St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-20
n SILV. * SCHEME.
Tow the White Metal Senator.
Will Test Their Strength.

oOW lnO w Hllc eldI
Will Test Their Strength.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-The Star
this evening :elIs how the silver men in
the senate Will test their strength with
out bringing up the question of uncnn-
dtional repeal. 1t is all interesting
story, and runs as follows:
he plan which has been devised by
the Democratic leaders in the senate
who are opposed 10 the unconditional
repeal of the Sherman law is regarded
as one of the most ingenious examples
of parliamentary tactics which has been
exhibited in that body. 1t is one that
will permit the silver men to make a
test of their strength without the
risk of vote on the repeal
bill. The programme appears to
have been very skillfullY contrived
and carried out up to the present stage,
with great forethought and accuracy.
The bill 10 permit banks to issue cur
rency 10 the full face value of the bonds
deposited in the treasury is one which
is favored by the anti-silver men. and
one which they would hardly expect to
have pressed to the front by the silver
advocates. Therefore. they saw no OBJ
lection whatever 10 the prompt report
of the measure from the committee OH
finance, and TO danger of its getting OH
the calendar of the senate before the re-
peal bill was reported. They are graft
fed, moreover, by the action of the
finance committee in reporting bill
for the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman law, with the attachment of
what appears to be merely an
Empty Declaration
in favor of himetalliSm. There appears.
however. to be deeper depth than that
l.. winch they have penetrated. The
silver men are said to have pledge
from members of the finance committee
that the banking bill nrSt reported shall
be disposed of before the repeal bill is
taken up for consideration. This opens
the way to the development of situa-
ton not apparent at first glance. In the
first place, great deal of time may he
consumed in the discussion of the bank
bill. and in the second place that bill is
subject to amendments indefinitely.
The silver men expect this bill 10 be
amended in such way as TO develop 1t
into a broad and general financial
measure. With silver out of the queS
tiGn the amendments likely TO be
adopted are such as will either meet
with the approval of the anti silver men
or not be violently opposed by them. If
no silver amendment isattached 10 the
bill, it is likely to come out of the SEN
ate in shape not to excite the antag-
OnlSm of the administration forces, and
it will be apt 70 pass the house. But it
is understood to be a part Of the plan of
tue silver men to have an amendment
offered providing for the free coinage
of silver at a ratio of 90 to /, or for any
other proposition which may develop
the greatest strength in the house.
On this amendment the
Silver Men
In the senate can get test vote with
out involving the consideration of the
Sherman repeal bill. Ii the amendment
is carried it dispOseS of the repeal bill
in itself and they are confident that this
composite financial measure, silver and
al Cdu DC gu lliIOuSu tI0 nOuS6. IL
the silver men, however, prove not to
be strong enough to adopt this amend
ment, the Sherman law will still ne on
the statute books. and by pre-, enting a
vote on it they can keep it there.
In the meanwhile the calculations are
that the bank bill is measure of relief
will become law. This would relieve
the situation from one point of view
and leave the silver question just where
it is. In other words, they propose
either to adopt such silver legislation as
they are willing should take the place OF
the Sherman law in the form of an
amendment TO the bank bill, or else &c
preserve the Sherman law itself. By
this plan they avoid the danger, should
they be in the minority. of being de.
feated in vote on the repeal bill. They
propose to get their test vote before the
repeal bill is up for consideration.