Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-29
SILVER IN THE ENArE


House OF Congress.
The notice given in the Senate this afternoon
by Senator Stewart of his intention to call up
bis free silver coinage bill next Monday created
sensation. Notwithstanding the fact that 1t
was expected in view Of the setback the Bland
bill has received in tho House. The struggle
must sooner or later be transferred to
the Senate. As far as can be learned
Mr.. Stewart appears to have acted altogether
on his own responsibility in precipitating the
issue. 1t is said by some Of the silver men that
Speaker Crisp has urged them to to pass the
silver bill in the Senate and let it come
over to the House. when it would be
in position much more favorable for action
than If il came before the House in the shape OF
an original report from the coinage committee.
Some Of the republican silver Senators are una
BILE to the force of this reasoning and fear that
the Speaker is playing for the party advantage
which might be expected to follow the passage
OF silver bill by the republican Senate even
by the instrumentality of democratic votes.
The democratic Senators are as yet undecided
as to the attitude they shall assume when the
bill is called up by Mr.. Stewart. Senator Car
isle remarked that the outcome of
the effort to pass the bill would be
extremely doubtful, and this view appeared
to be generally entertained on his side OF
the chamber 1t is probable that there VIII
cratic Senators before next Monday with q
purpose OF seeking to reach an agreement
upon a united line of action.
On the republican side Of the Senate the
opinion is that the bill will not pass
NJ. Hansbrough Of South Dakota, who has been
included in all estimates in the ranks of the
silver men, said very frankly this afternoon
that he would oppose with bis vote
any effort to pass h.,;. pure t Tree
there were not ten republican senators who
would vote for such bill. He called attention
to the fact that Senator Perkins, the
successor of Senator Plumb in the Senate,
was an anti-free coinage man and felt
confident that even with the full strength
which the democratic silver Senators had
have more than one majority. As a matter OF
fact he believed that the demo-
Gratis were divided on the question
and he expected that when it came to test
vote many of them who had formerly voted
for the Vest bill would vote against the
Stewart bill Mr.. Stewart himself is not
very sanguine as to the success OF his move.
He says, however, that the country Is entitled
to know exactly how their Senators stand on
the silver question. and he proposes to put all
OF them on the record if he can.
The bill referred to was introduced by Mr..
Stewart on the 18th of January and was re-
ferred to the committee on finance. 1t was
reported back from that committee
adversely by Mr.. Morrill, on the
9Th of February. 1t provides that
the unit of value in the United States shall be
the dollar; that the same may be coined of
4l21l grains OF standard silver. or OF 20 $40
grains of standard gold, and that these
coins shall be legal tender Tor
all debts, public and private. Any
owner OF silver or gold bullion may
deposit the same at any mint OF the United
States. to be formed into standard dollars for
his benefit and without charge. The provis-
ions Of the act OF February z6. 1873 (authoriz-
ing the coinage Of the silver dollar, are made
applicable to the coinage provided for in this
bill.
The certificates are to be in denominations
not less than 81 nor more than $40, 900 and are
to be redeemable in coin Of standard values.
They are to be receivable Jas well as all gold
and silver certificates already issued) for all
taxes and dues to the United States and are to
be a legal tender for the payment of all debts,
public and private.
The owners of bullion deposited for coinage
are to have the option of receiving coin. or Its
equivalent, in GER titicates and the bullion is to
be subsequently coined.