The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-28
snver Legislation Improbable.

Il ENT6T LeRl6lAIlOQ lmDrODaOles
Ii is announced from Washington that
arrangements for an international bimet-
/ talic currency conference have been com
/ pleted, and that the conference will be held
at an early day. 1t Is understood that this
country, England, France and Ger many
will take part in it. II this announcement
is true it is probable that there will be no
/ further attempt at silver legislation during
1 the present session Of congress.
Atthe conference Of the democratic mem
bers Of congress Thursday night on the
silver question no conclusion was reached.
It was stated. however, that a majority Of
those present were in favor Of passing
bill authorizing the free coinage OF silver.
But IL this country and the leading com
mercial countries Of Europe are TO have q
conference relative 20 silver coinage 1t
would be impossible probably to get mas
Jority Of the members OF the House 20
agree TO consider a free coinage silver bill
before the result OF that conference was
known.
The silver question is a troublesome one
20 both the Democratic and Republican
parties, and both would like to have il
taken out Of politics. There is no proba-
bility. Of course, that the Republican party
would pass free silver coinage bill, although
there are republican congressman who
would vote for such bill If there should be
an opportunity to do 30, and the Democratic
party has nothing to gain and great deal
to lose by putting itself in the position Of
favoring such q bill.
The debate at the caucus Of the demo-
cratic congressman Thursday night was an
interesting one. and indicated that demo-
cratic opposition to any silver legislation at
this session Of congress was very strong
The member Of the caucus who made the
speech that attracted the most attention
said that no democrat in the present con-
gress had been elected to pass a free silver
coinage bill All of them. he said, had
been elected on the tariff reform ISSUE
There was no obligation, therefore, resting
on the Democratic party to pass free sill
YER coinage bill.
Coupled with the announcement relative
to conference is statement that England
has begun to realize that her interests re-
quire that there shall be some agreement Of
the leading commercial countries that will
give silver greater stability in the markets
of the world. While she may not be WILL
ing to be party to an agreement that
would be wholly satisfactory to this coun-
try, there are reasons for thinking that she
would readily take a position much more
advanced than the one she now occupies.
1t is not probable that a conference would
meet with any opposition from congress.
Even those who are the strongest advocates
of free silver coinage are likely to give it
their approval, because more is to be ex-
pected from It In behalf Of silver than from
congress. And the democratic congressman
who favor free silver coinage ought to re-
joice at the-prospect that a conference
promises for the settlement OF the silver
question, because that question, although IL
is certain that no bill authorizing the free
coinage Of silver will become law as long
as Gen. Harrison is President, is very
bothersome one to the Democratic party.