The record-union., 1893-08-28
A Decisive Contest to Take Place
in the House To-Day.
BLAND'S SUBSTITUTE FOR WILSON'S
BILL SURE OF DEFEAT.
Adopt the Measure Reported by the
Senate Committee OH Finance,
Which Pledges the Government to
Policy of Bimetallism.
Special to the REcoRD.Ux1oN.

AoHCCldA ~ Tie IshCOfGD-O MUM
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.-The financial
debate is closed, and the line of battle is
now being sharply drawn for the de-
cisive contest that takes place in the
House tomorrow. The leaders of both
sides have exerted every effort to have
their men all here, and it is expected that
the first roll-call will find almost every
member of the House present and vot-
ing. The result of the successive roll
calls tomorrow is no longer matter of
doubt to anyone at all familiar with the
situation. The free coinage bill to be
offered by Bland as a substitute for the
repeating bill of Wilson will be defeated.
The exact vote is uncertain, as the fealty
of certain members to the measure de-
pends much on the ratio that receives the
largest support in the House. There
seems to be no doubt that instead of the
highest ratio, 20 to l, being the most pop
ular, the old ratio OF 10 to l will receive
the greatest vote, and will be the only
one seriously considered.
But whatever may be the result of the
vote on the separate ratios the Bland bill
will be rejected as a substitute for the
Wilson bill, and the majority for rejec-
After the rejection of the Bland bill
and when the question has resolved itself
to q simple one of the repeal of the pur-
chasing Act of the Sherman law, the Will
son bill will be passed by a majority of
not less than sixty.
Immediately after the passage of the
Wilson bill it will he reported to the Sem
ate and if the usual course is pursued will
be referred to the Committee on Finance
of that body. 1t is expected that the
policy of the Senate will be to let the bill
slumber there, while all the efforts of the
upper chamber will be directed to secur-
ing the adoption of the repeating bill now
pending in that body. The reason for
this is that the repeating bill reported by
the Senate in Committee on Finance is
believed to be superior to the House bill,
because it contains declaration, origin
ated by Senator Hill, pledging the Gov
ernment to policy of binetallism. 1t is
quite certain that no bill can pass the
Senate without declaration indorsing
the policy of bimetallism, and as no such
declaration is explicitly made in the Will
son bill the programme will be to pass
tho Senate bill and send it to the House
for concurrence of the latter body. OF
course the effect of this will be to revive
the whole question in the House, but it is
not thought any considerable time will
be consumed by the House in passing
upon the question second time.
Considerable speculation is being in
dulged in as to the next step to be taken
in the financial legislation after the
passage of the bill repeating the Sherman
law. The Committee on Coinage, under
the leadership of Chairman Bland will,
it is expected, report free coinage bill
in due time, and Chairman Springer's s
Committee on Currency will be expected
! to present several relief measures to the
House.
Congressman McCrsary of Kentucky,
one OF the delegates on the part of the
United States to the recent International
Monetary Conference at Brussels, has
prepared joint resolution for introduce
tion in the House next week. The reso-
luton provides for the appointment of a
commission of three Senators and an
equal number of Representatives with
| three experts to be appointed by the
President, who shall inquire into the
whole financial question in its broadest
phrases, not as to bimetallism alone, but
also as to the reorganization Of the bank
ing system. The means of promoting
international bimetallism will also be a
subject for the commission to consider.
1t is provided that the report of the com
mission shall be presented to the Senate
and House not later than January l, 1894.