The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent,

gress has been as closely studied as any
similar document ever was by members
Of Congress, and it is evident that it is
going to be q po owerful factor in the finan-
cial legislation of the session. It appa-
rently opposes the ideas OF many Demo-
Gratis in both House and Senate, just as
his celebrated tariff message of 1857 did,
but honest and conscientious belief is ccl-
spicuous In every sentence of it.. And the
opposition to what are known as silver
Democrats is more apparent than real, for
they all egree with the President's g recon-
mendation for the repeal of the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman law,
only differing as to what shall be substi-
:tuted. The message recommends the re-
peal and leaves the question of q substi,
'tute to the wisdom of Congress, and nine
tsnths Of the Democrats are certain that
the recommendation as to repeal Will be
followed, and that other financial legisla-
ton, which will be equally satisfactory to
tho silver Democrats and to President
Cleveland, will be agreed upon by the
Democrats In both House and Senate and
that the persistent efforts of the Republi-
cans to split the Democratic party on the
silver question will fail.
Acting on ths maxim quoted in the
Presidents message, "He gives twice who
gives quickly" the Democrats in the
House, both silver and anti-silver men.
are trying to reach an agreement to take
mp and decide the silver question without
waiting for the appointment Of commit
tees and the adoption Of rules. It will be
easy to take the matter up without an
agreement, only majority vote be-
ing required, but il an agreement
can be reached upon just what
is to be voted upon and how m uch time
is to be given to discussion much time
will be saved that would necessarily be
wasted If no agreement is made, to say
nothing of the possibility of endless fill
clustering.
IS The silver men have in caucus decided
ito vote for the repeal Of the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman law, if the bill for
its repeal provides for the free coinage OF
silver on such ratio as will provide and
maintain the parity between gold and sill
yer. The fact that no particular ratio ia
mentioned is significant. It means that
the caucus Of silver democrats did not be-
licve It possible tosuccesd In maintaining
the present ratio Of 16 to !, and that they
are willing to increase the ratio.
It is now claimed that careful poll OF
the House, made this week shows ma
jority OF s5 in favor of the repeal Of the
purchasing clause Of the Sherman law.
The Senate is more doubtful, and it is
much more difficult TO ascertain how
Senators whose positions are mot clearly
defined will vote, but strong efforts are
now: being made to bring the Democratic
point TO saccess. A caucus Of Democratic
Senators this week appointed a committee
of five German, Ransom, Gray, voorhees,
and Black burn-to consider and report 8
plan with that end in view. The Repub-
licans, unintentio of course, added
largely to the probability Of united DEM
ccratio action In the Senate by their at
tempts to make political capital, which
were promptly and properly rebuked by
Senator German, out of the present hnan-
cial situation.
The Senate committee on Finance, OF
which Senator Voorhees, Is chairman, held
Il, first meeting yesterday. The commit.
tee did not lack for business, either, as
more than score Of financial bills which
have been introduced in the Senate have
been referred to that Committee. A ma
lority of this Committee are bimetalists,
but some of the most prominent Of them,
including the chairman, have declared
their belief in the viciousness Of the
Sherman law, and their willingness to
vote for its unconditional repeal. The
Senate is naturally deliberate in all its
action, so 1t will not be surprising if the
House takes up the silver ques 'on before
this Committee reports bill to the SEN
ate. The resolution of Senator Lodge, oi
Force Bill fame, directing the committee
to report bill for the repeal Of the Sher-
man law, and providing that a vote
should be taken thereupon on the ed OF
this month, WAS only bit Of Republican
buncombe, and the adoption of the reso-
luton would have surprised no one more
than its author.
ME bitterest pill in the Presidents 9
message, for the Republicans to swallow,
was the plain statement that he expected
Congress to obey the will Of the people,
and proceed to reform the iniquitous tariff
as soon as the finances have been looked
after. Because the troubles brought upon
the country by republican financial !egis'
lation hayaso copspicuously forced them:
selves upon public attention Of late, Re.
publicans have allowed themselves to be.
lieye that the Mckinley law was to be
undisturbed by this Congress. They know
better now, and the knowledge doesn',
please them.