Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-08-17
Washington Letter

WASHINGTON, D. G., August l4th, 1898.
What will the House do?' That
question is asked by about nine out Of
every ten men you meet, since the House
began the fourteen DAY discussion of the
silver question, at the close of which
votes are to be taken which will leaye
no shadow of doubt as to where every
member of the House stands on this I'm.
portant question. If the vote were
taken today upon the bill for the repeal
Of the purchasing clause of the Sherman
silver law 1t would pass the House, al
most 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 IL (the presently to 20 to /, and
the Bland act of 1878, which will be
offered as amendments, be passed the
unamended bill will never be voted
upon. The principal element OF doubt
is that Of the changed ratio. 1t Is prac-
tlcally certain now that the amendment
for free coinage at the present ratio will
be defeated by small majority, but it
is difficult to predict whether as the
amendments for increasing the ratio at
which silver may be coined are offered
the total vote Will increase or decrease.
The popullsts have given notice that
they will vote against all of the amend.
ments for increasing the ratio, but mas.
much as that will be practically voting
tor the unconditional repeal of the pur-
chasing clause Of the Sherman law they
may change their minds when the time
comes to vote. If the votes for increased
ratio or tor the old Land law are not
larger than those for free coinage at the
present ratio the bill for the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
law Will, in the opinion Of your CORES.
pondent,pass the House without amend,
ment ; but the chances now appear to
be about even, Notwithstanding claims
made by the unconditional repeal men,
for the adoption Of some Of the proposed
amendments.
The elements of doubt are fewer in
the Senate, although it has apparently
not advanced so far as the House IN
dealing with the silver question. In
fact the Finance committee has not yet
considered single one Of the many f.
nancial bills which have been referred
to it, and inasmuch as the Senate has
it's committees and rules the matter
cannot get before that body without
being reported from committee, The
delay in the Senate is caused by the ef-
forts of the democrats to agree upon
something definite before starting. some
sort of compromise that can be en-.
dorsed by the caucus of that party.
The republican Senators haye decided
that.when the question shall be taken
up each Of them shall be free to follow
his own inclination. There IS not q
Senator, whatever his own preference
may be, who will not concede the DOS.
ability of passing bill for the uncon-
hitional repeal of the purchasing CLAUSE
of the Sherman law, without amend
ment. This being the case, the obec
tive point of the anti-siyer men is 6
measure that will be supported by s
majority and not be liable to a Preal-
dental veto. They CLAIM to be max
ing progress towards such a measure
Meanwhile the silver senators say they
have the game in their own hands anC
do not propose to accept any oompro-
mise that is not as favorable to silver
as the present law.
The members OF the House are moi
taking the interest in the silver discus
sion that it was supposed they would
Many of them have gone to nearby