The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-04
Mr.. Carlisle Says the Passage of Either
Measure Will Not Revive the Free
Coinage Law of 1887.
MORE COMPROMISE GOSSIP
Democrats Fear the Issuance Of
Bonds Would Hurt the Party.
Mr.. DOlph Upholds Mr.. Cleveland's Fl.
nancial PositiOn-Mr. Dubois Pro-
vokes Leader Voorhees,.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-Representative
Springer has been carefully looking into
the legal status of the silver-act repeal
bills, with view to ascertaining whether
the passage of either of these bills would
restore the absolute free-coinage act OF
1897 After an examination of all the laws,
he has reached the conclusion that the re-
vival of the clause of the act of 1887 fixing
the amount of silver in the standard silver
dollar might possibly be construed as war
ranting the unlimited coinage of silver by
a free-silver Secretary OF the Treasury.
Mr.. Springer called the matter to the at
tention of Secretary Carlisle. In explain
ing his discovery, Mr.. Springer told Mr..
Carlisle that tho Sherman act repealed so
much of the act of Feb. %, 1873, entitled
act to authorize the coinage of the standard
silver dollar and to restore its legal ten
der character, as required the monthly
purchase and coinage of the same into sill
yer dollars of not less than S2,000,0OO worth
of silver bullion" In place of this 1t pro-
vides for the purchase Of 100000 ounces,
and it is this substituted amount which the
voorhees, bill, now pending in the Senate,
repeals. But the remainder OF the act or
Feb 2S, 1873 remains intact, and the pas
sage Of the VOORHEES, bill would establish
the following portions Of that act as the
law Of the land, namely:
.'There shall be coined, at the several
minis Of the United States, silver dollars or
the weight OF 412l troy Of standard silver.
as provided in the act or JAN is 1881, on
which shall be the devices and the super
scriptions as provided by said act, which
coins together with all silver dollars hereto
fore coined by the United states OF IKE
weight and fneneSs shall be a legal tender
at their nominal value for al DEBTS 1a ana
otherwise expressly stipulated In the con-
tract"
This re-establishes the act of 1887 without
imposing any limitations on the amount OF
silver dollars that shall be coined" Sec
ton IA of the act of 1897 which is thus re-
vived, says: THAT gold and silver bullion
brought to the mint for coinage shall be re-
ceived and coined by the proper officers
| for the benefit of the depositors" There Is
| a provision that not less than 500 worth
| shall be received as such deposit. Other
| wise 1t is free-coinage law pure and SIM
pie.
To a correspondent Mr.. Springer said:
| ut seems to me that blunder has been
made and we have narrowly escaped enact
ing a free-coinage law. Certainly, were
| the Voorhees, bill to be passed as IL now
| stands we should be acting under the pro-
| visions of the law of 1897. and If there
| should happen TO be a free-coinage Secre-
tary of the Treasury he could SO construe
| ii. 1t strikes me that the VOORHEES, bill will
| have to be amended so that the entire first
section of the act Of 1878 is repealed in ad-
dition to the purchasing clause OF the Sher-
man law"
To-day after an examination OF the stat
utes, Mr.. Carlisle expressed himself as sat
| isfied that free coinage would not be re-
| vived by either of the pending measures.
IF the silver men believe Ii WILL he said,
| .'Iet them pass and carry the matter to the
Supreme Court for construction"
NO HOPE FOR CLOTURE.
During the discussion Mr.. Dubois said:
| tors who are desirous Of passing the uncon-
| ditional repeal bill If there strong
sentiment here to-day they would pass 1t.
| There is a manufactured sentiment on the
| outside, but 1t does not exist here"
IF the Senator from Idaho and those
| whom he represents said Mr.. Voorhees,,
| earnestly, Twill give us chance to vote
we will answer the question whether there
| are ten or four or five times ten Senators
| who will vote for the unconditional repeal
| of the Sherman act"
II will say to the Senator from Indiana"
| replied Mr.. Dubois, defiantly. that You
| have power to resort to any end you see
| fit but the minute you undertake to resort
| to unusual methods it will be demon
| strated how futile IL is TO endeavor to pass
| the unconditional repeal bill"
| II only wish l had the power to resort to
| measures to compel VOTE" said Mr..
| Mr.. Palmer said if the people of Illinois
| had been as wise as those of Idaho, in
| stead or electlng a man pretty well worn
| out, they would have chosen some vigor-
| Gus, athletic young man who would starve
| the Senator from Idaho TO death. Q-augh-
| teri Mr.. Palmer regarded the declaration
| of Mr. Dubois as an appeal to the barbar-
| ism of the Senate. Us IL true, a matter
| OF constitutional law" Mr.. Palmer asked,
| ''or is ii consistent with the nature of this
| body that the only ultimate means of Sc
| curing q vote is that we shall quietly an
| nounce that we are engaged in the great
| business of sitting each other out? Are we
\ to have beds and food brought in, with an
| occasional bit of refreshment of some
/ other name and character? Q.aughter) Is
| that to be the termination OF great and
| intelligent struggle?'
| 1--WE do not desire it," said Mr.. Teller.
| 'It is the same old thing" continued Mr..
| Palmer. Unless you are better man
| than L am you can't do it. Q1aughter)
| Ny friend from Idaho (Mr. Dubois)
| knew before he was born. The idea OF
| sending me here now TO compete with him
| in test of physical endurance. Seriously"
| continued Mr.. Palmer, lit is very seri-
! Gus thing, and j protest, not that the Sen
| ators shall yield any of their rights, that
| the time win come, and is very near. when
| the sensible men will say that the Senate
| must adopt some law by which IL can gov
! ern ITSELF"
After a short executive session the Sem
| ate adjourned.