The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-12
pIUNGING INTO DEBATE.
coxaprs, TACKLES THE FISANCIAL
MfsTERIEs IN EARNEST.
Several Bills are Introduced, Embracing q
plan Of Advantageous VIM. l..
Wilson Leader Of Anti-silvcr Men.
TIMrs BUREAU. RAPLEY BUILDING.
w x....,1-ox- Ar,,tot IL 1904

the average Congressman knows but lit
| tie about, and the majority OF the mem
bers here INDUCED in their largest sue
cessful financial transaction when they
| drew their first months salary.
The silver and anti-silver men have
arrived at a full understanding OF the
method Of procedure which will be fol-
lowed. Il is as follows:
Mr.. Wilson, OF West Virginia, intro
duced bill providing for the simple re-
peal Of the Sherman purchasing clause.
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, offered a sub
stitute providing for the free coinage of
silver at the present ratio Of l6 20 /, en-
bracing also the repeal Of the Sherman
law. A debate OF two weeks will follow.
and at the end of that time a vote Will
be taken. The ratio Will then be changed
is II to and another vote taken. then
Is 10 / and then 20 TO j. Then the Bland
Allison act will be substituted and voted
upon. If then none OF these propositions
have been adopted n vote Is to be taken
upon Mr.. Wilson's bill TO simply repeal
the Sherman law. II is expressly provided
that no amendments, such as the repeal
OF the tax on State banks and the pro-
vision that national banks may issue
notes 10 the full amount OF their deposit
ed. The only amendments to be received
at all are those changing the ratio as the
votes have been taken.
Thus the fight is on, and for two weeks
the battle will be waged. and most peo-
pie seem TO think that the climax viii
be reached when the vote comes on the
20 to / ratio
Hon. Isidor Rayner, Of Maryland, start
ed the ball rolling In vigorous and elo-
10, Oh r. hi ,1tr
Gated gold alone as the money standard,
unless the refusal OF the Government to
longer buy il should result In an inter-
national agreement upon ratio which
should stand for universal coinage.
He was followed by Mr.. Bland. the
champion of free coinage at the present
ratio. and thus to-day the outlines Of the
extremes have been cast and the wide
scope OF debate practically encOmpasscd.
The naming Of Mr.. William J.. Wilson
by the anti-silver men as their leader
was something Of a surprise to the friends
Of General Tracey and Bourke Cochran.
Of New York, but evidently the wise
leaders believed that II would strengthen
their hands to have the gentleman from
West Virginia rather than the New York
leaders. who would at once be charged
as Wall street supporters Of mOnometal-
lism.
modest and vile utterances on the floor
of the House in the Fifty-frst Congress
are well remembered. and which resulted
In his defeat for the Fifty-secOnd Con-
gress, is again on the floor, and this
morning attempted 10 lead a Republican
opposition to the procedure Of the debate,
but Reed. Burrows and the other leaders
refused TO support him and his diiatory
tactics failed for lack Of encouragement
on that side OF the chamber.
Hon. Harry Tucker said this morning
| that since he had arrived on the ground
and interviewed the leaders on both
sides of the financial question he was
! very much encouraged about the out
come, and believed that in a short time
an agreement would be reached by the
| extreme men on either side which would
| result in n measure satisfactory alike
| to those who desired an honest donar and
| to those who desired that there should
| be no decrease I'm the volume Of currency.
| He expressed himself as much impressed
| with the patriotic desire on the part Of
| those representing every phase Of the
| question. and saia that he did not doubt
that within three weeks the matter would
| receive the final sanction Of Congress
| and the President What the measure
| will be- he thinks, is still a matter OF
| doubt, but believes that the Sherman law
| will be repealed with the free coinage Of
| silver at an increased ratio, or that the
| Sherman law will be repealed with the
| substitution Of some measure like the
| Bland-Allison bill.
| He added that he had never seen the
| Democratic party more determined TO car
ry out the pledges of the Chicago Con-
vention and bring about the relief which
that platform promised.
There are still some o1ice-seekers Of
| h. Ill In To
county has just furnished the latest can
didate for Federal favors. Colonel b.
| 6. Ashby, OF Orange, arrived In the
| city on the day Of the Democratic eau
Gus for the doOrkeepership Of the House,
| and seeking his Congressman, Mr.. Mere
| dith, he announced himself as a candi-
date for that position. Mr. Meredith as
sured him that the Virginia delegation
was pledged 10 support Mr.. HURT. and
he was reconciled. The next day he in
formed Mr.. Meredith that he was a cam
didate for the position Of assistant Sec
rotary of Agriculture and again was he
met with the painful assurance that Mr..
5. Wexford COrbin had received the en-
dorsement Of the Virginia delegation.
This was the trying period Here was
the hour that tests the stamina Of men
and makes the boundary line between
uncompromising patriots and the weak
| iiilbS VI 'dINH WHO ldlteT on the field
and fly at the thought Of defeat. This
was the crucial moment for Colonel
Ashby, Of Orange, and be IL said to
his eternal credit that his heart was
not faint, nor his purpose weak He is
now strongly backed for a position as
nightwatchnan at the Capitol and dur
| ing the long watches OF this winter. as
the pale stars glisten on the cold marble
dome, It Will be this unswerying and
persevering gentleman from Orange who
VIII see that nobody moves the Capitol
| while Congress is not In session.
a number Of gentlemen representing
afternoon papers belonging TO the South
ern Associated Press We're In conference
IN Washington yesterday, regarding the
special handling here of their telegraphic
matter. Mr. Joseph 6. Fiveash. of the
Norfolk Ledger and Mr.. Archer. Of the
Richmond state. were among those pres
ent. The question Of n competent man
to handle their news being under dis
cussion. they unanimously elected Mr..
ID. l.. Selke. of the Petersburg Index
| Appeal, for the position. Mr. Selke is a
cultivated gentleman and an excellent
newspaper man, and will greatly add ia
the value OF the news service of these
papers.
| There are many speculatons now az
10 the gentlemen who Will make the va
rious nominating speeches at the State
Convention next Thursday. II is said
that Hon. Rufus b. Ayers will probably
nominate Hon. ]. Hoge Tyler and that
Colonel Charles Stringfellow will name
Colonel Buford. The name Of the gem