The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-29
THE WILSON BILL GOES THROUGH
First Blood For the Administra-
tion.
An Overwhelming Vote Against Every
Proposition of the Silver Men-At no
Time did the Anti silver Mon Have
Less Than seventy-seven MaJority-The
$40; Nays, 10.

lating to the most important question
which has attracted the attention of the
country for the past quarter of a CEN
fury, are not OF exciting interest to the
ordinary spectator in the galleries, had
no effect ON the audience this morning.
Long before the noon hour OF meeting
the public galleries were jammed with
earnest listeners. When, a Quarter
before noon, the reserved galleries were
opened there was a rush made to secure
good seats, and in moment every
bench was filled with ladies in summer
costumes, who manipulated fluttering
fans in order to temper the muggv heat
which permeated the chamber.
The floor was the scene of noisy,
bustling confusion, the various leaders
being busy in marshalling their cohorts.
Every member was on the tiptoe of
expectation, and it may be safe to saw
that every Representative. who was not
detained by illness, was in his seat.
The House was called promptly to
order at ~ o'clock and the chaplain
invoked the special divine guidance on
the members at this critical moment.
The Wilson bill having been read,
Bland offered his first amendment-
that OF free coinage al the present ratio
OF 16 to land twas defeated by a vote
of yeas, 1874; nays, 226, amid applause
from the anti'silver men, who received
one more majority than they expected.
She'll (Dem., S. CD in favor Of free
silver, was paired with Graham dem.
N. y opposed 10 it. Not nearly as much
interest," was taken on the second vote,
which was on ratio Of II to l. Tho
decisive vote on the 16 to ratio
seemed to dishearten the silver men,
and in place OF the attention which was
paid to the flrst was substituted a list
lessness which spread throughout the
hall. The vote resulted in the defeat
OF the amendment by vote OF yeas 100,
nays 240 The Populist members did
not vote.
The Is to l standard was defeated by
vote OF yeas 1G2, nays 339.
The House then voted immediately
on the 10 to amendment and it was
defeated by vote of yeas 1O4, nays 23s.
Then came the 90 to l amendment,
and this in turn was defeated, though
it showed more strength. the vote
standing yeas 121, nays 222.
The proposition TO re-enact the Bland
Allison act as proviso to the repeal
bill received the strongest support, but
even that was defeated by majority
OF II, the vote standing: Yeas, 1876;
nays, 3d.
Then came the final vote, which
Bailey Dem, Tex. endeavored to stave
off for short time by Offering an
amendment to repeal the parity clause
OF the Sherman act, In the hope
that by so doing he could rally
some of the gold men to his
support and thus weaken the
friends of the unconditional repeal
of the purchasing clause; but the
Speaker ruled that this was not in order,
pending the demand for the engross.
ment and third reading OF the bill, and
the bill was accordingly ordered to
third reading.
Then Bailey raised the point that
there should be q division of the oues-
tion One part OF it repealed the pur-
chasing clause and the other retained
the parity clause. There should be- a
separate vote on each.
But again the Speaker.pointed to the
decisive order Of the resolution under
which the House was acting and held
that such separation could not be had
The vote was then taken upon tho
final passage of the Wilson bill, and it
was passed-yeas 24O, nays 10.
comparison of seven separate votes
taken shows that at no time did the
anti-silver men have less than II clear
majority.
Their greatest strength was shown on
the II to majority of 14O. On the final
passage Of the bill the ants mustered
the same strength as this, but owing to
desperate rally of the silver men their
majority was cut down to 129
c One Of the surprises of the day was
the lack OF strength on the 20 to l
amRnNmant which IN tnh f
the strongest proposition that the silver
men had in reserve. AS a matter Of
fact it was weaker by three votes than
the IL to l proposition and the majority
against it was 10l.
The vote that gave the silver men
the greatest comfort was that on the
re- enactment of the Bland-Allison act,
and on this they succeeded in reducing
the majority against them to the lowest
figure Of the day II. The vote stand
ing Yeas, 136; nays, 213.
The story of the days voting is told
in the shortest and most instructive
manner in the following summary.
IL to Yeas, 124; nays, geo; m a jority,
1O2.
IT to 11-Yeas, 100; nays, $40; major
ity, 14o.
Is to Yeas, 1903; nays, s39; majority,
1856.
10 to Yeas. lO4; nays. 23s; major
ity, 1884,
20 to Yeas, 1a1; nays, aaa; major
itY, l0l.
Bland-Allison act-Yeas, 1856; nays,
2l3; majority, ~
Final passage Yeas, $40; nays, ITO;
u ajority, 1870.
After Catchings had given notice he
would call up the House rules TO morrow,
tho House adjourned.
IN TItE sENArI