The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-23
FROM
WASHINGTON
Wrestling With Silver Law
Legislators Waiting for the Brussels
Conference TO Make a Move.
Nothing 10 be Done in the Direction Of
Silver Legislation Until it
AdiOurDS.

WAoHINCTuN. Dec. lG.-Two commit
tees of the house are now wrestling with
the proposed repeal Of the sherman law,
and watching with close interest the pro-
cecdings of the international monetary
conference at Brussels. These two com
mittecs are designated as the committee
on coinage. weights and measures and
the committee OF banking and currcn-
cy." The functions of these committees
are closely related. and several times in
the past it has happened that each was
dealing at the same time with the same
subject IN a somewhat different form.
BANDS coinage committee has before
it the Williams bill proposing the repeal
Of the Sherman law, and the banking
committee. of which Bacon of New York
is chairman. has had referred to it the
bill introduced a few days ago by Mr.. An
drew of Massachusetts. entitled ~ bill
to increase the circulation of national
banks, and for other purposes One OF
these "Othcr purpuses is embodied in
Section (, which repeats tl," Sherman sill
yer purchase act. 1t thus Happened thai
under the rules Of the house each com,
mittee can deal with the subject. MIR,
Bland has always insisted that his com
mittee has exclusive uiisdicti1n Of every
thing affecting silver. and if the mon
tary question assumes It I've anH engros
..., t..-, 80 ttt- g..rt1t, - So anita, liz.
~ he would raise a point Oh IT," matter
in the house.
The banking committee held It's first
meeting Of the season this morning
There was a bare quorum present ant
no action was taken save to call up FOL
consideration the bill of Mr.. Andrew ;
There was an informal discussion Of the
|, silver question, but the uncertainty o
the outcome of theinternational monetar,
conference hung like a pail over the dis
~cussiOn and prevented that recdom o
suggestion that might have occurred hat
it been known absolutely what con
clusiUns would be reached at the Brus
, sells conference.
The members Of the coinage com
a mittee and the banking committee ar
pretty generally in accord as to wha
may be expected from the conference
T Chairman Bland Of the former commit
tee has already on several occasions eN
( pressed his belief that it would amour
to nothing.
Chairman Bacon, when asked abou
I the conference, dryly said. "lt IS a yer
y respectable body of gent emcn, who vi.
hold "A number Of meetings. do Il grca
= deaf of talking and adjourn. don
think they will accomplish anythin
L more.
The banking committee adjourned tC
day to meet January 8, ncyt. and it vi
then probably take up the Andrew hi
: and begin its active consideration. Ia
committee j. medr up on lines dllicrcr
from the COlnage committee. and - n,
50 favorable to the free and un.imitC
T coinage of sllyer 0r to the continuance I
t the Sherman silver purchasing act as II
Bland committee.
The house committee q, appropriation
' vigorously s!ashed the Qualifications Al
' propriation bill ami It viii b" rcpOrte
la the house early next week 10y II
u Brrckinridg" Of Kc"tlcky. the chat
man Of the subcommittee The Till f
the coming tiscin yea carries an aggr
= gate appropriation Of ahoat % per Gel
less than the total account for the ca
" rent fiscal year The total amount IL
propriated 10y the ne" bill Is $i.i3J,O1
while the act for tho current year Il!
prcpatcl -, I3i.21,J. 4 reduction ~ S!EE
- .Dp1