The record-union., 1893-02-10
The Question Settled So Far as
This Congress is Concerned.
THE HOUSE REFUSES TO REPEAL
THE SHERMAN ACT.
By Vote of 15e to 143 the CIoture is
Defeated and the Resolution Re-
committed to the Rules Committee,
Which is Regarded as Practically
Ending the Matter at the Present
Session.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1ox.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Immediately
after the reading of the journal in the
House to-day, Catchings DEM of Mis-
slssippi called up the resolution of the
Committee on Rules setting apart this
legislative day, and, if necessary, the next
legislative day, for consideration of the
bill repeating the Sherman Silver Act.
Bacon Dem.) of New York offered an
amendment for a vote on the bill and all
pending amendments at P. NJ. to-mor-
row, after which no dilatory motion shall
! be entertained until the bill is finally dis
! posed of. In brief speech he said the
silver question should be disposed of here
and now. The amendment is in form
exactly like that proposed by Bland last
summer, and was in substance the same
as the rules reported by such stanch
Democrats as Randall and Mills, and
such Republicans as Reed. He would.
accordingly, move to vote down the pre-
| vlous question in order that a vote might
| be obtained. Gentlemen should under
stand that vote against his motion was
vote against the bill, and they must
take the responsibility. He told his side
of the House that the Rules Committee
was not here opposing his motion, the
authority for which statement Pierce of
Tennessee disputed.
Bland DEM of Missouri then took the
| floor for the other side. lie said: 1.-The
! gentlemen who are here now demanding
the cloture were all opposed to consider
ing it last summer. Now they wanted
! the clotuie in order to demonetize silver
at the dictation of Wall street. The bill
proposed to be brought up was mon
strosity. Leave silver alone till the tariff
is revised and the alien laws reformed,
! on which questions they were all agreed"
Rland's words were loudly applauded.
Bartine of Nevada, free-silver Repub-
lican, followed in a speech against the
amendment of Bacon and. the repeal of
the Sherman law. He gave warning that
the Andrew-Cate bill would never be
brought to a vote if he could prevent it,
for the gentleman from New York and
his associates had filibustered the free
silver bill to death.
Watson (Rep.) of Georgia denounced
the AndrewCate bill as donation to the
national banks.
Bryan (Dem.) of Nebraska opposed the
amendment to the rule because he op-
posed the bill. The Sherman bill was
hostage given the free-coinage men by
the gold bugs, and they would hold the
child, ugly and deformed as it was, until
/ they were given free coinage.
The roll-call was taken on ordering the
previous question. Interest was intense,
and many members followed the call with
/ tally sheets of their own. When it was
generally known that the silver men had
carried the day and ordered the previous
question Williams demanded recapitu-
! lation Of the vote, after which the
Speaker, amid applause, declared the pre-
vious question by vote of I52 to l43.
An analysis of the vote shows that the
motion was supported by l07 Democrats,
30 Republicans and 10 sPopulists. The
opposition consists of 1G4 Democrats and
80 Republicans. The strong Democratic
showing made in favor of the cloture on
the repeal of the silver bill was a sur
prise, and all that prevented its adoption
was a division on other than silver lines
OF the Republicans, many of whom, in
Guiding Burrows, Dolliver, Hopkins of
Illinois and Lind, believe it good party
policy to leave the silver question for the
incoming administration TO deal with.
Cox then moved to recommit the reso-
! luton to the Committee on Rules, and on
a standing vote this was agreed to, $50 to
So. The yeas and nays could not be
ordered, owing to the lack of strength by
the opponents.
! The recommittal of the report is re-
garded as an end to the silver question in
this Congress.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole for further consideration of
the Legistativea appropriation bill. Amend
ments were adopted providing that here
after no public building be draped in
mourning on the death OF executive Of
ficials, and prohibiting the use of public
funds for funeral expenses of Govern
ment officials or employees.
The committee then rose and reported
the bill 10 the house. Dearmond moved
to recommit the bill, with instructions,
and have it reported back with an amend
ment striking out the appropriations for
the Civil Service Commission. Lost-24
to 113.
Adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sin the Senate
to-day Frye, in reporting back adversely
certain amendments referred to the
Committee on Commerce, proposing river
| and harbor appropriations, said the sun
1 dry civil appropriation bill already con-
tanned river and harbor appropriations to
the amount OF about $4,000, 900 under the
continuing contract clause, and that the
! Committee on.Commerce would not re-
commend any further river and harbor
appropriations.
At noon the Senate went into executive
session. When the doors reopened un-
| finished business on the automatic car
coupler bill was taken up, the question
being on amendment offered by Doiph to
that offered by Morgan.
Morgan's amendment requires the
Attorney General to bring suit for con-
demnation OF any coupling patent that
may be selected. and Dolph's is that no
railway company shall be required to use
/ such patent until such condemnation has
taken place.
| The amendments and bill VI ere debated
at much length and finally Cullom moved
to lay the Morgan and Dolph amend
ments on the table; carried-yeas SO.
nays 8.
Price offered an amendment, but with
drew it in favor Of one suggested by Pal