The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-21
SILVER BUYING GOES ON.
REPUBLICANS REJEOT A CoMPRO.
MISE PROPOSITION.

ing for More Than a Year Until the
Amount of the seiRnorage Repre-
sented by the Bullion on Hand Had
Been Coined Into Silver Dollars.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-A plan for set
ting the silver question which would have
obtained a majority Of the democratic votes
failed to-day in the House, because the re-
publicaus absolutely refused their assistance.
1t was not question of the republicans
leaving the democrats TO settle IL for them
selves, for they would have settled it by
passing the compromise bill which was
agreed upon. They could not muster votes
enough. however, to offset the solid repub~
lioan vote, leagued with that OF the silver
extremists, against them. A dozen or more
democratic members who refused to vote
for a solution of the question week before last
had promised their assistance and several
Of them took part In the conference Of
democrats at Senator Carlisle's last night.
When Gen. Tracey to-day, however, laid
the compromise programme before ex-
Speaker Reed, TO see if the honest money
wing of the Republican party would stand
with the same wing Of the democratic ma
jority, Mr.. Reed declared there was not
enough in the compromise to justify his
supporting it,
THE PROPOSAL.
The compromise proposed the absolute
suspension Of further purchases OF silver
bullion until the amount of the ssignorage
represented by the bullion now in the
treasury had been coined into silver
nOllara 90 ha raf fon - 60 OOO mo
This would have suspended purchases for
more than a year and given the new ad-
ministration time to formulate new cur
rency policy. The refusal of Mr.. Reed to
go into the movement with the other honest
money republicans has resulted IN the prac-
tical abandonment of the most promising
scheme thus far planned. The plan only
gave breathing spell as Mr.. Reed pointed
out, but 1t was favored, in preference TO
doing nothing by Mr.. Williams of Massa-
chusetts, and was agreed to by the others
who were present at last nights conference.
These included Senator Carlisle and Repre-
sentatives Bacon Of New York, Tracey of
New York, Andrew of Massachusetts,
Brawley Of South Carolina, Warner of
New York, and Amerman Of Pennsylvania
on the hard money side, and Representative
Cate Of Arkansas. Cox OF Tennessee, Wike
OF Illinois. Oates of Alabama, Boatner of
Louisiana, Livingston of Georgia, Bynum
of Indiana, Brecklnridge of Arkansas,
Breckinridge Of Kentucky and Clark Of
Alabama representing the various shades
of feeling among the silver men. The plan
adopted was presented by Representative
Livingston as satisfactory to the more
moderate silver men, and had been prepared
by him in consultation with Mr.. Andrew.
THE PROGRAMME.
The programme which was to have been
fOIiOuad if uhiIpaVa nA
been refused, was the same as that outlined
week before last. The committee on rules
was ready TO report special order for the
consideration Of the Andrew bill, closure
was to have been adopted, the new measure
substituted for the old, and then carried
through the House. The plan would un-
doubtedly have succeeded, even il the re-
publlcans had split even, as in the vote to
consider the Andrew bill.
The attitude OF the republican members
is considered TO defeat the possibility Of
any action at the present session. This
will be disappointing news to Mr.. CleVe-
land for he has continued to insist with all
his visitors that action on the financial
question was the important achievement to
be sought during the present session to
avert the necessity for an early session Of
the new congress. He will still endeevor to
avoid an extra session, but the nervous con-
dition OF the money market may compel
him to call one in spite of his disinclination
60 do so. Such g session will become an
absolute necessity If the silver
extremists carry out the programme which,
group of them are reported
to have framed to filibuster against the
sundry civil appropriation bill in order to
defeat the Sherman Amendments reducing
the rate of interest on the bonds. The
sUndry civil bin carries a number of i'm
portsnt appropriations which cannot well
be dispensed with, even for a few months
and if the enemies of the incoming President
are determined to embarrass him by an extra
session, they will probably be able to do so
by fllbusterinR against the appropriation
bill. If an extra session becomes necessary,
mr. Cleveland will make action to suspend
silver purchases the leading reoommendas
ton of his message to the two houses.
One proposition which found considerable
favor at the conference in the House among
the free coinage men provided for the coin
age of the bullion now in the treasury and
the re-enactment of the Bland law, but Mr..
Williams of Massachusetts and other gold
men refused absolutely to vote for any
measure providing for further silver
purchases in any amount
AN AMUSING STORY.
Several Of the gentlemen at yesterdays
conference tell an amusing story
of how they came to be there,
which shows that they were
neither guests Of Mr.. Carlisle nor self-ap-
pointed visitors TO their host, and that each
gentleman was unaware. of the fact that
the others were to be present The
story is that during the latter part
Of the week most Of those persons
at the conference met gentleman named
Kenney, whom, they understood, was con-
nected with the publication known as
american Industries, aud was also inter
ested with Josiah Quincy in the EconO-
mist. Saturday each Of them received
formal note, tn effect as folio ws:
Mr.. Carlisle requests that Mr.. -
call on him at his residence, No 1926 K
street, N. W. at 4 o'clock Sunday after
noon, Feb. 10, for an informal conference
on compromise OF the silver question" Mr..
Carlisle the same day found awaiting him
a note signed by a gentleman named Ken
ney, informing him that certain
democratic members of the House
representing all shades Of opinion on the
silver question, the extreme tree coinage
men excepted would call on him at o'clock
Sunday afternoon for a conference on the
silver question. Mr.. Carlisle met the gem
tlemen whom he supposed had called on
him by their own appointment and they
naturally felt a little hattered that
MIR. Carlisle had invited them. Each of
the visitors knowing the object Of the con-
ference. the silver question was discussed
eud an understanding was reached. AS
they were about TO 20, Clifton
Breckinridge of Arkansas called He