The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
IV.-SILVER

safety valve known as Suspension Day. 1t
gave opportunity only to pass bills desired by
two-thirds majority Of the House. Any
measure supported by less than two-thirds
majority was subject to the action OF the flli-
buster By simple motions to adjourn. to ad-
journ over. and to take reccsses till n certG n
Tine he could wear out the patience Of tho
House and secure terms. To avoid this tho
House gave tho Committee on Rules power to
bring in cloturo rule. 1t can bring in an
order providing for the consideration OF a
measure and a vote thereon in given time.
This can bc dono any time. before the reading
OF the journal or after. and under the rules OF
the House there can be no il!ibustering against
the consideration OF tho report.
The power thus given to the Committee on
Rules awokc much discussion in the Demo-
CRAZE caucus. 1t was understood that it was
to be used by tho committee only ut the re-
quest Of majority OF tho Democratic mem
bers OF the House. This request has never
been made. No cloture rule has ever been re-
ported from the Committee on Rules.
All tho hopes Of the free silver men are based
upon this cloture ruiz. In the last great sill
Yer fight Mr.. Bland defeated u motion to table
his bill by vote OF l45 to l4S. The next thin.
would have been a vote upon tho silver bill
direct. At this the anti-siver men began to
fllibuster. AS the bill was being considered
upon a special order from the Committee on
Rules. tho libusters could easily have
used up tho time. Seeing this. Mr.
Bland closed tho debate and gavo up the
fight. He supposed he would have no diNl-
Guilty In securing cloture from tho Commit
tee on Rules. Tho required signatures how
ever. were not SO easily obtained Men who
voted with him on silver refused to sign tho
request. Some even threatened to vote again st
tho cloture order II it came up.
With the recent action OF the Senate new
silver bill has appeared in tho House. Bland
fastened from his homo beyond tho Misss-
sippi to take it up. The Speaker was about to
refor tho bill to BANDS Committee on
Coinage. Weights and Measures. when Cen
Tracey. n member Of that committee moved
to refer it to tho Committee on Banking and
Currency. When this WAS voted down. Gen
Tracey began to llibuster. Many Of IL" anti.
der the rules the Dll belonged to tho Commit.
rule Could not 1e carried " out when the Hons,ss
~ u vote had refused to send tho bin TO the
lor lts proper reference was imperative. lhe
Committee on Rules was sure to act
The me nnt!!rrsilyer men wore Lighting on hard
and allowed the Srcnkor to refer tho bill. BY
l tan aetih2ni however. the had secured two
& on End t. E"fn fs w be cE re CT tne
ed from bands committee, The great Mis-
spuran Will not call II up on Suspension day.
1t cannot be considered at any other time ex-
cent as before by special order from the Com
bustercrs will hang, IL up between heaven aud
earth at tho side Of its predecessor.
considered will be rs cloture, THIS the Com
mtter on Rules will not bring In without the
signatures OF a majority of the Democrats Of
cannot he secured, Tho anti-siver men claim
II TAI r majority If tho bill ever reaches vote
on its merits.
tits not thought that this bill will show 50
much strength ~ did the Bland I'LL. some of
It., former supporters dislike the anomalous