
urmror ~ siortrl thcy kept tally. 1t was
lut uuli, thr second roll call was com pleted
hat tho nu,i-siyer mon realized how strong
hey real We're. When the name Of Mr.. You
mans Of Michigan. the last on the list. was
'alled, there was a buzz OF excitement all