The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-14
FREE SILVER CONGRESS.
STRONG FOLLOWING IN THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The Matter Brought Up, and Formally
Discussed, But Action POST
poned for tho Present.
Special to the REcoRp-uNroN.

OkCSldi " the IbECOhb-ONIONs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Tmmediately
after the House Committee on Coinage.
Weights and Measures effected an organi-
cation this morning, Pierce of Tennessee
offered a resolution to report a free silver
bill without delay. The discussion that
arose on the resolution showed the COM
mlttee is free-coinagec committee, though
both free silver and anti-free silver men
opposed the adoption of the resolution on
the ground that it was too precipitate.
The resolution is as follows:
ReSOtUed, That it is the sense of this COM
mittee that a bill for the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver should be reported to the
House without delay.
The resolution was unexpected by most
of the other members Of the committee
and rather irregular, but it had the effect
desired, that of pressing the question to
the front.
Kilgore of Texas said he had no doubt
the committee would report a free coinage
bill, but he saw no necessity for adopting
such resolution at the first committee
meeting.
Bartine of Nevada, the leader of the
Republican free-silver men in the last
Congress, said he was as heartily in favor
of free coinage as any man, but it was the
first meeting Of the committee, and two
members opposed to free coinage were
absent. 1t might look like snap judg-
ment to pass the resolution.
Williams of Massachusetts, protested
against the resolution in quite a long
speech. He warned the majority that if
they sincerely believed they had Just
cause, hasty and oppressive methods in
forwarding that cause would be the best
argument that could be used against them
and against their cause.
Stone of PENNSYLVANIA oDn0Sed tho roc
OlutiOn as being a verdict taken before
evidence was put in.
EpeS said he was elected on a free
silver platform. but did not wish to have
the question forced until he had a little
more light.
Robertson of Louisiana came out
strongly for free coinage and against I'M
necessary delay, but thought the resoIu-
ton should not be adopted just yet
Chairman Bland also thought the reso-
luton might go over, but suggested that
a change in its form might make it unob-
lectionable. He suggested the resolution
be modified so as TO simply announce it
to be the purpose of the committee to take
up the coinage question at once. No OBJ
position was manifested to this modifica-
Iion.
Pierce finally withdrew his resolution
Tor the present, aud by common consent
the subject went over until next meeting
The meeting closed after Williams
brought TO the attention of the committee
the question of the adoption of the metric
system.
Bland proposed to refer the subject to 4
subcommittee, and this will be done.
The sentiment Of the committee appears
to be adverse to any prolonged hearings
that will prevent the consideration of the
subject by the House until the session is
well advanced, though the members are
willing to hear arguments to the point
and not of unusual length. The roll-call
showed ten out of thirteen members pres
ent, the absentees being Tracy Dem of
New York, Taylor Rep of Illinois and
Mckeighan (lnd.) of Nebraska
BLAND TALKS.
After the meeting Chairman Bland said
to an Associated Press reporter: '.Thare
is no doubt the sense of the committee is
in favor of a free coinage bill. The reso-
luton which Pierce to-day introduced
was merely to test the sense Of the COM
mittee upon the silver question. There
is evidently a majority of the COMMITTEES
favorable TO the resolution, but we
thought there should be a fair opportu
nifty for full discussion"
You think the resolution for 2 FREQ
coinage bill will be adopted?''
Il think the temper of the committee
is to take up the subject without DELAY
and report free coinage bill to the House
at an early date"
"Will that bill be strictly free coinage
bill, or will coinage be limited to the
American product"
"tThere will be no American product
about it, or any other limitations. 1t will
be general free coinage bill. and in my
opinion such bill will pass the House"