New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-20
FREE COINAGE MEMS PLAN.
An INGENIOUS PROGRAMME.
TO USE THE BANK CIRCULATION BILL TO
GAIN THEIR OWN ENDS.
THEY WILL TRY TO DEVELOP IT INTO A GEN.
ERAL FINANCIAL MEASURE WHICH WILL
PLEASE THE ANTI-sILvER MEN-A
WEAK SPOT IN THE PROGRAMME.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.]

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
Washington, Aug. 19.-The persistent opposition
made by the Southern free coinage Senators TO the
Voorhees, National Bank Circulation bill now pend.
ing in the Senate is interpreted in quarters
with altogether too much ingenuity perhaps, az
masking clever programme which is to be carried
out by the opponents of the unconditional repeaI
of the Sherman act. 1t is ntmated that the free
/ coinage members of the Finance Committee offered
little resistance 70 the Bank Circulation bill when
| it was reported to the Senate, because they had
| obtained from Mr. Voorhees, promise expressed
or implied that this bill should be considered ana
acted upon before any proposition to repeal tho
Sherman act should be taken up. The Bank Cir.
cuation bill was reported early this week, and has
since been under desultory discussion in the Sem
ate though it has not yet obtained the right OK
way of unfinished business" the Montana Sena-
torial case holding in that place of privilege
from the session of last March and April. But
having already been considered and partly COM
pleted, this measure is naturally expected to be-
come the unfinished business Of the Senate after
Monday next when the Mantle case is to be finally
dispos.d Of And on this less plausible
supposition has been founded the taking theory
that the Bank Circulation bill is TO be converted by
the antrepeal Senators into a convenient buifer
against repeal, by the aid of which the whole con-
troversy now pending can lie fought out without
mpcrlling in the slightest degree the free coinage
side in case of the failure Of any of the tactical
advantages which might have been forfeited II
the fight were made on the repeal bill pure and
simple According to the alleged programme OF
the anti repeal leaders, the Bank Circulation Dill
is 10 be kept before the Senate for indefinite
length of time Many important amendments, such
a. those offered by Messrs. Cockrell, German and
Butler, are already pending, and opening up, as
they do a wide field for controversy. there seems
10 be no doubt that TO perfect the measure from
| month TO six weeks of debate will be necessary
if these and other similar amendments are offered
| and supported in all seriousness by their authors
THE DIRECT ISSUE AVOIDED.
The silver men, indeed, if they pursue the
plan attributed TO them, will try to have the
| Bank Circulation bill worded in such way as
TO develop it into broad and general financial
| measure with silver not directly involved. The
amendments likely to be adopted such as
will either meet with the approval of anti-silver
men or not be violently opposed by them. ii no
silver amendments are attached to the bill, %
is likely to come out of the Senate in shape
not TO excite the antagonism Of the AdniinstraAo"
forces, and it will pass the House
But il is understood to he "a part OF tue Pan "
| the silver men to have an amendments onere~
providing for the free coinage OF sii'e' "'
ratio Of 20 to 1, or for any other pro-su'ef piop
| stion which may develop the greatest '"'"e'
in the House On this amendment ''e 81
in the Senate can get test 'o'' "i'' .,
volving the consideration OF 'ie ''' :. ~
hill at all. II the amendment Is cari'u %
, ~, .ho reneaI bill in itself, ana the anu
rono,Iors ar. confident that this composite IMAM
ciaI measure silver and ALL could be got throush
.ha Uovs. If the silver men, however, prove
VI. ..onr .nouph TO carry this amendment,
nov ~ ~ a,, ~ law will still be on the statute
,"0 - ,I hv nreventing action on any repeai
'uvN0 ,.rtIv considered they can keep II there
.i'' 49,, n,.an while the Bank bill in its enlarged
- ' ,..or,.s a law, the silver Senator's will
',.. ioin ther attitude by asserting that the
J"'' .,,bt 10 give fair trial to one measure
coun l,;o, before taking any additional step toward
legislation
WHERE TIE PROGRAMME Is WEAK.
p,, this programme of obstruction, though
,,ausble enough on its face, does not take into
account the fact that yet neither the Bank
circulation bill nor the Voorhees, Repeal bill
ba. the right of way in the Senate, and that
the question Of precedence remains TO be deter
mined next Tuesday after the Senatorial cases
are disposed of. Besides. if the friends of re-
peal have a clear majority in the Senate, they
can at any time by vote transfer the right OF
way from the Bank bill TO the Repeal bill, anu
by this simple stroke deprive the free-coinage men
of all the tactical other advantages whicn
would accrue to them under their supposedly I'M
genious plan of capaign. That they VIII "as0
decided advantages cannot be gainsad. however
if the Bank bill is kept to the front In the
Senate. or IL Senator Voorhees, y under sueh