The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, II, 1893.

| Congress by getting 10 worK on 'ne
silver question on the fifth day of the
session. They also disappointed the
republicans who were cooked and
primed to arraign the democrats at the
bar OF public opinion on the charge OF
intentional procrastinatlon. The re-
publicans have been SO surprised at
the ease with which the democrats
reached an agreement 10 take up the
silver question, in advance Of the ap.
polntment Of committees, discuss it
fourteen days and then vote upon the
bill for the repeal of the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman law and amend
ments thereto for the free coinage Of
silver at ratio Of 10, II, is, Io. or
20 to one, and for the substitution of
the old Bland act, which was the law
before the Sherman act was passed in
1890, that they have just begun to
charge the democrats with railroading
the matter through the House. The
democrats are perfectly willing to
plead guilty to the charge of railroad
ing, and that the people had a right to
expect it. The agreement under which
the debate is now being conducted is
thoroughly democratic it provides for
an equal division of time and for a
vote upon the bill and the amend
ments named without fiiibustering, and
the decision of the question is to be
made solely by the majority in the
House. 1t looks now as though the
bill for the unconditional repeal of the
purchasing clause Of the Sherman law
would pass, although there is proba-
bility an amendment providing for the
free coinage OF silver at an increased
ratio may be added to the bill.
Up to this time the debate has been
carried on in spirit of liberation. al
though some of the speakers on both
Sides silver and anti-silver there are
no political sides recognized in the de-
bate-have made some rather strong
statements. The small attendance is
surprising, in view OF the great interest
throughout the country in the result.
OF course everybody knows that it is
| easy for members of the House to find
more comfortable places than their
seats in the House to spend their time
from II a. m. to 5 p. m. daily, but it
| does seem that more of them should
regard it duty to attend the sessions
than do. While there is no actual ne
cessity for their being present. if they
do no, intend to speak, until the vo.
ting begins, still it would look better to
see them in their seats.
The democratic Senators have not
found it so easy to agree upon pro-
gramme for the disposal of the silver
question in the Senate, although the
committee appointed by the democrat
ic caucus, Of which Senator German
is chairman, has made some progress
towards compromise, and there is
reason for the belief that it will even.
tually succeed. The most radical sill
yer men in Congress are repub b'ican
Senators, and it is their influence
which makes it difficult to get the
democratic Senators to agree upon
compromise substitute for the Sher-
man law. There is little, if any prob.
ability that a bill for the repeal of the
entire law or Of the purchasing clause
Can get through the Senate without
being accompanied by substitute.
The town has been full Of silly rum.
ors about President Cleveland's health
since his return to Gray Gables, under
his physicians orders. in search of
much needed rest. The case is very
simple and there is no occasion for
rumor. There is nothing the matter
with the Presidents general health
but he has been overworking himself
ever since the fourth of March, and
being only human, his system is now
paying the penalty, and demands the
rest which he has not before felt at
liberty to give 1t. There is really no
good reason why he should be in
Washington during the discussion OF
the silver question. In fact, there are
more reasons for his being away.
Had he remained here he would CON
stantly have beer charged with trying
to influence votes in some way or
other Being away he can get needed
rest and no one can accuse him of
trying to interfere with the Constitu.
tlonal nights Of Senators and Repre-,
sentatlves-
The agreement 10 take up the silver
question in the House was great re.
lief to Speaker Crisp, as it will enable
HIM to take his time in making up the
committees, for there will be nothing
for them to do until after the silver
| question is disposed of.
| While there has been nothing in the