The Portland daily press., 1893-08-12

Democratic Party LII Lit Comes To That
Issue-The Days Proceedings.
Washington, August 1.-THE House
this morning was in a hustle of intense
excitement. Members met in groups,
talking over the situation, and the uni
veasal question was, Have the silver
and anti-silver men reached an agree
ment?'
Silver was on every mans tongue, and
silver will be on every mans tongue for
the next fortnight, as the conference has
practically agreed to limit the debate to
that period of time, the debate begin
ing Immediately after the reading OF the
journal today.
Afrer the reading of the journal Mr..
Wilson of West Virginia offered for
present consider eration bill to repeal a
part of the act approved July IA, 1890
(the Sherman act).
1t provides that $50 much of the act ap-
proved July IA, 1890, as directs the sec
retary of the treasury to purchase from
time to time silver bullion to the aggre-
gate amount of 100000 ounces, or so
much thereof as may be offered in each
month at the market price thereof, not
exceeding 81 for 81 La grains of pure
silver, and to issue in payment for such
purchase treasury notes of the United
States be, and the same is hereby, re-
pealed. But this repeal shall not impair,
nor in any manner affect, the legal tender
quality of the standard silver dollars
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 legal ratio, or such other ratio as
may be established by law"
Then Mr.. Bland arose and desired to
offer resolution looking to the order of
procedure.
Mr. Cannon wished to ask parlia-
how the bill was to be considered. Was
it to be referred to standing commit
tee? Was it to be considered in COM
mittee of the whole? Or was it to be
considered in the House as in committee
OF the whole?
The Speaker replied that in the abb
sence of rules itwas for the House to
determine the method Of its consider
alton.
Mr.. Bland then presented the follow
ing order:
bill No. l shall be taken up for immedi-
ate consideration and considered for IA
days. During such consideration night
sessions may be held for debate only, at
the request of either side, the daily ses-
sions to commence at II a. M, and con-
tinue until p. m. Eleven days of the
debate on the bill to be given to general
debate under the rules of the last House
regulating 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 the consideration of the bill and the
amendments as herein provided under
the usual fve-minute rule of the House,
as in committee of the whole House.
General leave to print is hereby granted.
''The vote shall be taken, first on an
amendment providing for the coinage OF
silver at the present. ratio. If that fails,
then a separate vote to be had on SINH
lar amendment proposing ratio of II to
j; if that fails, on one proposing ratio
of IS to /; if that fails, one proposing
ratio of 10 to = if that fails, one propos-
ing ratio of 20 to /. If the above
amendments fail it shall be in order to
offer an amendment reviving the act of
February 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 read
ing of the bill, as amended, or on the bill
itself if all amendments shall have been
voted, and on the final passage of the
bill, without other intervening motion.
Mir. Henderson of Iowa. inquired as to
the meaning of the order, so far as it re-
ferred to the division of time between
the two sides.
The Speaker said that the right of rec
ognition rested with the Chair, and he
would recognize gentlemen on both sides
OF the question.
Mr.. Bland demanded the previous
question on his order.
Mr.. Reed of Maine inquired whether
if the previous question was ordered
there would be any time allowed for de-
bate.
The Speaker replied that in the alb
sence of rules there would not be.
Mr.. Reed said proposition had been
presented. which was agreed upon by
committee of some sort or other, of the
constitution of which this House knew
nothing officially. 1t was now proposed
to adopt that proposition without the
slightest debate. He recognized the i'm
portance of the situation. Had the pro-
position been simply to repeal the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act, he
could see the wisdom of the House COM
ing to a vote at once,
Mr. Bland said he had no objection to
debate after the previous question was
ordered. Messrs. Bland and Cannon
then entered into controversy SO ami
mated and SO unintelligible that both
gentlemen were called to order by the
Speaker. Without any agreement, Mr..
Bland again demanded the previous
question. Mr.. Cannon had some difficult
ty in securing the yeas and nays, but
was finally successful and the previous
question was ordered: Yeas, 217; nays,
100. Mr. Bland then offered his free
coinage, 16 to 1 bill, as substitute.
Mr.. Bland opened depate for, the free
coinage side. He reviewed the recent
silver and financial legislation and con-
tended that it was apprehension that the
United States would repeal the Sherman
law that induced the British government
to recommend to the government OF lndla
the suspension of silver coinage. 1t was
the fight on silver which had precipi-
tated the panic, panic which had been
brought about designedly and for pur-