The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
WHAT CONGRESS- HAS BEEN DOING
DURING THE PAST WEEK.
1fr. Vest of Missouri, OutspOken IN Favor OF
Free Coinage-Senator Gordons Reso-
Iutions-How Georgians Will Vote.


In the senate today Mr.. Vest, of Mis-
souri,. launched forth in Il two-hour speech
in favor of free coinage ana against the
recommendations of the president Tor an
unconditional repeal of the Sherman law
The indications still are that the IL
son bill for unconditional repeal VIII go
through the house though that is not Il
certainty. There are fully fifty demo-
cratic members of the house Who DO not
know just exactly how or where they
stand and there may be some amendment
offered in the shape of substitute leglsla-
ton dealing with silver that Will eaten
Them. There are those in the house who
believe that a free coinage bill ut twenty
TO one ratio may carry; should IL the sen
ate would almost certainly adopt 1t. The
impression is growing stronger every gay
that an unconditional repeal Dill cannot
cIrrv in the senate Several senators,
notable among whom are Senators vest,
Voorhees, and Gordon, who have been
counted for unconditional repeal, have an
Dounced against il within the past forty
eight hours. Free silver men undouot-
edly have Il majority. as matters now stand
in the senate. and If they remain nrn the
passage of such law cannot be prevented
Rut in this connection the question arises
as TO what Mr.. Cleveland would do III the
event of the passage of free coinage Dill
with a second section repeating the Sher-
man law 1t is given out by those who are
nearest to him that he is going to stand
nv the unconditional repeal or nothing ana
that if would matter not at what ratio Il
free coinage bill should De auppteu Ac
would veto it.
senator Gordon's RESOLUTION.
Senator Gordon introduced resolution
I'm the senate this morning which defines
his position in favor of blmetalllsm and
a.rainst the unconditional repeal of the
Inv thunrh n
He asked that the resolution lie on the
table as he desired to address the senate
on it later He will perhaps make his
speech this week. In it he will declare
squaroly for free coinage.
Senator Gordon's resolution reads:
Resolved, That pledges made to the people
in order to power should be
rcligiously redeemed in good faith and in
Justice to the people, who. relying upon those
pledges conferred that power.
Resolved. That in compliance with these
promises made to the people. in recognition Of
the demand made by the people, ana in order
to establish confidence among the people, ana
10 bring urgently needed RELIEF to the business
of thp country the committee finance
he and is hereby instructed to report At the
earliest day practicable bill or bllls repeating
the purchasing clause Of the statute called the
sherman law and providing for the use OF
both gold and silver rs the standard money
of the GountTy ,, anu without iH dlscriminatins
arainSr either metal and for making the
dnllar unit of coinage Of both metals
.'of equal intrinsic or exchahSeape VAL
Resolved, That under proper guards and
restrictions so to secure uniformity,
the power Of chartcring and establishing
hanks of issue may be safely ana wisely
restored to the states; that 10 deny ms Is 10
DENY the c;inacity Of the states Tor sen govern
mem: and that the said committee ON hnahce
he and is hereby instructed to report aiso !,
bill repeating the prohlint0f! ~ per cent
TAX on state bank issues.
Ei.iv chan, .sr i:IGTt on One hinS.
Senator Billy Chandler. of New lamp
shire. has declared in favor of the free COIN
age of silver When such New t-llSiah"
representatives as Chandler hop over 10
free coinage il is evident that the senate Is
certain TO give ii big ma ority for bimetal-
ism few more such speeches As Senator
Nests. of Monday. and Mr.. Bryan OF
TODAY may cause an unexpected rush Tor
the free coinage band wagon.
Flew th., C""rginu~ -" ill Vote.
In all the Georgia delegation Mr.. Caba-
hiss is the only member VINO tavorS ali UNI
conditional repeal of The purchasing clause
of the Sherman law. He is opposed TO
making the attempt TO attach tree com
axe bill anything else onto the repeal
bill though he is an advocate OF bimetauSm;
He says he thinks that the Sherman bill
should be repealed at once and then the
matter of substitute legislation may be
considered. He is for free coinage. how
ever but for repeal right now. All the
other members of the delegation VIII vote
for free coinage at some one OF the ratios
that will be voted upon.
Should all the amendments to the VIII
son repeal bill be voted down the minority
of the members of the delegation will per
hapS east their votes against that bill,
though there are several who will vote
FOR it. On this latter question several of
the Gcorgans, like other members, have
not made up their minds.
4 Bill That VIII Pass.
The Indications are that the bill allowing
national banks to issue currency to the
par value of their bonds on deposit will
pass the senate within few days. Many
senators on both sides of the silver qucS-
ton viii vote for it. Though there is
some very decided opposition the prospects
are tllat the majority i'll favor of il will
prove large when the vote is taken.
The situation ar 1t Now Appears.
Senator Nests's very decided and unmis
taxable free silver speech III the senate on
Monday has had the effect of making the
silrer men more Sangulne i'll their state
ments that the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman law is an imposSl6illty.
The fact that Senator Vest, who has al
ways stood very close to the president, has
declared against him i'll this fight has, in
deed. had its effect. Now that Senator
Vest has taken the lead there are many
senator's heretofore considered weak
kneed who will follow him, and ii is be-
sage has not had the effect expected of it.
The silver men are growing more de-
trrmincd never To allow the repeal of the
Sherman law without free coinage or Il new
measure which will satisfy their demands.
3H fipstse.
Debate on the financial situation
sumed in the house.
Mr.. Daniels of New York. was the first
speaker. lie declared himself in favor of
the purchasing act of The sherman law
Terror, hc said. had taken hold of the pub
lie mind that disaster was bound to follow
from the accumulation of silver bullion in
the treasury and This fear had been voiced
by the president. Congress should give some
mpasure of relief to the people by changing
ihe financial policy.
Mr.. Cooper. democrat, of Florida. said that
he would vote for the Wilson bill against
each and every one of the propositions pre-
scented by the silver He admitted that
he did not know much Of the industries Of
this country; but, as far he could get in
formation he was convinced that the mills
We're not closing up for lack Of money.
Cor lack of orders. but they We're closing
because they could not get the cash. He
argued that the sherman law the
cause of the present depression. The want
of public confidence had caused the
upon banks had caused the failure of
sui Stantial banking institutions and had
brought about the present financial strin-
geucy. He could not resist saying one thing
and that that when the democratic
party had governed the country for four
years. at the end of Mr.. Clevelands first
term. it had turned the country over to the
republican party prosperous and happy. The
republican party turned it back to the dem