The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-19
THE BLAND SILVER BILL
causrs DrmocEArIc DIscoRD.
Messrs. Bland aud Harter Lock Horns on
she suhicct-To Protect the Fish In
dustry Washington Notos.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. Feb. ls.- Especial. j.
TIE m.scaeyous effects Of Tracys bad
break" ia provoking silver agitation we're
painfully manifested in tho House today
from a Democratic point OF view AIr Bland
OF Missouri who might be said to carry o sii-
yer chip on Lis shoulder. always ready to
fight i person views 1t without admiration.
fet that he must resent tho futile and foolish
assault upon free silver the other day.
During the consideration Of tho Indian
Appropriation bill to-day Mr. Bland got the
floor ostensibiv 10 discuss that bib, but he
took advantage of the opportunity to Sehu up
Nnd have read "a circular prepared anu aIkheI
by Representative NJ. ID. Narter. OF ONO. ana
addressed @ the Grand Army posts OF the
country. Ia this circular Mr. haItef auNlsed
tie soldiers that free silver OH was on lie
calendar and that an attempt Wouid oe mace
g. rush It through under whlp ana spur. ne
further assured them that the passage
ol a iree silver act would. instead of lucreas-
ing the valuo OF their PENSIONS actually de-
crease Il bv cheauenng the value OF the
money. Mr.. Bland attacked Mr. harter quito
vigorously for having distributed the crcu-
lar.
Mr.. Harter rose 10 o question of personal
privilege lie had taken seat Immediately
a. the ieft hand OF Mr.. Bland There was
some difficulty in the way Of Mr. barter OBJ
tanning recognition, bat the members clam
ored for it,. and he was finally allowed ten
minutes.
DEFENDED HIS POSITION.
lie acknowledged the authorship Of the cir
cuiar and defended his right 20 prepare and
distribute TO- as that Was done AT his own ex-
11anse InasmDch As his Democracy had
been attacked on the ground that he was
q millionaire and a national banker. he
would reply that he was neither. lie
WIS more of a farmer than Mr. Bland.
lie bad been a farmer for twenty years. lie
vas also q manufacturer and he believed IN
free trade among the people FOR the articles
lemaie. He manufactured agricultural im-
uemeuts. and be was opposed 70 protective
tariff which benefited HIM az the expense Of
DIS customers. lie wanted the tariff taken oh
oi arrcuitural implements that the people
might get them less the tariff tax. That was
tle kind of Democrat he was.
Mr. Bland obtained five minutes for reply,
which he consumed In advocating free coin
are Then Harter obtained another five
minutes and ia his speech he denounced the
free Silver bil as class legislation designed 10
benefit the silver miners. lie denied that be
favored gold over silver or had any interest IN
q ld He opposed free silver because II would
ruinouslv contract the currency. All the gold
he bad In the world was a ring on his finger,
which he held up. and his watch.
Mr. Bland shouted that bis watch was sill
yer and as the two disputauts held up their
watches the members roared.
Meantime the Republicans were exulting at
the spectacle of Democratic dlscord They
cheered first one disputant and then the
other Reeds face fairly glowed with the de-
light he felt.
SECURED ENOUGH SIGNATURES.
The free coinage Democrats in the House
have secured the signatures OF a majority or
Democratic members 20 the petition request
ing the Committee on kuies t. set apart ume
ht an early day for the consideration of the
Bland Free Coinage bill. No attempt Will be
made lO get any Il0r8 signatures, but the
petition viii not be presented to the Commit
Tee on Rules until after the return from BOs-
ton Of Representative Catchings, Of Mlssl5-
slupi. a member 1 the Committee on Rules,
10 being desired to have p ma 0rty OF Demo
cratic members OF the committee present
when the petition is acted upon. Mr.. Catch
lL-s ls expected to retaru this week, but the
free coinage men Will not present the petition
until several daYs alter his arrival here ia
order 10 give the committee "a chance TO set
alarJ time for the consideration OF the blI
without being Influenced IN doing so.
Ilis 10 is believed. VIII strengthen the cause
O. .ree coinage IN the House. The free COIN
age men are much encouraged at the success
of their Efforts IN securing majority OF DEM
ocratc names TO their petition, and they con-
tend that with the free coinage Republicans
the larlers Alliance men and 4 number of
ACKNOWLEDGED free coinage Democrats who
did not sign the petition there Will be no dlt-
hculty IN passing the Bland bil.
THE ANTS ALARMED.
The anu-free coinage Democrats are evil
de ty alarmed az the activity of their OppO-
nents on the silver question and they VIII
endeavOr TO have "a Democratic caucus calad
for Thursday nj Int ON next week. 10 consider
the Bland bill and the silver question gen
orally, with view % deciding on a policy
that viii be Tor the best interests of the
party. Copies of a petition drawn By Repre-
sentative Harter of ONO, requesting Mr..
Holman. chairman OF the Democratic caucus
e. call q caucus on the night named. were
circulated about the House to-day by Alr
Haror. Mes-rs. Andrews and hOar. of Massa-
cnusetts and several others.
Dir. Pierce. OF tennessee. who Is Mr.. BANDS
chief lieutenant on the Committee on Coinage
Weights and Measures told United Press
reporter to-day that the free coinage men
were only too willing 90 have a caucus on the
silver question. They had, he said, sucn q
large majority that free coinage would be
sanctioned without trouble lie, however.
Cll not sec what good su b q caucus could be
81 it's action were not made binding on those
who amended IT, and be had heard one of the /
gentlemen engaged lu circulating the petition
for the caucus says he would not be bound
by decision ii 1t Was iu favor of the Free
Coinage oll,
rO PROTECT TIsu