The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-08-11

WHAT WILL THEY ACCOMPLISH?
All Parties Getting Ready for the Bat
tie on Silver.
STRONG FREE COINAGE BILL
Evcfything Points to One Of the Greatest
Forensic Struggles in the History Of
Our Country.
STRONG FREE COINAGE BILL
Associated Press.

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associated Press
Washington. Aug. 10.-Slowly, but
surely, the lines of battle are being
drawn on the financial question and
before another day passes the country
will probably be acquainted with the
full plan of procedure 1t is believed
that a point has been finally solved to-
day which Is likely to win the approval
of q majority Of all the elements. To-
night all Indications point to drawn
battle ON the floor Of the house without
reference Of the question to the COM
mittee ON coinage, weights and meas
urfs. Bland readily acqulesces in the
program to fight the battle out on the
floor OF the house in committee Of the
whole, and in this arrangement the an
ti-silver men, Of course, readily agree
The two bills on which is to turn all
the discussion Of the financial question
were today fully prepared and ready
for presentation. The one drawn by
the anti-sllver men is brief and to the
point. 1t tersely provides for the un-
conditional repeal Of so much of the
act of July IA, 1890, as directs month
ly purchase Of 100000 ounces Of silver
bullion, and issuing treasury notes
thereon. The measure drawn by the
free coinage people Is longer and is
unique in being drawn in a manner
which will develop the greatest possi-
BILE strength Of the free coinage move
ment in the house. The first portion
of the bill provides that all holders
of one hundred dollars or more of sill
yer bullion of standard weight shall
be entitled to have the same coined
into silver dollars at mints OF the
United States. Dollars so coined are
to be legal tender for all debts, dues,
and demands, both public and private
and any holder of silver dollars may,
at his discretion, deposit the same In
the United States treasury and receive
silver certificates for the same. The
number of grains of silver to be con-
tanned in standard dollar Is to be de-
termined on the floor Of the house. The
closing section of the bill provides
briefly for the repeal Of the Sherman
purchasing clause.
The bill drawn by the free coinage
men is regarded by their opponents as
we'll as by their friends, as the strong
est measure that could possibly be pre-
sented by the silver men. The question
of ratio being left to the house, the
silver men allege that no excuse can
be given faltering free coinage men
for the abandonment of their princi-
pals. If the opponents Of free coinage
have numerical strength, they can, Of
course, successfully strike out every
section which provides for the immedi-
ate repeal Of the Sherman purchasing
clause. The great question still to be
determined is which Of the two bills
is to have priority Of considerations
The silver men fear that if the repeal
ing bill should be first taken up, the
free coinage amendment, which would
naturally be proposed, might, under
strict Interpretation Of parliamentary
law, be declared not germane to the
subject under consideration the mair
question being that of repeal. To guard
against such ruling and to insure
successive votes on all propositions tC
be presented by the silver men, the
latter demand that the bill Of the free
coinage men, which also contains a
clause repeating the purchasing act
shall be given priority Of considera-
tion.
Washington, August 1O.-The com
mittee appointed by the house free
silver caucus met this morning for the
purpose of preparing measure favor
able to silver. The Anti-silvef repre-
sentatives in the house met, and later
joined the free silver people. The
latter submitted their measure TO the
opposing forces and discussion fol-
lowed No agreement was reached
and the conference adjourned for an
hour. When the committee met this
morning, the anti-silver men, II Is said
proposed that the house proceed al
once to the consideration Of a measure
for the immediate and unconditional
repeal Of the silver purchasing clause
Of the Sherman act, and that a vote be
taken upon that measure only. AS q
counter proposition, the silver mer
offered to introduce a bill to repeal tn,
clause, coupled with provision fol
free coinage, the ratio to be fixed b,
the house. For this measure, the op
ponents Of silver might offer sub
stitute. II they desired, but the sIlvel
men want chance to vote on free
coinage in some way. The latte
further agreed that the debate shoul.
continue three weeks. and, II at tn