The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-12
Bill for the Repeal of the Sherman Act Intro
ducsd and Rule Laid Down Giving
Fourteen Days for Discussion.
Fiery Speeches on Both Sides Indicat-
ing q Big Democratic Split.
Jason Brown Gets Scoring from the Missouri
Silverite-First Gun of the Populists-
Senate Committee in Session.
AN INTERESTING SESSION.
Silver Men First in the Arena with Cha
lenge to the Rest of the Country.


Silver Men First in the Arena with Chai-
lenge to the Rest of the Country.
WASHINGTON, Aug live do not in
tend that any political party shall survive
the lay ing of confscating hand on Amer
lea in the interest of England and of Europe
and demonetize silver In this country, and
my friends Of the Eastern Democracy. we
bid you farewell when you do it."
These were the words of Mr.. Richard P.
Bland In the great financial contest that
opened in the House of Representatives to-
day. and the applause that followed the de-
termined uttersnce demonstrated that the
great silver leader had with him material
element of the Democratic party. 1t
brought every member of the House to
realization that the most serious crisis in
the Democratic party since the dissensions
of slavery was at hand. and that the division
of 1898. like the division of 1861, would
be largely on sectional lines. In accordance
with the programme last night agreed on.
Mr. Wilson. Immediately after the meeting
Of the House. introduced q bill uncondi-
tiOnly repeating the Sherman purchasing
law. and Mr.. Bland, on behalf of the
free.colnsge men, followed with resOlu.
tion providing for the immediate consider
alton of the bill and allottinR fourteen days
for general debate before vote should be
taken.
SILVER MEN LEAD OFF.
The resolution of procedure was drawn
to especially secure the silver men in their
demands for separate votes on free coinage
at the various ratios proposed. but Is so ex-
plicit as to call for final vote on the re-
pealing bill at the termination of debate
whether or not the silver amendments pre-
vail. Thus. in the House. at least. the fear
of fillbustering is allayed and both parties
are srrayed in line for fair fight and no
favOrs. The speeches of the day were marked
for their lntensity of feeling and revealed
q wide difference of opinion In party
ranks. Mr.. Raynor. of Maryland, was
frank enough to unqualifiedly declare for
monometallism, under present conditions
and presented the arguments of the repeal
ing men in the strongest possible light. Mr
Bland electrified the House by his warning
that the Democratic party would know the
silver men no more If il assisted In the last
drama in the demonstration Of silver. and
Lafe Pence the young silver representa-
tive from Colorado. made one of the strong
est maiden speeches heard In the halls of
Congress within the last decade-excepting
only the eloquent tariff oTatlon that
brought fame to Congressman William j.
Bry an, of Nebraska, q year ago.
che galleries of the House were we'll
crowded, when, Immediately after the
reading of the journal, Mr.. Wilson, of
West Virginia, offered for present consid-
Grafton. q bill to repeal part of the act
approved July IA. 1890 lthe Sherman act
1t provides that so much OF the act ap-
proved July Ii. 1890. as directs the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury to purchase from time
to time silver bullion TO the aggregate
nf a n
thereof as may be offered In each month at
the market price thereof. not exceeding 81
for 371l4 grains OF pure silver, and to issue
in payment for such purpose treasury notes
hereby repealed. But this repeal should
not impair nor in any manner affect the
leKal-tender quality of the standard silver
dollar heretofore coined. and the faith and
credit of the United States are hereby
pledged to maintain the parity of the gold
and silver coin of the United States at the
present legal ratio. or such other ratio as
may be established by law.
BLAND HOLDS THE WHIP.
Then Mr.. Bland, of Missouri. arose and
desired to offer a resolution looking to the
order of procedure Mr.. Cannon. of Illi-
nois. wished to ask q parliamentary ques-
tion. He wished TO know how the bill was
to be considered. Was it to be referred to
8 standing committee. was it to be consid-
cred in the committee of the whole, or was
it TO be considered in the Honse as in com
mittee of the whOlef The Speaker replied
that In the absence of rules il was for the
House to determine the method of its oon-
sideratiOn.
Mr.. Bland then presented the following
order: 1T is ordered by the House that
House bill No. / shall be taken up for im-
mediate consideration and con sldered for
fourteen days During such consideration
night sessions may bo held for debate only
at the request of either side. the daily ses-
sions TO commence at IL A. M.. and continue
until p. NJ. Eleven days of the debate
or the bill to be given TO general debate,
under the rules OF the last House regulat-
ing general debate, the time to be equally
divided between the two sides, as the
Speaker may direct. The last three DAYS
of debate may be devoted to consldera-
tIon of the bill and the amendments as
herein provided under the usual tiye-mln-
ute rule of the House. as in COMMITTEES of
the whole House. General leave to print
is hereby granted The vote shall he taken
hrst on an amendment providing for the
coinage of silver at the present ratio. If
that fails then separate vote TO bo had
on a similar amendment. proposing a ratio
of II to 1; If that fails. one proposing ra-
ito of Is TO i; if that fails, one pro posing a
ratio OF 10 to !; If that fails enc
the above amendments fail. 1t shall
be in order TO offer an amendments
reviving the act of Feb. 2S. 1878 restoring
the standard silver dollar, commonly known
as the Bland-Allison act The vote then
to be taken on the engrossment and third
reading of the bill as amended, or on the
bill itself. If all amendments shall have
been voted down, and on the final passage
of the bill without other intervening mo-
tiop."
Nix. Henderson Iowa INQUIRED as to the
meaning OF the order. so far as it referred
TO the division of time between the two
SIDES. The Speaker said that tho right
of recognition rested with the Chair and
he would recognize gentlemen on both
sides OF the question. Mr.. Grosvenor
(OhiO) suggested that there were more
than two sides to the question. Mr.. Simp-
sob (kansas said that III some manner
there appeared TO be so many sides 10 the
question that the Republicans were not
able TO distinguish themselves from the
Democrats any more. 1t was right that
tho Populist party should have an allot-
msnt of time. Hc suggested that the mem.
bers of that party be given three hours
Mr.. Henderson tlowal gave notice than the
Republicans were going TO control u good
share of the time. There were not going
tO lie two sldes, both controlled by the
Democrats. Mr.. Bowers california; said
that as he understood the question: it re-
solved itself into one between the friends
of free silver coins ge and those opposed TO
10. He objected TO Republicans opposed to
free coinage controlling his part of the
time. He was in favor of free coinage
lApplause. Mr.. Bland demanded the pre-
IT,