The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-28
FREE SILVER'S BIG FIGHT
TEE RULES COMMITTEE TO GRANT
A SPECIAL ORDER.

Four Days to Be- Allowed for Debate. |
A Rule Requiring Vote May Be Re-
ported If Filibustering is Attempted. |
Assent to a Conference Not Given by
Great Britain as Reported.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The report that
Great Britain has consented to take part in
an International monetary conference and
has indicated that the Bank Of England is
willing TO hold one-fifth of its reserve in
silver is denied at the treasury department
IN most positive terms, and one prominent
official made no attempt to conceal bis
opinion that the present agitation Of the
question is for the sole purpose of influencing
favorable action on Senator Teller's bill
now before the Senate, providing for an
international conference. thereby effecting
a postponement Of action at this session OF
congress en- the question of free silver.
SECRETARY sPAULDING TALKS.
Gen. Spaulding, acting Secretary of the
Treasury, who IS certainly well informed on
the subject, was asked this afternoon IL it
was true that Great Britain had indicated
its willingness to participate in a monetary
conference.
II have no information Of such action on
the part OF Great Britain he said, land
do not believe the report"
lis not there anything you can say on
the subject for the benefit OF the publicP he
was asked.
mo, 1 think not, he answered. "There's
nothing TO say about it, simply because
there's really nothing in it. You see can't
say what l don't know"
NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.
1t is learned from other sources of un-
questioned reliability that there has been no
material change IN the situation on this
question since the opening of this session of
congress, when the President, in his annual
message on the subject OF bimetallism, said:
II have endeavored by the use of official
and unofficial agencies to keep close obser-
walton of the spirit of public sentiment in
Europe on this question and have not found
it TO be such as TO justify me In proposing
an international conference"
The statement that England is willing to
"open the India minis to silvern is absurd,
as that privilege has existed in India for
years.
MEETING OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the rules committee of the
House has been called for Monday, at which
action will be taken on the request of the
silver men that the Bland bill be made a
special order OF the House. There
will be formal conference of
the democratic members OF the COM
mittee tomorrow. AS result of an
informal talk between three democratic
members of the committee. Speaker Crisp
and Messrs Catchings and McMillin, de-
termination has been reached to bring in a
special order on the silver question. The
form of this order will be fixed tomorrow.
It has been determined to make the Bland
free coinage bill the special order for March
II or q, although this date may possibly
be changed. The purpose is to
give the bill four DAYS for
consideration in the House. Wishin this
time the bill is to be debated and brought
TO vote. No order will be made fixing the
time at which the vote shall be taken, at
least for the present. The fact that the
order only makes the silver bill matter of
special privilege for limited period of time
would perhaps make 1t possible for the anti
silver men to prevent a vote by means Of
hhbustering tactics.
A RULE FOR A VOTE.
1t is said. however, that il necessary a
rule will be brought in to bring the matter
TO a vote. This, however, will not be done
unless it is seen to be absolutely necessary.
The rules committee is reluctant to fix a
time at which vote must be taken. 1t is
thought by members of the committee that
hlrustering will not be found to succeed
uAN bhbv huOWl0uB6 budb Il rus Will %
brought in il necessary in order to check
these tactics will be sufficient to prevent re-
sort TO this method of obstruction.
ANTI-sILvER MEN TO FIGHT.
1t is at present the purpose of Messrs
Cochran Of New Y ork, Andrews aud O'Nell
Of Massachusetts,, and other anti-silver men,
to fight the special order of the rules COM
mlttee at the very outset and eudeavor to
defeat it. While it is the purpose of the
rules committee to report the order Mon
day, it is not intended to call it up for
adoption by the House for some days.
A large number of members of congress
we're in conference with the speaker during
the day. and all presented their opinions on
the silver question. Senator Hill was
among the gentlemen who had quite long
interviews with the speaker.