The herald., 1893-10-22
THE SILVER COMPROMISE
The Terms Now Practically
Completed.
The Purchase Act Extended to
October, 1894.
All the Bullion in the Treasury to
Be Coined.
Paper Currency Below Ton Dollars to
Be Retired The Bond Issue Pro-
vided For-Oongressional
Proceedings.


steering committee virtually completed
its labors on the compromise silver re-
peal bill today. 1t extends the provi-
sions of the present silver purchase act
until October l, 1896, provides for the
coinage of the silver now in the
treasury, and the retirement OF all paper
currency, except silver certificates, be-
low $40. There is no reference what
ever in the bill to the bond question.
Opinions differ as to the time when
the bill will be presented in the senate.
1t may be handed in Tuesday, even
earlier, if it shall prove acceptable to
the majority.
The bill also provides for the coinage
of the silver to be purchased in the
future.
The Republican silver men are dis
pleased with the short period for the
Sherman law to continue in force, and
will probably oppose the bill solidly.
The Populists are also displeased with,
the bill for the same reason. The bill
will take the form of an amendment to
the present law.
1t is understood that up to 2:30 pm.
So Democratic senators had signed the
document. 1t will be necessary to. OBJ
tain the signatures CT Al members to in
sure its passage. Even then flibustering
might prevent vote, unless some sort
OF cloture ie presented.
The terms of the proposed compro-
mise in the senate were subject to q
great, deal of discussion in the house
this afternoon. The fact that an au-
thorization for bonds is not a feature,
brought relief to a number OF Repub-
licans and western Democrats. The
Democratic leaders are in favor of the
hiA, and when it comes to the
house there will be suspen-
sion OF other business in order to give
the compromise right OF way. The Dem.
ocratic leaders seem to feel certain that
it will fud favor with both wings of the
party in the lower house. The prevail.
ing opinion is that the ultra-silver DEM
ocrats, in view OF the necessity for q
show of party harmony. will content
themselves with voting against the
measure. A goodly portion of the silver
Democrats will probsbly, however, vote
for the compromise, if their votes are
needed to secure it's passage. The Re-
publicans will be governed largely by
what their political brethren in the sem
ate do. When the bill reaches the
house it will go to the committee on
coinage, weights and measures, unless
there is an indication that an attempt
will be made to hold it in that commit
tee for too long period, in which case
motion to concur in the senate amend
ments would be made without its refer.
ence at all. The consensus of opinion.
however, is that it will be referred un-
der the rules and returned to the house
within two days at most. Four davs
after the bill reaches the house it ia ex.
pected it will have passed, and congress
will have taken recess for two or three
weeks.
When the committee completed its
eittings today, 81 Democratic senators
had pledged themselves to support the
measure, and the managers felt assured
of q sufficient number to bring the total
to Al, leaving only two more necessary
to ensure the passage of the bill by
Democratic votes. The senators holding
out against the bill are said to be Mills
and Villas Of the repeal side and Irby of
the silver side. Some OF the silver men
have not yet actually attached their
names to the pledge, but the steerers
expect to secure the names OF all tina
Democratic senators and to rush the .
bill through as q party measure and
without calling upon the Repr blicans
for help. Most of the Republicans hope
the Democrats will succeed in this, for
the bill is one which does not commend :
itself to either the repeal or silver fac
ton N the Republican ranks. The re-
peal men are pleased only with the
clause limiting silver purchases to one
year, while the silver men find in this
reason to hope for further extension
of silver purchases, and think it better
than unconditional repeal.
The committees e recommendation will
be put in the shape of sn amendment
of the Voorhees, bill. and will probably
receive the support OF most OF the silver
Republicans as an amendment, while
the bill as amended will be opposed by
buolD. LID IL hSdlEht nSto-
ing the bill, but it seems more probable
that if the Democrats get the concur
renee OF their entire psrty in the senate.
the Republicans will make 10 effort ~
united action. The silver men, if all ,
parties are pleased, will accept the bill. .
As at present arranged, the bin will ex.
pirs in the midst OF the next congress.
ional election, and thare probably will (
be an effort to amend the amendment
extending the purchasing time year. !
and the silver men think il possible tfey
may get Republican support TO put this ;
through, but all circumstances ccnsid- I
cred, this is hardly probable.
One of the advantages which the sill !,
yer men find in the committees amend j
ment of the original bill is that it gives I
them ground to stand on, while the ell :
yer fight shall be waged in the future. !
They say the entire silver fght in reality I
is only begun. that the present bill is !