Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-15
OBJECT|NG SENATORS
May Prove But Stumbling
Blocks for Repeal.
COMPROMISE TO Be VETOED


wAsHINeToN, Aug. i5-The more the
financial situation is discussed In congress
and the more conferences are held the
more cloudy and complicated the situation
appears. The silver men are much more
confident now Of defeating the uncondi-
sional repeal of the Sherman law than
they have been before. There will DO no
occasion for surprise II the extra session
proves useless so far as the purpose for
which 1t was called together goes. The
indications still are that unconditional re-
peal will 40 through the house, yet this
cannot be relied on In view Of the possi-
bility Of change between now and the time
for taking the vote.
II members were compelled to vote on
the naked proposition Of repeal or not re-
peal, without the chance Of amendment or
condition, there is little doubt that the
repeal bill would be passed by a respect
able majority. A large number OF men,
bers who are conditional repeal men argue
that they are pledged by the Democratic
national platform to two propositions
the repeal Of the sherman law and the
maintenance of blmetallism. The question
whether the two things shall be handled
in one bill is one of policy.
Veto Awaits q Compromise.
Fearing that II the legislation favorable
to silver were not attached as o condition
to the repeal of the silver purchasing law
the president might not approve OF the
silver legislation, they regard 1t as policy
to combine the two. yet they would not
feel warranted In refusing to vote for the
repeal of the silver purchasing law uncon-
ditionally II the attempts to amend 1t
failed. They would feel IL confronted with
the naked proposition that they would
have to vote for repeal Bot this Is not
what they want
Counting these men In their canvass
the anti-silver men can show larger ma
jority for repeal than they can rely on to
vote with them on the various PROPOSE
tions that come up BY way Of amendment
What they rely on, however. Is that some
OF the men who would vote for free coin
age at ratio Of 10 to I will not vote for
ratio of IS or 20 to l. should the first PROPOSE
tion fail, and that some who are willing to
vote for IS or 20 will not vote for 10, leav-
ing the silver men therefore divided on
the question of ratios.
Unconditional Repeal Impossible.
There is. however, possibility which
should not be lost sight Of, that when
the house comes to vote on the
amendment providing q ratio Of %
TO l, IL may have strength enough to
carry it through. From the present out
look the anti-silver men appear to have the
best Of Il In the house.
Should 20 to amendment be adopted
by the house 1t would be mighty apt 10 60
through the senate. The impression Is
growing stronger every day that an un-
conditional repeal Is impossible In the sem
ate. The silver men are very strong
numerically in that body and have such
power under the rules as to make IL prac-
tically impossible to force through legisla-
tion which they are determined shall not
pass. The probabilities are that the
struggle there will be very long one, and
the indications are that condition will
be put on the bill.
May Be q Waste OF Time.
In this connection arises the serious
question of whether the president would
sign a bill even to secure the repeal Of the
silver purchasing law II 1t carried with 1t
a provision for the coinage OF silver. 1t Is
said that he is determined to stand by the
issue Of unconditional repeal or moth
ing, and that II bill should 60 to
him providing for the repeal Of the
obnoxious law, and for che free coinage of
silver at 20 to !, or even greater ratio,
he would veto 1t without any hesitation,
preferring to rely on the administration
of the present law than to have new law
still holding silver in its present position
as money metal through the efforts Of
the government only. There Ia. therefore,
the possibility confronting the country OF
long agitation Of the Question without
any practical results In the way OF legisla-
tion.