Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-03
SHIPPED TO WASHINGTON.
Democrats Shunting the Free Silver
Question All the Time.
TIE SENATE NOW IN FAVOR OF 1T.
Blaine and Harrison at the Cuts About
the Chilean Affair
TIE TRUTH OF 1T MAY YET LEAK OUT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAPHIC LETTER.
BUREAU OF THE DIsrAToH,
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb.


WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. Al
Several interesting things are made evi-
dent by the prolonged discussion of the
rules in the House. The first is that large
number of the constituencies of members OF
the popular branch" of Congress either
suffer from distressing paucity of men of
dignity and ability, or do not elect that
sort of representatives if they. have the
material Another is that there should be
permanent rules bv which the House would
be governed, that weeks of each session
NAV not oe consumed in discussion of new
rules.
So long as one party remains in the ma
ioritv the custom of each Congress to make
its own rules is no hindrance, as the code is
q continuing one But when the House
oscillates from one party extreme to the
other at nearly every alternate term,
and the party of the majority desires to
maze rules by which it can best serve its
( purposes. weeks of valuable time are
wasted, the patience of the sensible is worn
! threadbare, the House is disgusted with it
self and the whole country is disgusted
with the House.
Worse Than Electrocution.
If the speeches could be confined to
discussion of the rules they might be en-
dured as more or less mistaken attempts to
reach a conclusion upon code. But when
they are nearly all devoted to nauseating
partisan dTiVel, those who are compelled to
listen pass through crucial punishment
compared with which electrocution would
be pleasant and desirable. Mr.. Catchings
informs me that he anticipated final vote
next Friday. The intervening time will
seem an age, but it is gratifying to think
that anybody can discern the end.
The most important news of the day is the
admission that the gentlemen of the House
who a few davS ago were anxious Tor
caucus on the silver question had abandoned
the field. More than the requisite number
OF SIGNATURES were attached to the call, but
as ii became more and more evident that the
leading free coinage members did not want
n caucus and would not attend. or be guided
by a caucus the call was laid aside and
solemnly inferred, though with somewhat
hasty and confused funeral rites. The silver
question is therefore left to take its chances
first in the Committee on Coinage and then
in the House, and the prospects are good for
some verv spirited scenes before its con-
sideration is concluded.
Sinking the Responsibility.
AsI have already written, every attempt
will be made to shunt the question aside till
the National Democratic Convention cud-
gels its best brains to erect platform with
s silver coinage plank that will suit wings of
the party which are diametrically opposed
in regard to this problem. Messrs. Springer,
Crisp, McMillin and Holman imagine the
life of the p lrty is involved in the skill with
fore Congress upon which their party
is not in harmony. They have much
confidence in the infallibility of
their Judgment, generally speaking, but
they show a disposition to shirk the
sponsbility of deciding upon method OF
treating the silver puzzle. Personally and
rs Congressional leaders, they would like to
leave the matter to the national convention
hut the tide has so strong in favor of free
coinage, and the feeling is grown so warm
on account OF the conduct OF these leaders,
that they fear they will be compelled to con-
cede fair discussion of the subject in open
house.
M Springer's foolish speech at New York
on jackson Day aroused a resentment
among the free coinage advocates which has
not been lessened by his subsequent con.
duct, and that of his fellow "steerers," and
il is pretty certain there will occur an ILL
tempered wrangle, which may extend to the
national convention if any attempt is made
to smother free coinage in committee. or to
prevent the freest and fairest discussion of
the. matter in the House.
Free Coinage Solid in the Senate
The Senate Committee on Finance, con-
structed in the interests OF the bankers, as
was to be expected from an appointing
power like Vice President Morton, has also
found it advisable to forego its purpose of
smothering the Stewart free coinage bill,
which has been lingering with it for several
weeks. W nlle In6 COn1nlUtee. not only the
Republicans but at least two Democrats, is
opposed utterly to the bill, the pressure in
the Senate is too strong to make any other
course advisable except to report the bill
and let the Senate decide upon its merits 1t
will report the measure adversely, however,
and put a stigma upon it at the beginning.
1t is believed that free coinage bill will
pass the Senate, after the usual prosy, in
terminabe discussion, of course, and with
out the excitement that will attend the in
ternal party struggle of the Democrats in
the House. which may be attended by real
disaster. In 4 frank moment to-day, far
seeing Democrat admitted to me that he
would not be surprised if the free coinage
issue would before many months leave the
Democratic party in the condition of the un-
fortunate Elder on Atherheld ledge.
Trouble Between Blaine and Harrison,
The friends of the President seem to be
determined to create trouble between him
and Secretary Blaine. Each day a new
story criticsing adversely some act or word
of Blaine in connection with the Chilean
controversy, is brought forward. To-day it
is a report that in a discussion of the Chilean
affair over post prandial cigars at a dinner
given by Senator Hale Mr. Blaine burst out
with an assertion that the attack on tho
BaltimOre's crew was inspired by drunken
ness, and nothing else: and that Chile had
already expressed far more regret for the
occurrence than this country had for the
New Orleans massacre of the Malta with
which Italy had to be satisfied, and other
things of n similar nature, reflecting on the
course pursued by the President.
senator Hale, who happened to be present
at the dinner given bye himself in his own
house, says no snch incident relieved the
small talk usual on such occasions. 1t is
useless for anyone, however, to deny that
there has been disagreement between Mr.
Blaine and Mr.. Harrison in regard to the
treatment of the Chilean affair. 1t is prob
able the truth will leak out after awhile.