New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-27
SILVER MEN IN CONTROL.
TIE SENATE TAKES Up STEWARDS FREE
COINAGE BILL.
SUDDEN MOVE BY THE NEVADA SENATOR GIVES
HIM EIGHT MAJORITY.
tDI TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRipUNE.l

opponents this afternoon, egaining temporarily by
a sudden vote the control of the body which they
lost last December, and taking up for immediate
consideration the Free Coinage bill introduced
early in the session by Mr.. Stewart The silver
Senators were apparently not little surprised
themselves at the success Of their manoeuvre, for
the Stewart bill, once made the unfinished bust
nc's,' proved white elephant on the hands of
the temporary ajority, and after an hour two
the friends Of silver were glad enough to drop
the bill for the day and take refuge in executive
session.
1t was not clear whether Mr. Stewards motion
wss prcmeditatcd or not, although the fact that
the National Silver Convention is now in session
here undoubtedly had a good deal to do with the
desire of the free coinage leaders to make n stir
of some sort on the silver question in Congress.
This at least is given generally as the explanation
Of Mr.. Stewarts unexpected action, and the sug-
gcsti0n that il prcmcdiiated was borne out.
perhaps, by the fact that so many Of the free
coinage Senators happened TO be at the Capitol
when the vote on the motion was taken.
The Senate hal been struggling along in a
perfunctory way during the morning hour with
the debate on Mr. Morgan's omnibus resolution.
when, at o'clock Mr.. Sherman asked for n
few additional minutes to make reply TO some
criticisms from the Alabama Senator Mr. Stewart
who was standing at his desk at the time. sug-
gestcd, in 0fIhhnd way, that If there was so
much interest debating the silver question: the
Senate might as well take up one OF the Free
Coinage bills on the calendar lie moved accord
ingy 10 proceed to the consideration Of his own
blli, which had been reported adversely by the
Finance Committee, thus venturing the direct
vote which the free coinage leaders have sedu-
lousy avoided risking all this session.
I1o oil,
not counted noses beforehand his inspiration had
been lucky one. On call of the roll there were
twcnty-cight votes in his favor and only twenty
against him. Tho free coinage side polled ten
Republican votcs-thosc Of Senators Allen. Of
Washington. Jones and Stewart of Nevada
Mitchell, Of Oregon, Paddock Of Nebraska Power
and Sanders, OF Montana, Shoup, Of Idaho, Teller
Of Colorado and Stanford, of California The
only free coinage Republicans missing were Messrs
Dubois, Wolcott and Pcttgrcw On the other
hand. Of the nine or ten Democratic Senators
opposing free coinage, only four. Messrs Gray
White. lalmer and Villas, were present and voted
Had Mcssrs. Mcpherson and Bodgctt, Of New
Jersey, Carlisle. Of Kentucky, and either Mr.
Morgan or Mr. Gibson. of Maryland, been on hand
the majority Of eight would have been reduced
To nothing as these four Senators. bcsiles voting
themselves. would have released four Republican
an'-frec coinage pairs
There was. indeed, n general miX-up Of pairs,
the Senate being taken by surprise, and the vote
OF to-day Is altogether seading to the strength
OF the frrc-coinagc combination. II Is doubtful
whcth,t Mr. Stcwarts bill can bc kept before
the Senate more than day or two, for when the
abSentccs return and pairs are properly arranged
this afternoons majority OF eight will promptly
disappear The silver men are frank enough, in
II. ,1..t Gin "a.
keep the Stewart bill 10 the front during the
session Of the National Silver Convention.
Senator Hill, as usual. made himself ridiculous
by his laundering and silly efforts to avoid com
mitiing himself on the silver question After being
caught in his seat by the yea and nay vote, he
waited until his name was about to be called aud
then suddenly rushed for Of the Senate doors.
In his hurry 10 get out he stumbled blindly
against Representative Henry Cabot Lodge, who
wa. entering and the result was smart col
lision 40 injury done, however, 10 either
and Mr.. Hill after stopping a moment 10 apollo
rizc continued his hasty retreat. lie returned
10 the senate Chamber some time after the roll
call had been completed.
Mr Morgan, rc>uming his argument on his silver
resolution denied that his object was to influence
political conventions. lie wanted legislation.
He could not conceive that the President of the
United States. who was an avowed blme'alllst
would undertake 10 set up his judgment finally
and in the form of a veto against the expressed
will Of both branches Of Congress. lie hoped
that the Senator from Nevada would move to
take ND his bill and let them have direct vote
upon it.
Mr. sherman replied 10 Mr.. Morgan, and de-
Tended the Finance Com ni;cc from ~ ciaigc of
neglect or inacton. 1t had, without delay, actei
on and reported back, adversely, Mr.. Stcwarts
hill That bill was on the calendar and motion
10 take il up might bc made at any time.
While Mr. Sherman was s;lll speaking liz" morn
ing hour expired and Mr. Iorgans amendment
went over without action.
Mr. Stewart however, promptly rose, a1nd re-
marking that he would give Senators the oppor-
tuuitv OF having test vote on tile question:
moved 10 take up the bill introduced by him and
r,oortcd adversely by the Finance Committed to
provide for the free coinage Of gold and silver
bullion aid for other purposes. The yeas and
NAYS wore called for by Mr. Morgan. The vote
was thercnpon taken and the result was announced
AS yeas -, nays "a. In a few minutes aftcrward
the presiding officer NIr. Dolph) stated that in
consequence of the confusion in the chamber,
there had been an error made in the counting and
announcement Of the vote, and that the corrected
figures were yeas %, nays 20. The following is
the vote in detail:
Yoas-Mcssrs. Allcn Bate, Butler. Cockre Coke. Col
quit Harris Jones' Of Arkansas; Jones. o Nevada kcnna
KYLE Mills Mitchell Morgan. Paddock, rcncr, Power.
Ich RANSOM Sanders Sh0up Stanford. Stewart Teller.
ruruic, Vest Voorhees, and Walthal-2S
Nays-Afcs.rs Cameron, Cullom, Davis, Dawes, Dixon,
Dolph Callngcr Gray. Hale. IIawley Higgins, Morrill,,
Palmer Perkins, Proctor, Sawyer S:ockbrdgc. Villas,
White and Wllson-2O.
The bill then taken up. Ii reads:
See Tha, and after the date and passage Of this
unit value the United States shall be the dollar
and the may be coined u 4l22 grains o sand1fd
silver OF 25.s grains Of standard gold and the said
coins shall egatnder for all debts public and private
That hereafter owner OF silver gold bullion may
deposit tn. OF the United States 20 be
formed standard dollars for his benefit and Without
charge but It shall be lawful refuse deposit Of loss
voue than sloo any bullion base TO be insult
able for tho operations Of he mint
Sec 2. That the provision Of Section OF IAN act to
authorize :he coinage 6 the standard silver dollar and to
restore It's legal tender character" which became Law