The morning call., 1893-10-22
SETTLED AT LAST.
Democrats Come to an
Agreement.
TERMS OF THE NEW BILL.
Silver Men Were Not Consulted
in the Matter.
TERMS OF THE NEW BILL.
LIKELY TO MAKE TROUBLE YET
The Majority Leaders In Congress
May Be Counting Their Chickens
Rather Too Soon.

WASHINGTON. Oct 21.-The Democratic
steering committee virtually completed its
labors on the compromise silver repeal
bill to-day. 1t extends the provisions of
the present silver purchase act until Oc-
tober l, 1894, and provides for the coinage
Of silver now in the treasury and the re-
tirement of all paper currency except
silver certificates below $40. There
Is no reference whatever in the bill to the
bond question. Opinions differ as to the
time when the bill will be presented in the
Senate. It may be handed in on Tuesday.
or even earlier, if it shall prove acceptable
70 the majority. The bill also provides
for the coinage of silver to be purchased
In the future. Republican silver men are
dIspleased with the shortage limit for the
Sherman law to continue in force and will
promptly oppose the bill solidly. The
Populists are also displeased with the bill
Tor the same reason. The bill will be
tackled on as an amendment to the present
law.
When the committee completed Its sit
tings to-day thirty-seven Democratic Sena-
tors had pledged themselves to support
the measure, and the managers felt as
sured Of a sufficient number to bring the
total up to forty-one. leaving only two
more necessary to insure the passage OF
the bill by Democratic votes.
The Senators holding out against the
bill are said to be Mills and Villas of the
repeal side and Irby of the silver side.
Some of the repeal men have not yet actu-
ally attached their names 20 the pledge,
but it is expected to secure the names OF
sll the Democratic Senators and the COM
promisefs will then rush the bill through
as party measure and without calling
upon the Republicans for help. Most of
the Republicans hope the Democrats will
succeed in this, for the bill is one which
does not commend itself to either the re-
peal or the silver factions in the Rebuilt
can ranks. The repeal men are pleased
only with the clause limiting silver pur-
chase to one year, while the silver men
find in this reason to hope for a further
extension of silver purchases. and think it
better than unconditional repeal.
The committees recommendation will be
put in the shape of an amendment Of the
VOORHEES, bill and will probably receive
the support of most OF the silver RepubIi-
cans as an amendment, while the bill will
a. amended be opposed by them. This is
where the probability comes in against the
passing Of the bill. 1t seems more than
probable, however. that If the Democrats
get the concurrence Of their entire party In
the Senate the Republicans will make no
effort at united action. The silver men, if
all parties are pleased, will accept the bill.
AS at present arranged the bill will ex-
pire in the midst of the next Congressional
election, and there will probably be an
effort to amend the amendment extending
the purchasing time year, and silver men
think it possible they may get Republican
support TO put this through, but all the
cfrcums tances considered, this is hardly
probable, one Of the advantages which
the silver men find in the committees
amendment of the original bill being thatit
gives them ground TO stand on from which
the silver fight shall be waged in future.
They say the entire silver fight is in reality
only begun; that the present bill is only
q stipulation for brief time. and the fight
will be prosecuted vigorously In the regu-
Jar session.
The terms of the proposed compro mise
we're the subject of great deal of discus
bion in the house this afternoon and the
fact that an authorization for bonds was
NOT a feature brought relief to many
of the Republicans and Western Demo-
Gratis. The Democratic leaders are in favor
of the bill ard when it comes to the House
there will be suspension in order to give
the compromise the right of way. The
Democratic leaders seem to feel certain 1t
will find favor with both wings of the party
in the lower house, as the prevailing
opinion is that the ultra silver Democrats
in view of the necessity for show of party
harmony will content themselves with
voting against the measure. A goodly num-
Der of the silver Democrats will, however,
probably vote for the compromise If their
votes are needed to secure its passage. The
Republicans will be governed largely by
what their poll tical brethren In the SEN
ate do.
When the bill reaches the House 1t will
20 to the Committee on Coinage, Weights
and Measures unless there is some indica-
tion that an attempt will be made to hold
1t In that committee for too long period,
in which case motion to concur in the
Senate amendments would be made with
out its reference at all. The consensus OF
opinion, however, is that it will be re-
ferred under the rules and returned to the
House within two days at most. Four
days after the bill reaches the House 1t IS
expected that it will have passed and that
Congress will have taken recess for two
or three weeks.
AM ARcfIDD EEAD