The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1893-08-16
WASHINGTON LETTER,
F'oin cur regular CORE pendent.

question y a'ked by about nine out
oi every ten men you meet, since
the ho1se began the fourteen day
discussion of the silver question, at
the close of which votes are to he
taken which will leave no shadow
of doubt as to where every mem.
Der of the house stands on this i'm.
portant question. Ii the vote were
taken today upon the bill for the
repeal of the pul chasing clause Of
the Sherman silver law 1t would
pass the house almost to certainty.
but under the agreement which has
been made the vote upon that bill,
unamended, will be the last to be
taken, and if any one of the other
propositions, including free coinage
of silver at ratios all the way from
l6 (the presently to 20 to |, and the
Bland act 6 1878, which will b.
offered as amendments, be pass, d
the amended bill will never be voted
upon. The principal element of
doubt is that of the changed ratio.
1t is practically certain now that
the amendment for free coinage at
the present ratio ill be defeated by
small majority, but 1T is d tlicult
to predict whether as the amend
ments increasing the ratio at which
silver may be coined, are offered,
the tolal vote will increase or de.
crease. The populists have given
notice that they will vote against all
of the amendments for increasing
the ratio, but ina, much as that will
be practically voting for the uncon-
ditional repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman law they may
change their minds when the time
comes to vote. If the votes for in.
creased ratio or for the old Bland
law are not larger than those for
free coinage at the present ratio
the bill for The repeal of the pur
chasing clause of the Sherman law
will, in the opinion of your CORES
pondent, pass the house without
amendment; but the chances now
appear to be about even, notwith-
standing claims made by the uncon-
dillonal repeal men, .or the adop'
ton of some of the proposed amend
ments.
The elements Of doubt are fewer
in the senate, although 1t has APP
parently not advanced SO far as the
house in dealing with the silver
question. In fact the finance com
mittee has not yet considered a
single one of the many financial
bills which have been referred TO
il, and inasmuch as the senate has
it's committees and rules the matter
cannot get before that
body without being reported
from committee. The de
lay in the senate Is caused by the
efforts OF the Democrats to agree
upon something definite before
starting, some sort Of a compromise
that can be endorsed by the caucus
of that party, The Republican
senators have decided that when the
question shall be taken up each Of
them shall be free TO follow his own
inclination. There is not senator,
whatever his own preference may
be, who will not concede the i'm
possibility of passing a bill for ii .
unconditional repeal of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman
law, without amendment. That
being the case the objective point OF
the anti silver men is measure that
will be supported by majority and
not be Liable to presidential veto.
They claim to be making progress
towards such measure. Meanwhile
the silver senators say they have the
game in their own hands and do not
propose TO accept any compromise
that ~ not az favorable to
oliver az the present law.
The division in the house is not
upon political lines, but solely upon
sl.ver. The speeches Sc far made
have been Inclined TO be somewhat
radical on both sides Mr.. Band
threatened that the silver men
woaid withdraw IRON the Demo
crs t party if congress did not live
up TO TIE Chicago platform, an!
M. Rayner, Of Maryland, retorte 1