New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-22
FROM BAD TO UORSE.

Starting so badly that II was question
whether their own President could join them
tho democrats have made rapid progress down
ward The President had said that IL would be
an Infamous surrender 10 take any compromise
NJ all and business men said. Amen tut
tho measure to which he refused formal assent
saving that the responsibility must rest VII"
the Senate. was vastly better than the one
which the Democrats and silver Senators are
ROW said to have signed.
On the matter Of signature, II may be said
that the Democrats Of the Senate seem 10 nave
been principally occupied in signing their names
of late Dispatches said forty-two ont OF forty
five OF them signed the Thursday compromise
For some reason not clearly explained mat Dill
vanished out Of sight, and the Friday conpro-
mise obtained signatures. Now 1t Is SAID tiiat
, very different measure has been offered by
the Steering Committee, and has obtained sig
natures Of some silver Senators besides the
Democrats. Accepting all these statements
with grain OF salt, or more, the observer
notes steady progression from bad to worse
The Democrats began with a naked extension
OF the Silver act for two years, more or less
and an issue Of bonds for S2OO,OOO,OoO or more
to meet the necessities Of the Treasury Inc
silver men wanted longer time for purchases
some coinage, and no bonds. The latest form
of compromise provides for no bonds. leaving
The Treasury TO face a deficit as best IL can. III
comedies coinage Of the $3O,OOO,OOO seignior
age" and all the silver that may be purchased
and all the segnOragc on that silver, 50 mat
instead of S4OOO000O, the actual value OF d.
600 900 ounces of silver bought In year. the
bill would coin 60 $4,000 silver dollars in Il
wear and besides about SJO,OOO.OOO more as
soon as possible But this performance Is to
cease October /, 1894. and meanwhile green
backs and Treasury notes Of less denomination
than SO each shall be retired. and silver Ger
tifcatcs or coin put out in place Of them. 1t Is
hardly necessary to say that public confidence
would not be increased by retiring about 500
900 900 legaltcndcr notes now rcdccnabic III
gold and substituting notes rcdccmablc In sill
yer only, or by adding SG0, $4,000 and also
S5O.OOO.OOO or more during the next year to
the volume Of silver notes outstanding.
Compromisc this Is called If the President
asscnts TO IT, his trcachcry 10 public interests
and to his pledges will be 50 plain as to need
no discussion Never has there been time
when paper imitation Of Sll9. $4,000 in
single year. all rcdccmabc in silver only, was
less cxcusablc than ii would be now. Yet this
is the Kind Of measure Democrats propose for
thc restoration Of business confidence What
President Cleveland may think Of such bill
is vet doubtful. But there ought to be no doubt
whatever regarding The vote of every true Re
publican against II.
All appearances strengthen the idea that the
Democrats having determined 10 defy the
President. and having found him unwilling To
commit himself TO the bill first exhibited To
him as II party measure, concluded 10 20 far
enough 10 secure the extreme silver and Pop
uist votes in order 10 pass the measure over
a possible veto. No other explanation appears
Of the amazing change for the worse in the
character OF The bill favored by The Democratic
Steering Committee On Thursday il was Il
bare extension of safe Republican measure.
with ample issue Of bonds 10 save the Treas
nry from bankruptcy. ON Saturday il is n
measure Of bald and naked silver imitation. 10
the extent Of Sl20.OOO,OOO in n single year at
the same time refusing tn the Treasury power
TO sell any bonds in order TO meet deficit
II il is not 10 be entitled Z" An Act To Bank
rlpt the Government OF the United States"
what Is 1T One cannot imagine that auy Sen.