Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-21
BLAND'S BIG SCHEME.
How He Proposes to Keep Silver Al
ways Away Up to the Front.
A PROGRAMME TO BE MADE OUT.
The Democratic Policy to Be Considered at
the Coming Caucus.
LIVE NEWS ITEMS FROM TIE CAPITAL

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-There is feel
ing of uneasiness on the part of the Demo-
cratic members in the House over the con-
dition of the business in the House, and a
disposition to get together and agree upon
programme of business AT present mat
tiers are simply drifting along, and it is de-
sired to bring order out of the confusion
which prevails.
The silver question is the most disturbing
element. The tariff bills and the regular
annual appropriation bills will soon demand
great deal of attention, and it is agreed
hat there must shortly come time when
the programme of business for some months
to come must be settled upon if anything is
to be accomplished.
The absence of Mr.. Catchings has delayed
a meeting of the Rules Committee for some
days past, and the health of the Speaker has
made it necessary that he should seek
respite from public affairs while the House is
temporarily in recess on account of a visit of
a number of members to Chicago. Mean
while, call for caucus has been issued
This cali has been presented to Mr.. Hol-
man, the Chairman of the caucus, and as it
has the requisite number of names the call
will be issued by Mr. Holman. That gen.
tleman said to-day that it was simply
matter as to the date to be fixed for the
caucus. He said this date would be fixed
early next week.
Programme to Be Prepared.
1t is probably that the whole Democratic
policy will be considered at the Caucus, and
a programme of action outlined, as far as
possible. The silver men all say they have
int % hat tort ri
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 meas
ures shall be used to prevent consideration
of the silver bill. and that if, as 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.
Chairman Bland, of the Coinage Commit
tee, voiced the sentiments of his associates
to-day. He said: "Before we take up the
tariff bills and tine appropriation bills there
must be an agreement OIL ust what We are
going to do. There must be an understand
ing from the beginning, or else silver will
be here as long as the tariff and appro-
priations, and will be talked of as much as
anything else before the House. 1 am in
favor of tariff reform and of considering the
tariff bills, but if the programme is to keep
the tariff here always and not do anything
on the silver question then we will consider
them all together. 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.
Doesn't Believe All He Hears.
IT 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. 1 want
it understood that don't think there is any
such intention. 1t would be mere child's
play of the tariff to use it as an anti-silver
club. But if such an intention should be
disclosed we will take the opportunity to
force silver to the front and talk silver on
the tariff and every other bill. 1 do not
and runors about knocking out silver with 4
the tariff and the appropriation bills,
but if we find out that is the
game we have way to meet it,
and use the silver bill as an amendment
to every bill which comes up. We do not
intend that minority shall run over ma
jority in that way, and we have a 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 constant
ly, and by attempting to keep it down they
would make it the biggest issue of ALL 1
shall not obstruct the tariff bills, but we
must know what is to be done about con-
sideration of the silver issue. They cannot |
paddock mans mouth or stop bringing up
the question" said Mr.. Bland in conclu-
sion, land don't think they will attempt
to kill silver with the tariff