The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-28


BimetaIIsm-The Question OF Ratio
n Stumbling Block in the Future,
An Early Adjournment Hoped For
WAsHlSdToN, D, G., August 97,-The
financial debate is closed and the line
Of battle is now being sharply drawn
for the decisive contest that takes place
in the house OF representatives to-mor-
row. The leaders OF both sides have
exerted every effort to have their men
all here, and il is expected that the first
roll call will find almost every member
Of the house present and voting. There
is apparently no inclination on the part
Of any OF the representatives to dodge
the issue and as most of them have had
opportunity 10 explain on the floor
their reasons for action it is expected
the record will show full vote on every
proposition.
The result Of the successive roll calls
Of oito.morrow ia no longer n matter Of
doubt to any one familiar with the sit
uation. The free coinage bill to be
offered by Mr.. Bland as u substitute for
the repeating bill OF Mr.. Wilson will be
defeated. The exact vote is uncertain,
as tho featy Of certain members to the
measure depends much on the ratio
that receives the largest support in the
house. 1t was the impression two
weeks ago that the largest ratio to be
voted upon-20 to would be the
most popular, as the impression at that
time was general that revision OF the
ratio OF coinage would be necessary, II
the Tree coinage men could hope for n
victory, in the light OF the recent de-
preston in silver.
This impression received check a
week ago, however, in the announce
menL Of Jerry Simpson that the Popu-
list members would tolerate no depart
ure from the existing ratio and would
leave the free coinage men In event OF
failure to adopt the old ratio OF 10 to |.
This announcement at once had its eff
feet OIL the sentiment that had been
growing up to that time for immediate
repeal. A dozen or more Of the Oldest
FREQ coinage men announced that they
would support no ratio but that OF 16 to
!. Now, there seems no doubt that In
stead OF the highest ratio, 20 to /, being
the most popular, the old ratio Of 16 to
will receive the greatest vote and be
the only one seriou6ly considered. But,
whatever may be the result OF the vote
on the separate rahios, the Bland bill
will be rejected as q substitute for the
Wilson bill, aud the majority for rejec-
ton will not be less than forty.
After the rejection OF the Bland bill,
and when the question has resolved
itself to the simple one OF the repeal OF
the purchasing act Of the Sherman act,
the Wilson bill will be passed by a ma
jority OF not less than sixty. These
figures are conservative, and will be
borne ont by to.morrow's developments
II, indeed, the ajority for tho Wilson
bill be not larger than the figures given.
Immediately after the passage Of the
Wilson bill 1t will be reported to the
senate and Il the usual course is pur-
sued will be referred to the committee
oi finance. II is expected that the
policy OF the senate will be to lot the
bill slumber there while all the efforts
Of the upper chamber are directed to
securing the adoption OF the repeating
bill now pending in that body. The
reason for this is that the repeating bill
reported by the same committee on
finance Is believed to be superior to the
house bill, because 1t contains the dc.
clRration originated by Senator Hill
pledging the government to tho policy
Of bi.metalliSm. 1t is quito certain no
bill can paas the senate without q de-
cNtstion endorsing the policy Of bi.
metallism aud as no such declaration
is explicitly made in the Wilson bill
the program will be TO pass the senate
bill aud send it to house for conference
OF courae the effect OF this will be to re.
vive the whole question in the house,
but II 10 not thought any considerable
time will be consumed by the house in
passing upon the question a second time
90 most OF members have already had
full opportunity TO be heard and will
have placed themselves upon record by
their votes on the several distinct pro-
positions aud ratios.
Already considerable speculation Is
being INDUCED In as TO the next step 10
he takon in financial legislation after
tho passage Of the bill repeating the
Sherman law. The committee on coin.
age under the leadership OF Chairman
Bland, will, It rs expected report a free
coinage bill In due time and Chairman
sprinGers committee on banking and
currency is expected to present several
feIiSi measures to tho house. Congross-
man MCCreary, Of Kentucky, ono Of the
delegates on the part Of the Unitsd
ssatos TO recent international monetary
conference at Brussels has prepared
joint resolution for the appointment oil
committee Of three senators, three
representatives and three experts to In,
qHitH into the change which has takell
place in tho relative value Of gold and
silver, and whether the change 10 due
10 the depreciation OF silver or to the
appreciation Of gold; cause OF the
CnanRe, whether permanent or tompor'
efyj tho effect thereof upon finance
wade, commerce, agriculture, labor and
Uothcr intoresta Of tho country and upor
the standard Of value in this and other
SounsricSt also on the policy Of main
aiming the double standard In the
United Statos and what should bO thu
legal ratio between silver and gold
when coined and on tho best means oI
leorRaniSIng tho banking nystenl and O.
,LesIoflng confidence In commercial and
financial circles and promoting lntcr
national blmotallism. The report TO bt
"aI9 ,,Il not later than January is5 1894