Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-20

cLUH-ro KNOCK OUT srivxs.
There 10 feeling Of uneasiness on the part
OF the democratic members Of the House over
the condition Of business in the House and .
disposition to get together and agree upon .
program Of business. At present matters
are simply drifting along, and IL Is desired TO
bring order out Of the confusion which pre-
walls. The silver question is the most disturb
ing element. The tariff bills and the regular
| annual appropriation bills will soon demand
great deal Of attention, and 1t IL
agreed that there must shortly come
time when program Of business for
some months to come must be settled upon If
anything is to be accomplished. The absence
Of Mr.. Catchings delayed meeting of the rules
committee for some days during the past week
and the health of the Speaker has made IL
necessary that he should seek . respite from
public affairs, while the House 10 temporarily
In recess on account OF the visit OF . number OF
members to Chicago.
|. THE CALL roR CAUCUS.
Meanwhile . call for o caucus has been is
sued. This call has been presented to Mr..
Holman, the chairman Of the caucus, and ~ it
has the requisite number Of names the call will
be issued by Mr.. Holman. That
gentleman said today that it Vas now
TO be fixed for the caucus. He said this date
would be fixed early next week. It is probable
that the whole democratic policy will be con-
| sidered at the caucus and q program Of action
outlined as far as possible.
The silver men all say that they have no in
tention to antagonize the tariff and other
measures and that they are as good tariff
reformers as any other members Of the
House. They say, however, that they will
not consent that the tariff and other
l v11a hall b. 81 .1z.~
ton Of the silver bill, and that if las they DO
not believe to be the case) they should ascer-
tain that this Is the policy Of the promoters of
the tariff bills they will insist in season and out
| OF season, on taking up the silver question.
WHAT MR. BLAND SAYS.
Chairman Bland Of the coinage committee
voiced the sentiments Of his associates today.
he said: Before we take up the tariff bills
| and the appropriation bills there must be an
agreement upon just what We are going to do.
There must be an understanding from the be-
ginning or else silver will be here as long as
the tariff and appropriations and will be talked
OF as much as anything else before the House.
am In favor OF tariff reform and Of considering
| the tariff bills, but il their program is to keep
| the tariff here always and not to do anything
on the silver question then We will consider
them all together.
| MUST BE AN uNDERsTANDISa.
"There is no disposition against taking up the
tariff, provided we can have an understanding
that it is not to be run as machine to knock
out silver. l have heard the reports that the
tariff was to be kept here, not for the purpose
| OF passing a tariff bill, but to kill silver.
| want it understood that / don't think there is
any such intention. 1t would be making
childs play Of the tariff and using it as an anti
| silver club. But ii such an intention should be
disclosed We will take the opportunity to force
silver to the front and talk silver or the tariff
and every other bill
| TO OFFER THE SILVER BILL AS AN AMENDMENT.
! II do not believe, as have said, all these re-
ports and rumors about knocking out silver
with the tariff and the appropriation bills; but
II We find out that ia the game we have q way
to meet it and the silver bill will be offered
| az an amendment to every bill which comes up.
We do not intend that minority shall run over
. majority in that way and We have majority
In favor of the silver bill. The silver
bill will not be kept down by any tactics
OF that kind Silver will be kept forward con-
shantly and by attempting to keep it down they
would make it the biggest issue OF all shall
not obstruct the tariff bills, but We must know
what Is to be done about consideration Of the
silver issue.
'They can't paddock q mans mouth or stop
| bringing up the question:" said Mr.. Bland in
conclusion, and don't think they will at
tempt to kill silver with the tariff"