The herald., 1893-08-28
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE,
The Fate Of Silver in the
Balance.
Probable Passage Of the Wilson
Bill.
The Senate to Insist Upon Its Own
Measure.
Tho Friends OF Silver Place Their Hopes
Upon the Action of the Upper
Houss-It VIII Recommend
Free Silver Coinage.

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Aug. N.--The financial
debate has closed, and the line Of battle
is now being sharply drawn for the de-
cisive contest that takes place in the
house tomorrow. The leaders of both
sides have exerted every effort to have
their men all here, and it is expected
the first roll-call will find almost every
member Of the house present and voting.
The result OF the successive roll.calls to-
morrow is no longer q matter OF doubt
to any one familiar with the situation.
The free coinage bill to be offered by
Bland, as a substitute for the repeating
bill Of Wilson, will be defeated. The
exact vote is uncertain. as the fealty Of
certain members to the measure depends
much on the ratio that receives the
largest support in the house. There
seems to be no doubt that instead of the
highest ratio, 20 to 1, being the most
popular, the old ratio Of 16 to will re.
ceive the greatest vote and will be the
only one seriously considered. But
whatever may be the result OF the vote
on the separate ratios, the Bland bill
will be rejected as substitute for the
Wilson bill, and the majority for rejec.
ton will not be less than 40. After the
rejection OF the Bland bill, and when
the question resolves itself to the simple
one OF the repeal Of the purchasing act
of the Sherman law, the Wilson bill will
be passed by a majority Of not less than
go. Immediately after the passage OF
the Wilson bill it will be reported to the
senate, and II the usual courseis pursued
it will be referred to the committee on
finance Of that body.
THE sENATE's ACTION.
1t is expected that the policy Of the
Senate will be to let the bill slumber
there, while all the efforts Of the upper
ch am hvr- nrv -u1ruCJvu rJU SECURING tho
adoption Of the repealing bill now pend
i-s iafhat body. The reason this re-
pealing bill reported by the senate COM
mittee on finance is believed to be supe-
rior to the house bill is because 1t con-
tains the declaration, originated by
Senator Hill, pledging the government
to the policy of bimetallism, and az no
such declaration is explicitly made in
the Wilson bill, the programme will be
to psss the senate bill and send it to the
house for the concurrence of the latter
body. OF course, the effect OF this will
be tn revive the whole question in the
house, but 1t is not thought any consid-
erable time will be consumed by the
house in passing upon the question the
second time.
FUTURE FINANCIAL LEGISLATION.
Considerable speculation is being in
dulged in as to the next step to be2taken
in financial legislation after the passage
OF the bill repeating the Sherman law.
The committee on coinage, under the
leadership of Chairman Bland, will, it
is expected, report free coinage bill in
due time, and Chairman Springer's e COM
mittee on banking and currency is ex-
pected to present several relief measures
to the house.
Congressman McCreary of Kentucky.
one of the delegates on the part Of the
United States to the recent interna-
tional monetary conference at Brussels,
has prepared joint resolution for
introduction in the house next week.
The resolution provides for the appoint
ment of commission of three senators,
an equal number Of representatives,
with three experts to be selected by the
president, who shall inquire into the
whole financial question in its broadcast
phases, not as to bimetailism alone, but
also as to reorganization of the banking
system. The means of promoting inter-
national bimetallism will also be SUBJ
ject for the commission to consider. 1t
is provided that the report of the COM
mission shall be made to the senate and
house not later than January l, 1894.