The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-18
A VOTE AGAINST SILVER.
TIE SENATE FINANCE COMMIT
TEE WANTS BUYING STOPPED.

Senators Voorhees, and Harris the
Only Members of the Committee
Opposed to Making Favorable
Report.
WASHINGTON. Jan. II. - Senator Al
drich, the most active republican on the
finance committee, having returned from
New York deeply impressed with the de-
mand OF the business men OF the country
for the repeal or suspension of the Sher-
man law, and also with the fact
that the republican attempt to play
politics on this question had become
generally recognized, Joined Senator Sher-
man and Senator Carlisle in stirring up the
finance committee this morning to such
purpose that a bill repeating the silver pur-
chase clause Of the Sherman law on the first
OF next January was favorably reported to
the Senate this afternoon. To be sure, the
republicans on the committee hampered
the proposed repeal by adding to 10 In the
bill that provision for increasing the ma
tionsl bond circulation to par Of bonds now
in conference between the two
houses, which is not calculated 60
gain votes for the bill from
western republican senator's. The action Of
the committee, too, did not go so far as to
authorize an effort to secure early consider
alton of the bill or to press it in any other
way. While all the republicans OF the COM
mlttee except Senator Jones of Nevada who
was absent. voted for the bill, Senator ALI
son and Others reserved the right to vote
for any amendments which might be offered
in the Senate thus in advance depriviug
the bill Of the solid support so essential TO
Its success. Senator VOORHEES, of Indiana
and Senator Harris of Tennessee Senator
Vance of North Carolina being absent
were the democrats who voted against the
bill in COMMITTEES, Senator Voorhees, oppos-
ing it most vigorously, and both saying
that while the eastern bankers
might want the Sherman law
repealed, a great majority Of the
people OF the country wanted it let alone,
unless it was to be superseded by free
coinage law.
A NOTICE TO EUROPE.
Senator Harris asked Senator Allison, as
a member of the Brussels conference, what
measure in bis opinion would promote an
international agreement for the wider use
OF silver, and Senator Allison suggested the
passage OF law suspendlng purchases
after Jan. / 1894. This, he thought would
be a distinct notice to Great Britain and
the continental nations that the United
States proposes to stop buying silver unless
they restore 1t TO its position as a money
metal. Senator Allison opposed any stop
i884. -
Senators Carlisle and Mcpherson named
July /, 1898, as the latesa desirable date,
but they had to agree to the later date
which the republicans generally seemed to
prefer.
While there was less opposition in the re-
publican than in the democratic end OF the
committee. the obstacle in the way of the
bill, which made Senator Aldrich admit this
evening that Its passage through the Senate
was extremely doubtful, is on the republican
rather than on the democratic side OF the
Senate.
ATTITUDE OF THE DEMOCRATS
II the Senate republicans, barring the
fifteen free coinage men, were solidly united
for this bill, or for any other suspension OF
repeal measure, 1t would pass the Senate
within a week, for Senator Carlisle and
Senator MCPHERSON have furnished Senator
Aldrich aud Senator Sherman list Of twelve
democratio senator's who will vote with
them and there are three others who would
do so If their votes would pass the bill.
Over half of these democrats are theorsti-
cally free coinage men but they are willing,
II the decision turns on their action, TO follow
Mr.. Cleveland's Judgment rather than their
own. They cannot afford personally, how
ever, to vote for measure on this liue
which is foredoomed to failure for lack of
republican votes. Now the real trouble is
that western republicans who are not them
selves free coinage men, and even one or
two eastern republicans, are not In favor Of
the suspension or repeal.
Neither Senator Aldrich nor Senator
Sherman would say to-day low many re-
publicans could be relied on to vote for the
bill reported or any similar measure They
said that they could not tell because they
did not know how many recruits the free
coinage republicans would muster. Ii is
evident from what they say that they do
not care to make caucus matter Of IL, so
although it will be talked about in the eau
Gus to be held tomorrow night, it is not
likely that vote to bind republican sena-
tors will be proposed lest it should 20 against
Senators Sherman and Aldrich.
HARRIsoN's LACK OF COURAGE.
Undoubtedly President Harrison might
have prevented the present situation il he
had used his influence as Mr.. Cleveland has
used his, but Mr.. Harrison did not do so
and the result is that the republicans Of the
Senate will probably defeat Mr.. Clevelaud's
efforts TO save the country from the perils
of silver basis. The House will probably
await the action of the Senate, because it is |
idle for the House TO pass a measure which
the Senate will defeat, and in the |
House, as in the Senate, free |
coinage democrats will only follow Mr..
Cleveland in voting for suspension or re- |
peal when they feel that their votes will |
give success. There can be no doubt that |
II the republican Senate would send over a |
suspension or repeal measure that it would |
paSs the democratic House. The good effects |
OF Mr.. Cleveland's efforts are not more |
plainly seen in the list Of fifteen democratic |
senator's willing TO vote as be desires, thaa |
in the general acknowledgment in the |
House that the House would pass suspen- |
sion or repeal bill coming from the Senate.
THE EXTREME sILvERITEs.
OF course in all calculations the silverite |
extremists Of both parties are set of by |
themselves. The extreme silveritss on the |
republican side OF the Senate, led by Sena-
tor Teller, propose TO talk to death the bill |
reported from the finance committee to-day.
or any other measure proposing 20 stop |
silver purchases. They defeated the closure |
rule In the force bill fight for the |
express purpose OF being able |
70 defeat anti-silver legislation
and they have no doubt that they can oc-
cupy the time so that 1t will be impossible
10 pass any suspension or repeal bill in the
a. -.E..... . 49,. m