Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-06
THE SILVER MEN DISCOUNTED,
The Stewart Bill's Prospects Are
Dubious.
A Division Among the Friends Of the
Measure.
1t win Have to be Amended to Make it
Effective A Fight Over its
Reference in the House
Yesterday.
BY the Associated Press.l

BY the Associated Press.l
WASHINGTON, July 5.-Everybody in
the house this morning was discussing
the prospects of the silver bill. 1t is
clear that Culberson. chairman of the
Judiciary committee, has discounted his
free silver friends by his statement that
the senate bill would destroy the legal
tender character of the treasury notes
Issued under the terms of the act of
1890, which the bill repeals, the result
of which declaration has been to create
q division among the free silver men.
A number of them, including Bland
himself, accept Culberson's opinion and
believe the bill will have to be amended
to cure this defect. Even so ultra an
advocate as Pierce takes this view, but
he is very much put out that Bland
should have made the statement in ad-
vance of the consideration of the bill in
committee, as he thinks it will tend to
strengthen the opposition.
On the other hand, however, q large
number, perhaps majority of the
Democrats and no inconsiderable num-
ber OF the Republicans take issue with
Chairman Culberson's view and hold
that the bill does not in any way affect
the legal tender character of the treas
ury notes. There are many different
methods of arriving at this conclusion,
but probably one Of the simplest and
clsarest is that stated by distinguished
Democratic senator, who says, congress
can do nothing to impair contrast al
ready existing, and that, as the treas
ury notes show on their face, they are
contracts pure and simple. A large
number of Republicans take the posi-
tion that the act could not be made retro
active, therefore no amendment is neces-
Eary.
These opinions do not satisfy Bland,
who is evidently under the suspicion
that his political enemies are digging a
pit for his feet, by facilitating the pas
sage of a bill which the president might
veto without committing himself upon
the merits of the silver question.
A Democratic member of the commit
tee on rules, who takes issue with Bland
said:
My opinion is that the president would
not veto the bill upon any such indirect
grounds, as the possible legal construc-
tion of its provisions. but with his usual
directness would stamp it with disap-
probation, because it is free silver
BILL"
The broaching of the legal question
has had the effect of causing some mem
bers to talk of referring this feature of
the bill to the judiciary committee for
examination and report, but it is prob
able that this will come to nothing, and
that the coinage committee will be left
to deal with the matter in its own
fashion.
Bland, chairman, has called a special
meeting of the committee for tomorrow
at 10 O'Clock, and he will try to force the
fighting. The anti-silver Democrats will
not wait to make fight in the commit
tee to have it referred to various COM
mittees supposed to be hostile to the
measure. They have not been able as
yet to get any assurance of support from
the Republicans, and are extremely
anxious as to the outcome. With the
aid of the Republicans in their refnsal
t, vote, quorum would probably fail of
bsing assured, and action upon the bill
would be indefinitely postponed, but the
Republicans are maintaining an air of
reserve and are not giving any comfort
to the anti-silver Democrats. There has
been no conference among them, but
many say that in the absence of any pro-
gramme they shall vote against the bill
80 as to 60 on record, and will not assist
in any obstructive movement.
The amendment of this bill by the
house is not likely to be so serious in It's
effects upon the final passage of the
measure as has been generally eup-
posed. If the present programme of the
silver men is carried out they intend
pushing the bill with an amendment, If
the latter is found to be necessary, and
send it back to the senate with re-
quest for a conference. By so doing,
they cay, they will avoid the danger OF
having the bill smothered in the finance
committee. which is constituted with a
majority adverse to free silver. No
doubt the senate will accede to such
request, and the presumption is that
there will be one test vote upon the
adoption OF the motion to accede to the
request of the house; and as q confer
ence report, the bill will be so priyi-
legged as to be sure of speedy action.
The committee on rules of the house
did not meet this morning, but will tly
to get together tomorrow. Catchings
says 80 far the majority of the commit
tee has not had any conference respect
ing the treatment of the silver bill, and
he is not prepared to say whether the
committee will require petition signed
by majority of the Democrats before
they will report a special order for its
consideration. He says, and the re-
mark may have some significance. the
status of the bill is materially different
from that of the bill reported by the
house coinage committee, in which case
. petition was required.
There 10 now pending before the rules
committee the resolution introduced by
Pierce, setting apart day Cleft blank)
in July. when it shall be in order to
move a suspension of rules and pass the
bill. The ordinary rules of suspension
day, which shut off fillibustering, would
apply in that case, but there is the fur
tber provision that the majority vote,
instead Of the two thirds vote, shall be
sufficient to pass the bill.
The resolution is intended, of course
TO meet the case OF the silver bill.
The committee has before it Catch
ings's resolution making Thursday, next,
suspension day. This resolution was in
tended to secure vote upon the tariff
bills still pending on the calendar, but
it may be that the committe will ANAL
gamate the resolutions, although this
will encounter the objection of the Re-
publicans who intend to filibuster
against the tariff bills, but have not a.
yet determined to do 30 against the sill
yer bill.
Meantime, conferences are in progress