The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-10-26
TIE SILVER COMPROMISE.
a HITCH IN THE COMMITTEE AFTER
EVERYTHING WAS SETTLED.
The Bill Was to Have Been Given Out
Last Night, But Administration Demo-
Gratis Would Not Agree to the
Date Of Repeal.

WASHINGTON, Oct, Cot looked at
4 o'clock today as if the terms of the
Democratic comprimose was settled.
AT o'clock the situation was slightly
changed and apparently there was no.
obstacle in the way OF bringing the
matter to climax. The Democratic
steering committe had resumed it
slttingSpromptly after the close of the
executive session, and it was given out
that the only purpose of the meeting
was to put the. finishing touches upon
the subject which was practically
agreed upon. Some of the members
of the committee felt so certain of the
results thatsthey promised the Repub--
lican members of the senate copy of
the bill for inspection before the ad-
journment of the senate. While this
copy was not Forthcoming the senat-
ors who had retained their seats in the
chamber left feeling confident that the
measure would be concluded and
ready for presentation tomorrow.
At 5 o'clock Senator German came
out of the room where the committee
was engaged and sent message for
some one, He looked puzzled and dis
appointed and declared that nothing
was settled. Soon word went around
that there was hitch in the proceed
ings. Such indeed was the case.
There was disagreement over the bond
feature and also over the time at
which the repeal of the Sherman act
should take effect. Itappears that the
administration forces of the committee
discovered when the clauses OF the
proposed bill dealing with these points
was reached that they could not &C.
cept them as provided in the
document. 1t is understood the Craft
of the bill taken under consideration
fixed the time when repeal
should take effect the first of January,
1895, changed the authorization for
bonds to per cent interest and re-
duced the time limit on bonds from so
to 80 years, instead OF from 10 to 40 as
at present, and confined their use to
the preservation Of parity of gold
and silver.
From information received from
others than members of the committee,
but who have the best means of know
ing, it is considered probable that the
administration members of the com
mittee made an effort to have the time
for the expiration of the Sherman law
fixed at the first of July, 1894. The
same authority asserted that treasury
officials had Said earlier in the day that
if the purchase of silver bullion should
cease July of next year it would be
possible to preserve parity
without any action whatever upon the
bond question, and as some Of the
siaunchest of the repeal Democrats
who are members OF the committee
are opposed to the bond proposition
t is probable the effort of tonight
was in the direction of reducing the
time of future existence of the present
law and elimination OF the bond propo.
sition altogether.
The committee remained in session
until 6:15, but instead OF having COM
pleted the bill to hand to the Republic
can side of the chamber the confer.
enLe came to an end without reaching,
any agreement at all and with the
date and bond question undecided,
but with the understanding th9t an
pther effort will be made probably to-
morrow.
Some of the silver Democrats have
said that If their party steering com.
mittee did not reach conclusion by
Monday they would go on with the
Republicans and pass Quay's amend
ment, which extends the Sherman law
until Jan. /, 1896, or year longer than,
the best offered to the silver men by
the Democratic bill On the other
hand. Senator Hill says he has already
received assurance of large vote for
his proposed cloture resolution on the
Democratic side as soon as 1t is appar-
ent the steering committee cannot.
agree The outlook is, theref IRE, for
lively time and uncertain results II the
committee are not able to satisfacto'
rily conclude their labors at an early
day,