Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-14
FREE COINAGE KNOCKED OUT,
The Stewart Bill Receives Its
Death Blow.
A Test Vote in the House Relegated
1t TO the Rear.
The Measure Defeated by Majority OF
Eighteen Quay and PETERS
worlds Fair Amendments
Pass the Senate.


WASHINGTON, July i3.-The attend
ance in the nouse was large this morn
ing. The anti-silver Democrats were
full OF confidence; the Republicans
alert; the silver men determined, but
evidently with little hope of success.
Their programme was suddenly changed
this morning. They resolved to force
the fighting and make the engagement
decisive of the silver question. So they
resolved to adopt the usual course, vot-
ing against the previous question on the
adoption OF special rule allowing the
bill to be called up. If defeated, it
would be regarded as test vote. If
they succeeded in defeating the previous
question, the plan would be to offer an
amendment to the rule permitting the
amendment of the bill to cure the OBJ
iections made in the caucuses and also
the eloture, so as to insure final vote
ON the passage of the bill as amended.
The ball was opened by Catchings,
Speaker Crisp's lieutenant, who re-
ported from the committee on rules
resolution to make the silver bill the
special order of the day. Ex-Speaker
Reed, as the representative of the Re-
publicans, was on his feet instantly, at
the conclusion of the reading of the mo-
tion by the clerk, and moved to lay the
resolution on the table. The speaker
declined to recognize Reed, ruling that
Catchings had the floor. Reed insisted
on his right to make the motion in ad-
vance of the one from Catchings, who
was in control of the resolution, and
disclosed the purpose of his motion. 1t
was to kill the resolution, and with it
the silver bill. The speaker maintained
his position that Catchings had the
floor.
Catchings yielded the floor to Chair
man Bland of the coinage committee,
who offered an amendment to the reso-
luton. having for its object pathway
to the amendment of the Stewart bill,
apply the cloture rule to the bill.
Bland spoke fifteen minutes and was
followed by Bartine, of Nevada, lead
ing free-silver Republican, who spoke in
the same strain.
Clark, of Alabama, spoke in opposi-
tion. Though in favor of free coinage he
recognized the impossibility of making
the present bill law.
Patterson, of Tennessee (Democrat),
heretofore clasEed as free coinageman,
spoke against the bill, saying he did not
want another issue. He would march
under the banner, "A public Office is a
public trust"
Reed then delivered philippe against
the change of front by the Democratic
party on free silver.
Reed was followed by Abner Taylor, of
Illinois. against the bill,
Pierce, of Tennessee, and Culberson,
of Texas, apoke in favor of it.
Bland closed the debate. Then Catch
ings called for the previous question on
his resolution.
On motion of Tracey, the yeas and
nays were ordered and the vote resulted
in the defeat of the free coinage men,
the previous question being ordered -
1853 yeas to 125 nays.
Catchings was again recognized and
moved the adoption of the resolution.
This time the silver men voted "yea"
as the defeat OF Catchings's motion
meant the death OF free coinage this ses-
sion. The silver men were less than ten
votes stronger on the direct proposition,
and the resolution reported by the com
mittee on rules was defeated by 1S6yeas
to 154 nays, majority against the con-
eideration of the Stewart silver bill
of Is.
The negative vote was cast by "a Dem
ocrats and 80 Republicans.
This vote is the death of silver legis-
lation at this session. The Stewart bill
remains at the foot of the long roll OF
bills sleeping the sleep OF death on the
overburdened calendar.
Tracy of New York made formal par
liamentary motion to reconsider the
vote, and to table the motion, and the
house proceeded to consider OF her busi-
ness.
The house then proceeded to the con-
Eideration of private pension bills. Fif-
ty-seven were passed and the house ad-
journed.
Although feeling very much dissatis-
fed, the free coinage men accept their
defeat philosophically, with the con-
seriousness that they made strong fight,
and in the belief that they have done
their full duty. Now that the bill ie prac-
ticaly shelved, the free silver men are not
slow to admit that they believe the bill
to be in critical condition before the
vote WAS taken, were therefore not sur
prised at the result. The general opin-
ion of the members of the house this
afternoon was that the prospects of sill
yer legislation during the present ses-
sion have vaniahed