The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-17
r. IlE... LGoAo.
THE WORK OF THE EXTRA
SESSION.
What VIII, They Do !?

The democratic Leaders OF the House
proved themselves equal to the occa-
sion, and broke the record for new
Congress By getting TO work on the sll-
yer question ON tho fifth day Of the
session. They ALAG disappointed the
republicans who were cooked and prim-
ed 10 arraign the democrats at the bar
Of public opinion on the charge OF In
territorial procrastination. The repub-
licans have been 80 surprised at the
ease with which the democrats reached
an agreement to take up the silver
question, in advance Of the appoint
ment Of committees, discuss it fourteen
days and then vote upon the repeal OF
the purchasing clause Of the Sherman
law and amendments thereto for the
free coinage Of silver at ratio OF l6,
II, 18, -, or 20 to one. and for the
substitution of the old Bland act,
which was the law before the Sherman
act was passed in 1890, that they have
Just begun to charge the democrats
with railroading the matter through
the House The democrats are perfectly
willing to plead guilty to the charge
of railroading the question they be-
lievc that the situation required rail
reading, and that the people had q
right to expect it. The agreement I'M
der which the debate is now being con-
Quoted is thoroughly democratic it
provides for an equal division Of time
and busterlny, and the decision Of the
question Is to he made solely by the
majority in the House. 1t looks now
as though the bill for the uncondition-
| al repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman law would pass, although
there il n probability that amendment
providing for The free coinage OF silver
st an increased ratio may be added to
the bill.
Up to this time the debate has been
carried n II spirit of liberation. al
though some Of the speakers on both
sides-silver and anti-sllver. there are
no political sides recognized in the de-
| hate-have made some rather strong
atatements The small attendance i,
surprising, in view Of the great inter
est throughout the country in the re
suit. OF course every body knows thai
it is easy for members of the House t
find more comfortable places than thei
seats III the House to spend their time
from IL a. M, to ) p. ~, daily, but j
does seem that more of them should re
gard it duty to attend the session
th1in do. While there is no actual lie
cessity for their being present, if the.
do not intend to speak, until the votin
begins, still it would look better to Sc
them in their seats.
The democratic Senators have no
found it SO easy to agree upon q pre-
gramme for the disposal Of the silve
: question in the Senate, although tn
, committee appointed by the democrat
/ ic caucus, of which Senator German
chairman, has made some progress te
wards compromise, and there is reas
on for the belief that it will eventual
succeed The most radical silver me
in Congress are republican Senator.
9 and it is their influence which make
, it difficult to get the democratic Sens
tors to agree upon a compromise sui
stitute for the Sherman law. There
little, if any, probability that a bill fo
the repeal of the entire law Or the pui
, chasing cla'lse can get through the Ser
ate without being accompanied by
substitute.
The town has been full et .ili, IT
mors about President Cleveland's healt]
since his return to Gray Gables, unde
2 his physicians orders,in search Of mucl
hCSOCN AC-t. Ae; Vts~s, - Vel SlIIlp
: and there is no occasion for runol
There is nothing the matter with tn
Presidents general health, but he ha
been over-working himself since the At
OF March, and being only human, hi
e system is now paying the penalty, an
r demands the rest which he has not b<
. before felt at liberty to give it. Their
is really TO good reason why he shoul
5e in " ashingtou during the discussio
Of the silver question. Ia. fact, the,
:, are more reasons for his being ava,
/ Had he remained here he would COZ
p stantly have been charged with tryin
to influence votes in some way or OIL
er. Being away he can get needed re-
and no one can accuse him of trying I
: interfere with the Constitutional righ
4 Of Senators and Representatives
q The agreement to take up the silvt
question in the House was great r,
;, lief to Speaker Crisp, as it will enab
him to take his time in making up til
committees, for there will be nothin
for them to do until after the silve
rrcSfi,,, ;s Ni.,o.uo.l ~