The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-11

WASHINGTON, D. O., Augpst1O,-slow-
ly but surely the lines Of baltic arc be-
ing drawn on the financial question,
and before another day passes thecoun.
try will probably be acquainted with
the full plan Of procedure, 1pnumer.
able conferences have been held within
the past three days, most Of them be.
tween self.constituted committees, and
many Of them iruitless, but out Of the
wrangling a plan has finally been
evolved to-day which is likely to win
the approval OF q majority OF all tho
elements. The great question has been,
not what action should be taken on the
financial question, butwhen that action
is To be taken, and when the country
may expect relief from the present aua-
pense.
Tonight all tho indications point to
q drawn battle on the floor of the house
OF representatives without reference
OF the question to the committee on
coinage, weights and measures. Mr..
Bland, who will probably bo chairman
OF that committee, readily acquiesces in
the programme 10 fight the battle out
on the floor Of the house in tho COM
mittee OF the whole and in this arrange
ment tho anti.silyer men Of course
readily agree.
THE TWO BILLS.
The two bills on which is TO turn all
the discussion on the financial question
we're to-day fully prepared and are
ready for presentation. The one drawn
by the anti.silver men Is brief and to
the point It tersely provides for the
unconditional repeal OF 90 much Of the
act Of July IA, 1890, us directs the month
~ purchase Of four and one.hnlf million
ounces of silver bullion and the issuing
OF treasury notes thereon.
The measure drawn by the FREQ coin
ago people is longer, and is unique in
being drawn in manner which will
develop the greatest possible strength
OF the free coinage element on the floor
OF the house.
Tho fret portion of tho bill provides
that all holders OF 500 or more of silver
bullion OF standard weight shall bo on.
titled to have the same coined into sill
YER dollars at the mints OF tho United
States. The dollars so coined are to be
q legal tender for all debts, dues and
demands, both public aud privatej and
any holder Of silver dollars may at his
discretion deposit the same in the
United States treasury and receive ell.
yer certificates for tho same. As to the
number Of grains Of silver TO be con-
tanned in the standard dollar, the bill
says 1.-THE silver dollar provided for in
this act shall consist Of - grains Of
standard silver" thus leaving tho ratio
blank to be determined on the floor OF
the house. The closing section Of the
bill provides briefly for the repeal Of
the Sherman purchasing clause, thus
making tho free coinage Of silver at q
revised ratio to be determined by Con.
gross condition precedent to the re-
peal Of the purchasing act.
Tho bill drawn by the free coinage
men is regarded by their opponents, as
we'll as by their friends, as the strongest
measure that could possibly be present.
cd by the silver men. 1t forces tho dis.
cussion first on the question Of whether
majority Of the house Is in favor Of
tho principle OF bi-metallism. This bc.
ing determined, It calls for the Judgment
OF the house on tho ratio that should
be established-thuS rendering com.
promise by practically abandoning the
time honored ratio Of 10 to |.
QUESTION OF PRIORITY.
Tho great question still to be deter.
mined is which Of the two bills to DO
introduced Is to have priority Of con.
sidoration in tho house. Tho numer.
Gus conferences held between tho free
coinage and anti.ailver men have boen
for the purpose Of arriving at an
agreement as to the order OF considera.
tion in the house. Tho silver men fear
that II the repeating bill should DO first
taken up, the FREQ coinage amendments
which would naturally bo proposed,
might under q strict Interpretation OF
parliamentary law be declared not gel.
main 10 tho subject under Considora.
tion, the main question being that Of
repeal. 10 guard against such ruling
and insure successive votes OH all tho
propositions 10 bo presented by
tho silver mon, the latter demand that
tho bill Of tho froo coinage mon which
also contains a clnuso repeating tho
purchasing act, shall DO given priority
OF consideration, or that tho special
rulc which 10 suggested shall explicitly
state tho various propositions upon
which tho house shall DO called to yotO,
thus assuring a FREQ discussion and fair
vote on tho FREQ coinage question. Tho
points upon which tho silver inan Ia.
slst ato that tho fullest opportunity
shall DO afforded for discussion, up.
proxlmatoly three weeks, and that
SUpotAtu vctos shall DO had upon all tho
FREQ coinage propositions including the
various ratios suggested ranging from
IL 10 /, 10 22 TO I.
In tic conferences to-day tho FREQ
coinage men were represented by Rep.
rosenlatiyes Bland, Boalner, CnlbOrsop,
Bryan, bailey, Bunkliead, Oates and
Ianet the unconditional rOponlefs by