New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-14
AN INEXCUSABLE DELAY.
GENERAL DEBATE USELESS.
NOT A CONGRESSMAN WHOSE VOTE WILL
BE CHANGED.
rNpER ABLE AND ENERGETIC LEADERSHIP THE
ADMINISTRATION DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE
FORCED VOTE ON REPEAL LAST
EEk-REPRESENTATIVES
LEAVING THE CITY.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIByNE.J

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEJ
Washington, Aug 13.-The second week of the
s,ssion will begin with Congress no nearer a vote
an the repeal of the bullion purchase provision
than il was week ago. except as that event has
been brought nearer by the flight of time. in
ofher words. week has been wasted and pro-
vision has been made for wasting two weeks more
IN the House of Representatives, for no nte-
cent man Will contend that the so-caled debate
in that body will result in changing a single
vote There is not Representative in either
marty who is fit 10 hold a seat in Congress who
had not male up his mind before Ii, cam" TO Wash
inston as TO whether or not he favored the un-
conditional repeal of the silver-purchase prov-
sion: certainly there is not who will be
sisted in forming Il conclusion by the contrary
Arguments contradictory assertions and bewilderin
assortment of statistics which are being dinnei
into his ears and spread before his eyes day after
day.
Aside from the eXigcnces of the Democratic
nartv-tLe supposed necessity of obtaining aud
nreserving a semblance of unity and harmony
there was no excuse for delay, reason why a
vote on the question of repeal should not have
ben taken in the House OF Representatives as early
a. Thursday, at which time, and even later, the
Democratic factions, one of them with the aid
and counsel of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
were still engaged in arranging and debating the
terms of truce One after another in quicl,
succession banks We're closing their doors and
business firms We're going to the wall while re-
neal Democrats wrangled among themselves over
the leadership of their faction or wrangled with
free-coinage Democrats over the terms upon
which the latter would allow the repeal propo-
sition to to vote at all. If there had
been only one strong, able. fearless man among
10
Reed. the House of Representatives would have
been brought to vote within forty-eight hours
after il was organized. There appeared 10 be no
such man. Timdty, indecison and incapa1ltN
marked the attitude of the Adminlstratl IN Demo
Gratis toward the opposing faction, and unseeiniy'
not 10 say, disgraceful, squabbhng among them
selves forbade such action as the emergency de-
manded Both factions playing game OF
small beer partisan politics" sparring Tor
points"
There is good reason 10 believe and assert tha'
unconditional repeal would have received as many
If not more-votCs in the House OF Representa-
sives last Thursday a. il will two weeks from 10
morrow. or at any future time during this Con
cress The free-coi 1age leaders are chu'kln@ over
the delay, which they assert is strengthening their
lines day by day.
"Tbe situation is improving daily" said eX-Con-
rressman Rartine of Nevada TO a Tribune corre-
snondent lie continued Not only are matters
growing better here but the condition of business
and finances Throughout the country Is improving
Our cold is RAPIDLY returning and the panic Is sub
siding. Our people in the House can make good
deal ont of this i'm the debate if they will improve
- the opportunity
While there does not now appear 10 ne serious
dancer that the freccoinage men will carry the
dav in thn House. even with all the advantages
which they expect to reap from delay. they are
working with unccasing diligence and unhagglng
zeal. and il NAV he added. most systematically
They are thoroughly organized, which cannot he
said of the repeal Democrats. Every State has
,,s free.roinare committeeman at work: nothing
il left to chance or hearsay. and no ch'rt l.
snsrad n win votes II is the sort of work that
tells If the sound-moncv Democrats are doing
the same kind of work, it is enveoped IN the ihos
imnenetrable secrecy II is true that business
men and associations implored 10 p"h"afu
Congress with memorials and petitions IN laNor
of repeal which is well az far a 1t goes pu'
almost every body nowadays knows that peu'io"o
and memorials on whatever subject usually III"
lodcment not in the minds but Ill the waste
baskets of Congressman Besides n'nioina'' 'r ,Hnr
petitions in favor of silver are winglh9 ,hei
flight 10 Washington i'll great numperS, an" ~
doubtless produce as slight an impression as '"''
others. y - :. .L
House this week will be large or the dcoau,
An excitino one A good many members of tiiSl
body have already left Washington ana m%ahH %
Others will do 80 as soon "a they feel tnat .le!
have done all they can TO OBTAIN iTI r
committee assignments. Few Of them VIII re-
Turn until the middle of next week, when depa'c
under the five-minute rule is to begin