New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-20
SENATE DEADLOCK BROKEN
A COMPROMISE BETWEEN FRIENDS OF RE.
PEAL AND SILVER MEN.
THE STEERING COMMITTEES PLAM
REPEAL TO TAKE EFFECT on JANUARY OR JULr
/, 1904 BOND ISSUE ALSO PROVIDED FOR
THE NEW MEASURE, TO BE PRESENTED
At ONCE, LIKELY TO PASS BOTH
THE SENATE AND HOUSE,
a. WHETHER THE PRESIDENT
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuyE.l
OR NS-.

Washington, Oct. ia few minutes after I
O'Clock this afternoon, while the dilatory con.
test over the approval Of Mondays journal.
resumed at 10 n. m. was still dragging along
without visible signs Of abatement Mr.. Fauk-
ner. of West Virginia was to hurry ner.
vously the floor Of the Senate Chamber
to where Mr.. Teller sat and whisper a few
words in the silver leaders ear. Mr.. Voorhees,
the luckess and irresolute manager OF the for.
tunes Of rereal, had left the chamber early in
the afternoon. wearied with the endlessness Of
the debate on the purely frivolous and diatory
question of the technical correctness Of the jour-
nal clerks entries Mr. Faulkner, his nominal
lieutenant, was in charge OF the side-tracked
voorhees, bill, and represented for the moment
all the power and authority OF the majority
leadership. AS he spoke to the Colorado Sen.
ator Mr.. Teller's eyes twinkled and his habit.
ually intense and serious expression changed to
a gratfed smile He nodded his head quickly
two or three times and his face shone with a
strange satisfaction which 1t has not worn
since the contest for and against unconditional
repeal began.
THE DEADLOCK AT LAST BROKEN.
Mr. Faulkners few sentences had an imme.
diate and surprising effect upon the situation in
the Senate Mr.. Butler, who was talking bit.
tery against the proposed change of rules. had
just brought his speech to an abrupt conclusion.
and rising at this opportune moment, to the
great surprise and mystifcation Of the galleries
Mr. Teller asked leave to withdraw the dilatory
motion to amend the journal which has formed
the basis Of the flibustering proceedings Of the
last three days. Mr.. voorhees,, returning to the
chamber with equal opportuneness, Immediately
moved that House bill No | be token up for
consideration House bill No. ; was taken up,
md Daf NJ,
speech begun by him some weeks ago and in
terrupted for the last time on the evening OF
October 13. The deadlock had been broken with
the consent and by the cooperation of its au.
thors and benefciares and in pursuance plain.
ly Of an amcable understanding with the ma.
jority. Three minutes after Mr.. Teller's request
was made and acceded to. scarcely five Of the
forty or more Senator's who heard him make Il
were left in the chamber. and in half that time
the news had spread through the Capitol that
the crisis in the repeal fight had been reached and
passed. and that the long -looked-for compro-
mise was practically ready for presentation.
EFFECT OF MR.. sHERMAN's SPEECH.
Mr.. Faulkner had In fact carried across O
last flag Of truce to the manager Of the sil.
yer forces Driven finally to an acceptance
of their responsibility party for legislation
by the stinging sentences of Mr. Sherman. and
by the certainty of hopeless internal division
IL the scenes of the last few days should long
continue. the advocates OF unconditional repeal
within the Democratic ranks had at last yielded
to the pressure of numbers and authority, and
accepted that inevitable policy of compromise
which had been foreseen and predetermined
from the start by the only real personal force
within the party-that of Mr. German and his
immediate lieutenants. The assurance from
Mr. Faulkner that such agreement
tain to come. If it had not already been COM
cuded. was the motive power of Mr.. Teller's
willing and eager withdrawal OF his dilatory
notion and the sudden and peaceful termina-
ton Of the three days deadlock.
The opening of this mornings session had
found the Democratic Steering Committee
still wrestling with the difficult problem Of
forcing a compromise. and the Administration
minority still holding out against the enforce
ment of the DEGREES Of a party caucus Mr..
Germans delicate and self-sufficing diplomacy
feared indeed to intrust an adjustment Of
party differences to the rude shocks and dam
gerous pitfalls of a caucus debate. To sugar.
coat the pill of compromise he was willing,
OF course, to allow the minority TO have at lease
an ostensble part in its preparation. So to
spare the sensibities of the Democrats like
Mr.. Mills. whose feelings would be outraged
by an application Of the rude test OF numerical
force In caucus, Mr. German soothingly pro-
posed that the Steering Committee" four Of
whose eight members were at least friendly to
the Administration, should themselves antici-
pate the work Of the caucus and draw up a
compromise which would become binding only
upon the signature Of each Senator to its
provisions. This sensible and practical sug-
gestion caught the fancy of the Administra-
ton members OF the committee. eager to es-
cape an open defeat In caucus or to submit
to the imputation OF standing aoof from party
councils as a refractory minority. The assent
Of Messrs Ransom Gray. White and Villas hav-.
ing been gained to Mr.. Germans plan. its exe-
cution became practically assured and easy OF
accomplishment The Steering Committee sat
all the morning and greater part OF the
afternoon in the Appropriations Committee
room. and one by one leading Democratic
Senators were summoned from the Senate
chamber to give their approval to the CONF
promise measure To eliminate. so far as
might be. all possible points OF difference. the
Steering Committee wisely selected the sim.
plest form of bill to begin with.
FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED PLAN.
The repeal OF the purchasing CLAUSE
OF the Sherman law was to be de.
creed Of course In order to give at least q
nominal effect to the much-disputed plank
adopted at Chicago. But the date OF repeal
was to be set somewher. In 1895. either January
q. or July l. so az to meet the contention that q
general Congressional election should intervene
at which the question Of unconditional repeal
or indefinite retention could be passed on by
vote OF the people.
No change was made In the amount Of silver
to be purchased in order to forestall any objec-
tion from possible flibusters thar the compro-
mise gave less silver than the existing statute
To o 10 the Administration ard the radts
cal Eastern gold men like Senator Mcpherson.
a bond issue provision was attached. continue
ing the power of the Secretary to issue bonds
to replenish the gold reserve in his discretion
up to a limit. not definitely set between $780,
600 900 and 5000. .000, 000 -
TWO POINTS FOR ADJUSTMENT.
Thus two single points were left not rigidy
agreed on. TO be subject to further ADJUST
ment. either in the Senate or In cooperation
with the renresenta tiyes Of the Admlninfrat tinu.