The Southern herald., 1893-08-18

democrats are certain that the re-
commsndasion as to repeal will be
followed, and that other financial
legislation, which will be equally
satisfactory to the silver democrats
and to President Cleveland, will be
agreed upon by the democrats in
both House and Senate, and that
the persistent efforts Of the re-
publieans TO split the democratic
party on the silver question will
fail.
Acting on the maxim quoted in
thePrssidsnt's msssage-"He gives
twice who gives quickly"-ths
democrats in the House, both silver
and anti-silver men, are trying to
reach an agreement TO take up and
decide the silver question without
waiting for the appointment of CON-
mittees and the adoption of rules.
II will be easy to take the matter
up without an agreement, only a
majority vote being required, but
if an agreement can be reached up
on just what is to be voted upon
and how much time is to be given
to discussion, much time will be
saved that would necessarily be
wasted If no agreement is made, to
say nothing Of the possibility Of
endless 6libustering.
The silver men have in caucus
decided to vote for the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man law, if the bill for its repeal
provides for the free coinage Of
silver on such a ratio as will pro.
vide and maintain the parity be-
tween gold aud silver. The fact
that no particular ratio is mention
ed is significant. 1t means that the
silver democrats did not believe ii
possible to succeed in maintaining
the present ratio Of 16 10 / and that
they are willing to increase the
ratio.
II is now claimed that a careful
poll Of the House, made this week f,
shows majority Of 95 in favor Of
the repeal Of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman law. The Senate
is more doubtful, and it is much
more difficult 10 ascertain how
Senators whose positions are not
clearly defined will vote, but strong
efforts are now being made to bring
the democratic Senators together,
and the indications point to success.
A caucus Of democratic Senators
this week appointed committee
of fve-Gorman, Ransom, Gray,
voorhees,, and Blackburn-to con.
slider and report a plan with that
end in view. The republicans, un.
Intentionally, Of course, added
largely to the probability of united
democratic action In the Senate BY
their attempts to make politica,
capital, which were promptly anC
properly rebuked by Senator Cor
man, ont Of the present 6nancia,
situation.
TheSenate committee onFinance
of which Senator Vorhees is chair
man, held its first meeting yester
day. The committee did not lacl
for business either, as more than I
score Of financial bills which have
been introduced in the Senate hav'
been referred to that committee
A majority Of that committee are
bimetalists, but some Of the mos
prominent Of them, including tht
chairman, have declared their belle
in the viciousness of the Sherman
law and their willingness to vott
for its unconditional repeal. Tit
Senate is naturally deliberate il
all its actions, so it will not b
surprising if the Hause takes Of
the siver question before this com
mittse reports a bill to the Senate
The resolution Of SenatorLodge, o
Force bill fame, directing the com
mittes torepOrt q bill for the repea
OF the Shermsn law and providing
that a vote should be taken there
upon on the 22nd Of this month wa
only = BIT Of republican buneOmbs
and the adoption Of the resolution
would have surprised no one NOR
than it's author.