Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-28
THE SILVER BILL DEAD.
No C1oture Rule Unless Requested By ma
Jority OF Democrats.

Jority OF Democrats.
r1os-pEMocRArs REFUSE TO sIss-rHK SILVER
MEN DowScAsr AND DIsHEARrFNEp-rHEy
WILL NOT TRY TO Oct SIGNATURES
The indications are today that Mr.. Reed will
not be able to hold all the anti-silver republi-
cans together in opposition to the adoption Of
a rule which will compel . vote on the silver
bill great many republicans who are op-
posed to the bill believe that they can get
a political advantage by compelling the
democrats to face the issue directly, and in
seeking this advantage they are willing to take
the chances OF losing what they have already
gained.
Mr.. Reed and others who believe in fighting
the silver bill all along the line ase understood
to have put in much of yesterday and last
night in trying TO get the minority party in
line to do the most effective fighting; but other
men think they know better at the game Of
politics and are very set in their ways.
From the eastern republican standpoint Mr..
Reeds little party in the House got a decided
advantage in political position by their conduct
when the silver bill was given two very bad
black eyes.
The result then has pretty we'll satisfied
every one that the republicans. by voting with
bill, and the view held by many Of Mr.. Reeds
followers is that. having demonstrated what
they can do they will be held responsible il
they fail to do all in their power against the
bill at every step and it should pass.
Ii they could be sure that in the end they
would defeat the bill. it is urged, they might
afford to play fast and loose with the democrats,
| voting with the silver men TO bring the bill
up and then with the anti-silver men to defeat
It. IL, however. by voting to take the bill up
they let the question get beyond their control
and the bill is passed they have a RESPONSE
bllity fixed upon them by their anti-silyer con-
stltuents which they would not. under any
ordinary circumstances, be called upon 70
| shoulder. This argument is being used for all
there Is In 1t. but does not seem to be entirely
| effective.
THE RULE MAY NOT BE MADE.
| large number Of the republicans-possibly
a majority of them-have decided to vote for the
cloture rule if it is reported from the commit
| tee on rules. The committee did not hold q
Getting today, and there are reports Of a more
or less vague character that there is a hitch in
the matter, and that 1t may be that no rule viii
! be adopted.
1t is asserted by anti-siver men that at the
caucus, when the democrats approved the rul,
providing for a cloture, the Speaker and mem
mers OF the committee on rules declared tina
the rule would never be availed of except wher
petitioned for by majority of the democrats.
| There has been no such petition presented 3,
the committee asking for another day for th,
silver bill with the previous question ordered
| Ihe anti-stlver men insist, therefore, that th,
committee on rules cannot with any propriet,
| report Mr.. Bands resolution.
| The radical silver men declare that a majorit
OF the democrats have very clearly expresse,
their wishes, and that they will not get up an
petition.
| SPEAKER cRrsPs DECISION.
The silver men have understood that
special order bringing in cloture rule woul
be reported to the House tomorrow and tele
graphed to all their men to be in the House to
morrow. This morning Speaker Crisp in
formed them that no special order would b
brought In unless a majority of the democrati
members Of the House signed petition askin
that cloture rule be brought in. Speake
Crisp was asked this morning if the report wa
true that the order would not be brought il
unless the majority Of the democrats sigped
petition.
He replied: THAT is my inclination"
Then the silver bill will never be brough
to voteY queried the reporter.
Il don't know that folIows" said tn
Speaker. They had two-thirds majority O
the democrats and may get a majority TO sig
the petition"
DIFFERENT CASE ENTIRELY.
Speaker Crisp said today that the situatio
when it came to reporting cloture rule wa
very different from that when day was aske
for the consideration Of the silver bill.
In the first place the two propositions at
different and many who demand a hearing 10
the bill may oppose cloture proposition o.
principle
A very large majority of the democrats
least thirty or forty-he said, we're supposed 3
be in favor Of the consideration of the bill.
A petition was signed by more than 10
l democrats nf
tee fixing day was adopted by
large vote. On test of strength
however. it was found that the silver men di
not have a majority. In fact tine bill woul
voted to make it tie and thus saveds the bi
from being tabled 1t is a simple matter TO
them to sign petition asking for it
SILVER MEN DowNcAsr.
Mr.. Bland, Mr.. Pierce and other silver me-
were seen. Mr.. Bland was very downcast owe
the news that he might not be able to force :
a vote the measure he has worked on for s
long. He admitted that the report that tn
silver bill had met with another set bacl
and one which practically meant il
death without q final vote, was we
founded. but said that the matte
} was not absolutely settled. Mr.. Pierce was
, little more confident, but he and Mr.. Blan,
said they would have nothing to do with tn
circulation OF any more petitions One Of tn
other silver men, however, attempted to &c
signers to petition of the natur
suggested by the Speaker, but met witt
poor success for, already stated
35 of the men who have heretofore voted 70
the silver bill refused to sign it. Among tn
number was Mr.. Compton of Maryland, VIII
not only declined to sign the petition, but CAV
notice that if any cloture resolution is brough
in he will vote against it The anti-silver mel
are exultant over the change in the situation
but the pronounced silver advocates are exceed
ingly irritated and angry and do not hesitste Il
have received.
Apparently there is no chance in the work
of getting a majority Of the democrats 10 sigl
q request for q cloture rule, and it 10 under
stood that Mr.. Bland and other silver leader
refuse to circulate petition.