The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
A COMPROMISE BILL
Democratic Senators at Last De-
termine on a Measure.
1t Extends the Silver Law to Oct. 1, 1894,
Provides for Coinage of Bullion
and Retires Small Bills.
NO PROVISION FOR BONDS
Thirty-Seven Members Already
Pledged to Support 1t.
May BE Introduced Early This Week,
and, il Adopted, Will Probably Be
Passed by the House.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 21.-The Democratic
steering committee virtually completed its
labors on the compromise question for the
repeal of the Sherman act to-day. The
members of the committee added generally
that they had virtually agreed upon bill.
1t extends the provisions Of the present sill
purchasing law until the 1st of October.
1894, provides for the coinage of silver now
in the treasury, and also the retirement of
all paper currency except repeal silver cer-
tificates below s10 There is no reference
whatever in the bill to the bond question.
Copies of the proposed bill were ordered for
the use of the members of the Senate on
both sides of the chamber. Opinions differ
as to when the bill will be formally presented
in the Senate. Some Of the Senator's say ii
will be introduced before Tuesday next.
The Democratic managers of the Senate
are now devoting themselves to the end of
seeing that the compromise bill shall be
passed When the steering committee ceased
its sitting to-day thirty-seven Democratic
Senator's had signed a pledge that they
would support the measure prepared by the
committee, and the managers felt assured
when the Senate adjourned to-day of a suf-
ficient number to bring the number up to
to insure the passage of the bill by Demo-
cratic votes. The three Democratic Sena-
tors who are holding out against the bill
are said to be Messrs. Mills and Villas, of
the repeal side, and Mr.. Irby, of the silver
side. There are some Senator'S absent from
the city. Messrs. Daniel, of Virginia, and
White. of California, for instance, of whose
support of the bill they entertain no doubt.
There are others of the ultra repeal men
who have not yet actually attached their
names to the pledge, upon whom the COM
mittee count with certainty. The managers
express themselves as anxious to secure
the names of all the Democratic Senator's
and will do so if possible, with the hope of
putting the bill through as party measure
and without calling upon Republicans for
any assistance whatever. Most of the Re-
publicans are equally anxious that the
Democrats should succeed in this accom-
plishment for the bill is one which does not
commend itself to either the repeal or silver
faction in Republican ranks The repeal
men are pleased with only the one pro-
vision, limiting the silver purchase to a
year, while the silver men find in this linn
itation ground for the severest condemna-
ton. They regard the bill as better than
unconditional repeal in that in all it's pro-
visions, except that of fixing a time for
ceasing the purchase of silver bullion alto
gether. it provides for increased use of
silver as money, but say it is by no means
what they should have received.
HOW THE BILL MAY FARE.
The committees recommendation will be
put in the shape of an amendment TO the
Voorhees, bill, and will probably receive
the support of most of the silver Republic
ans as an amendment, while the bill will
as amended, be opposed by them. This
course Will probably guarantee the pas
sage of the bill. for. while the Republican
silver men will vote for the amendment
and against the BILL the ultra Repeal Dem
ocrats will probably vote against the
amendment and then for the bill as the
best they can get. There are some con-
servative Republicans of both the repeal
and silver factions who may support the
measure.
The majority of the ultra repeal Repub-
licans would probably accept the bill if it
made provision for bond issue, but as it
does not contain this provision they feel
very little interest in it, and may oppose it
as a party. 1t seems most probable that
unless the Democrats get the concurrence
Of their entire party in the Senate the Re
publcans will make no effort at united ac-
tion
The silver men of both parties are pleased
that the bond issue is not to be touched
upon in the amendment The silver Demo-
Gratis made very strong effort to extend
the Sherman law to a time beyond the
next congressional election, but found it i'm
possible to secure executive approval for a
date later than that chosen. In fact this
date-Oct. l, 1S94-is a compromise within a
compromise-July /, 1894, and Jan. l, 1895.
1t is understood that the Treasury Depart
ment took the position that it would be i'm
possible to preserve the gold and silver par
ity without bonds if the Sherman law should
remain in force to exceed a year longer,
and that it was this argument which in
duced the silver men to yield. as they did
most reluctantly, to the extension until
January. 1895.
AS at present arranged the law will ex-
pire in the midst of the new congressional
election, and it is going to be very diff
cult to keep it out of the campaign. as it
is There will probably be an effort to
amend the amendment in the Senate by
increasing the purchasing time a year.
and the silver men think it possible that
they may get Republican support to put
THIS tnrOugn out, ali circumstances con-
sidered, this is hardly probable. One other
advantage which the silver find in
the committees amendment over the orig
inal bill is that it gives them ground to
stand on while the silver fight shall be
prosecuted in the future They say that the
silver fight has in reality only begun; that
the present bill is only a stipulation for a
brief time, and that ii will be prosecuted
vigorously In the regular session.
WILL PASS THE HOUSE.
The terms Of the proposed compromise
were the subject Of a great deal of discus
sion in the House this afternoon. The fact
that an authorization for bonds was not a
feature brought relief to many OF the South
ern and Western Democrats. The Demo
cratic Ieaders-Speaker Crisp, General
Catchings, Mr.. Outhwaite. Governor Say
ers and Judge Culberson-are in favor OF
immediate action on the bill when it comes
back from the Senate. and should it ap-
pear in the House before the consideration
of the bankruptcy bill. which is made con-
tinuing order. beginning on Monday. is
completed, would favor vacating that or
der TO give the compromise the right OF
way.
| The Democratic leaders express very gen
| eral satisfaction with the proposed com
n