The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-19

The situation Described by Ediser yrsnsh
of Ths News.


WASHINGTON. Oct, 1s.-Ths sltuation In
the senate with regard to the repeal Of
the silver clause In the Sherman law has
perceptibly changed within two days
On Tuesday the president sent . sugges-
ton to the senator's who favor repeal. and
on thai day Mr.. Hill Of New York made
very suggestive and very effective speech.
nominaliy against resolution offered by
Senator Gray OF Delaware authorizing
the presiding officer to count . quorum
IL there were senators enough In the
chamber. whether they responded ~ .
roll call or not. This was merely for the
purpose Of establishing tho fAct of
quorum and not TO apply to votes upon
business.
Why this speech OF Mr.. Hills was sig
nificant was this way: just before went
into the senate gallery I met . western
congressman whom / had known ON his
native heath. He remarked about the
terrible pressure brought TO bear upon
congressman by their constituents, and
said his people declared that they could
not endure the financial strain thirty
days longer.
"But they have gat to endure it." said
/, 'as there is no prospect OF relief within
I'll at time
"The repeal bill will be passed within
ten days" said this western member,
who is Democrat.
what" shouted.
He repeated the statement. with slow
and solemn emphasis, and when de-
manded TO know the grounds of his con.
idence lie began to talk IN parablea
"The vice-president Is against us" he
said. "He will never attempt 10 use the
rules for our benefit, though he permits
the silverites to constantly stretch and
warp their me ssning more than he would
ave to to close the debate and force a
vote. But the president Is taking a
hand in the fight again. Now
just suppose that Stevens n should
leave the chair. be I'll. or snyt hing-and
lie should ask Mr.. Hill to preside. Then
suppose there should he an attempt
made to bring the repeal bill to a vote.
Would not David b Hill take the bit ia
his teeth and shut off bate, as the ch air
can do il 1t choos.sl Most assuredly he
would"
Then went up into the senate gallery
and heard Mr.. Morgan prod Dave Hill,
and Mr.. Gray Of D.l.wars pound his
desk against forcing senator's to record
themselves on any question. Then David
b. Hill arose and delivered one Of the
neatest, most clean-cut, able. interesting
and effective speeches il has ever been my
pleasure to listen to- Not oLly was 1t a
good speech, but he outlined q policy
exactly in unison with the plan my house
friend had hint.d at oaly half hour
previous, aud declared as plainly as
words could conv the idea that he was
in favor of choking off the interminable
debate by the president OF the senate
assuming the right to DO 1t under the
rules as they exist.
Mr.. Hill fortified his position by citing
a precedent. Allen G. Thurman counted
a quorum in 1879, when the members
neglected TO answer to their names on n
roll call, and he made all OF his points 50
clearly aud upon such iudisputable
grounds that he could not be interrupted
or disconnected at all.
rcm Reed has stroled In and lstene |
to what amounted to strong vindication
Of his own house rules by a political op-
ponent, aud then shook bands with Hill.
Nearly all the big guns gathered around
Mr. Hin and listened attentlvely.
The actual facts alb ut this repeal fight
nave not been published They are very
vel known here, OF course, but news
per row has been muzzled. The su-
pc ior wisdom of the editors at home has
prevented the publication OF thu truth,
although 1t has been repeatedly urged
upon them by the correspondents. There
mas never been much chance for the
passage of the repeal bill. II it passes
now 1t will be because its cause has had
"A distinct growth in the senate. The SEN
timent agaist repeal is. and has been,
very much stronger than has been re-
ported. The inevitable has not been re-
peal, but compromise, and compromise
upon such liberal basis as to bring free
coinage distinctly within the limits
of probability. The pressure Of
public opinion is beginning to
be sensibly felt now aud there is even Il
probability that repeal in some form may
prevail at last. 1t will not be at once. and
the repeal will not take effect at once.
IL seems idle to hope that, as the country
Nouldlong ago hav. learned IL the astutc
editors had allowed their Washington
correspondents Co relate facts as they saw
them aud knew them TO exist.
The president is certain TO come out Of
the fight with bedraggled plumage. which
ever way 1t turns There is clique In the
sc ate that thinks Il its first duty aud
pleasure to harass him aid Is bound
TO discipline him. This clique is
juss large enough to prevent action on
repeal. AMI it will contauo to prevent
action until It sees way TO favor
repeal while humiliatinu Mr.. Cievc-
land. This seems to lend color to
the idea that Mr.. Hill will be the
instrument used for the breaking z
OF the deadlocx. The prssident IL losing