The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-06
BLAND UNEASY.
He strikes snag and is Suspicious of {
PItfall.
SUSPENSION DAY,

PIaall.
! wAsuISe7oN, D. O., July 5.-Eyery-
body in the House this morning was
discussing the prospects of the silver
bill. It is clear that Representative
Culberson, the chairman of the judici-
ary committee, has discounted his free
silver friends by his statement that the
senate bill would destroy the legal ten
der character OF tho treasury notes
issued under the terms OF the act OF
1890, which the bill repeats. The result
of that declaration has been to create
division among the free silver men. A
number OF them, including Mr.. Bland
himself, accept Mr.. Culberson's opinion
and believe that the bill will have to be
amended to cure the defect. On the
other hand large number probably q
majority OF the Democrats, and no in
considerable number OF Republicaus,
take issue with Chairman Culberson'B
Wow and hold that the bill does not in
any way affect the legal tender charac.
tor OF the treasury notes. These opin'
ions do not satisfy Mr.. Bland, who is
evidently under the suspicion that his
political enemies are digging pit for
his feet by facilitating the passage OF q
bill which the President might veto
without committing himself on the
merits Of the question.
Mr.. Bland said as to this object that
the President would not veto the bill
upon any such indictment as possible
legal construction of one OF Its proyt'
sions, but with his usual directness
would stampit with his disapproval be-
cause it was free coinage bill The
broaching Of this legal question has the
effect to cause some members to talk OF
referring that feature Of the bill to the
judiciary committee for examination
and report, but that it, is probable that
this will come to nothing and the coin
age committee will be left to deal with
the matter in its own fashion.
Mr.. Bland, the chairman, has called
n special meeting for tomorrow at IL
o'clock and will try to force the fight.
The anti.silyer Democrats will not
wait to make the fight in committee
but have already begun TO obstruct the
bill by striving to havc 1t referred to
various committees supposed to be
hostile to the measure. They have not
been able as yet TO get any assurances
OF support from the senators and are
extremely anxious as to the outcome,
With the aid OF tho Republicans in a
refusal to vote a quorum could probably
bc broken and action upon the bill be
indefinitely postponed, But the he
publicans are maintaining an air OF re-
serve, and are not giving any comfort to
the anti-silyer Democrats. There has
been no conference among them, but
many OF them said this morning that IN
the absence of any programme, they
| shall vote against the bill so as to 20, on
record and will not assist in any other
obstructive movement.
The committee on rules Of the house
did not meet this morning, but will try
to get together tomorrow. Mr.. Catch
4 ings says that SO far the majority OF the
committee has not had any conference
respecting the settlement OF the silver
bill and he is not prepared now to say
whether the committee will require, a
petition signed by the majority OF the
Democrats before they will report Q
special order for its consideration.