Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-18
TALK OF NO AVAIL.
Senate Finance Committee Ut
terly Unable to Agree.
AMBIGUITY IN STATEMENT WANTED

Words That Mean Anything Required in
Order to Construct Report-"Bimet-
allism" Not Sufficiently Indefinite-Some
Sort of Bill Looked for Soon in Order
to Transfer the Pressure to the Senate
Floor-Capitai City Notes.
WASHINGTON Aug. lS.-The meeting of
the senate finance committee was attended
py every member, and conclusions were
reached which may enable the committee
to report Sherman law repeal kill today.
Ihere has been from the day the commit
tee h'st met this session a difference of
opinion between the silver and the anti-sil.
yer men that apparently could not be
reconciled, and although there has been a
very free discussion of the matter these
differences are really Lo nearer settlement
than when the discussions began. The at
tltnde OF the chairman, VOORHEES,, however,
gave the silver Imen q the committee but
little hope, for he said that he would vote
to report favorably the repeal bill, pro-
vided that there was a declaration coupled
with it in favor of bimetallism. The bill
when reported will contain such declara-
ton, and the vote upon which it will be
reported is estimated by members of the
committee at to 5, the minority consist
ing of Harris, Vest. Vance, Jones of Ar
kansas, and Jones of Nevada
The VerbiaSe-Aye There's the Rub.
When the committee adjourned all had
been substantially agreed upon but the
Serbiage of the bill and particularly the
language of the declaration in favor of
bimetallism. 1t was hoped that this
could be disposed of at the meeting to-
day and the bill reported When it is re-
ported the chairman will ask that day
be fixed for the taking of the vote and the
suggestion will be made that this dav
be almost Immediately after the conclu-
sion OF the vote in the house. OF course
this will be opposed by senator's on the
floor and among them will be mem
bers of the fiuance committee itself Dur
ing the dis usSion in committee every
member has at some time OF other ex-
pressed himself as being in favor of bi-
metallism, but a difference Of opinion
exists as to whether this country can
maintain parity of the metals, and 'bi-
metallisn" covers great many shades If
opinion.
Eepealers Will Have No Compromises.
Some have argued that this cannot be
done without an international agreement,
while other mem bers insisted that it could
be accomplished by an adjustment of the
ratio, and special stress was laid upon the
fact that England was now coming the In
dian-rupee at "A to l, and maintaining the
parity of gold and silver az that propor-
tion. England was today, it was assert
ed, buying silver and coming it at that
ratio and maintaining its parity: if she
could do it the United States could do like.
wis. However, the anti-silver men of the
committee have refused to consider any
thing in the way of a compromise and
discuss the question of increased ratio as
something that can only become feasible
after an international agreement
Ambiguity the Desideratum
Indef1niteness seems to be what is
striven after for it was said by member
OF the committee that nothing could be re-
ported in the shape of a declaration that
was positive and unequivocal At the
meeting yesterday the draft of declara-
tion was subritted which favors the con-
tinuance of the use of both gold and silver
Ito the extent of existing coinage) as IN
limited legal tender, and declares that all
our forms of money, whether of gold. sill
yer or paper, should be maintained at a
parity and equal in purchasing power. 1t
further declares that every effort shall be
put forth 60 secure an international agree
ment for the adoption of fixed ratio be.
tween gold and silver.
Amy Interpretation VIII 60"
This declaration, prominent member
Of the committee stated, would be worded
SO that it could be interpreted any way to
suit the position of the member. Am.
biguity, he stated, would be sought rath
er than be avoided in order that the bill
might be reported. With the favorable
report on repeating the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act, coupled with the dec
laration here indicated, the committee
would be able to at least transfer the scene
of the struggle to the floor of the senate,
and according 70 the programme the port
will be made today.