The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-11
Two Bills Prepared. One for Unconditional Re.
peal and the Other for Free Coinage at
New Ratio with Repeal Attached.
Both Fa ctions Willing to Fight the Bat.
tie in Committee of the Whole
Silver Men Will Insist on Three Weeks Debate
in the House-Alleged Proposition from
England-Cevelan Going Away.
Anti-Free- Coinage Men and Siixerites Agr,
ON Plans of Battle.


Anti-Free-Co Coinage Men and Silxerites Agree
on Plans of Battle.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-Siowly but tsurely
the lines of battle are being drawn on the
financial question. ana before another day
Dasses the country will probably be ao-
quainted with the full plan of procedure.
1nnumersble conferences have been held
within the past three days, most of them
between self-constituted committees and
many of them fruitless. but out of the
wrsngllng plan has finally been evolved
to-day which is likely TO WIN the approval
of majority of oil the elements.
The great question has been not
what action should be taken on
the financial question. but when that &C.
tion is to be taken. and when the country
may expect relief from the present sus-
pense. Tonight all the indications point
to drawn battle on the floor of the House
of Representatives. without a reference Of
the question TO the committee on coinage.
weights and measures. Mr.. Bland, who
will probably be chairman of that commit
tee. readily aoqniesced in the programme
to tight the battle out on the floor of the
in this arrangement the anti-silyer men. Of
course. readily agree.
The two bills on which Is to turn all the
discussion on the financial question were
to-day fully prepared and are ready for
presentation. The one drawn by the anti
silver men is brief and to the point. 10
tersely provides TO; the unconditional re-
peal OF SO much of the act of July II. 1890.
as directs the monthly purchase of four
and one-bslf million ounces of silver bull
lion and the issuing of treasury notes
thereon. The measure drawn by the free
coinage people Is longer and IL unique In
being drawn In q manner which Will de-
velop the greatest possible strength Of the
free-coinage element on the floor Of the
house. The first portion of the bill pro-
vides that all holders of one hundred dol
lars or more of silver bullion of standard
hneness shall be entitled to have the same
coined into silver dollars at the mints of
the United States. The dollars so coined
are to legal tender for all bebts, dues and
demands. both public aud private. and any
holder OF silver dollars may, at his discre-
tion, deposit the same In the United States
Treasury and receive silver certificates for
the same. As to the number of grains of sill
YER to be contained In the standard dollar.
the bill says: The silver dollar provided
for in this act shall consist of - grains OF
standard silver" thus leaving the ratio
blank. to be determined on the floor Of the
House. The closing section of the bill
provides briefly, for the repeal of the
Sherman purchasing CLAUSE. thus making
the free coinage of silver. a. revised ratio.
TO be determined Dy Congress. q condition
precedent TO the repeal of the purchasing
act.
A STRONG MEASURE.
The bill drawn by the free-coinage men
is regarded by their opponents. as well as
by their friends. as the strongest measure
that could possibly be presented by the sill
yer men. 1t forces the discussion first on
the question of whether q majority of the
House 10 In favor of the principle OF bi-
metallism. This being determined. il calls
for the Judgment OF the House on the ratio
that should he established. thus rendering
q compromise by practically abandoning
the time -honored ratio of 16 to ]. In this
way the silver men allege that no excuse
will be given the faltering free
of their principles. and every BIZ
metsllist will have to meet the Issue
fairly or 60 home to his constituents as
false to free coinage. If the opponents Of
they can. of course. successfully strike ous
every section of the bill relating to free
coinage and leave only the last section.
which provides for the immediate repeal
of the sherman purchasing clause.
The great question still 10 be determined
is which of the two bills to be introduced
is to have priority of consideration in tho
House. The numerous conferences held be-
tween the free-coinage and anti-silver men
has been for the purpose OF arriving at an
agreement az to the order of consideration
In the House. To facilitate this it 10
proposed that. In the absence OF
rules. the Honse adopt . special rule.
which shall govern the consideration OF
sion to be opened without further delay.
The silver men fear that IL the repeating
bill should be first taken up the free-coin.
age amendents. which would naturally DO
proposed. might, under o strict interpreta-
tion of parliamentary law, be declared
not germane to the snbject under consider
alton. the main question being that or re-
psal To guard against such rullng and
insure successive votes on all the propoei.
tions to be presented by the silver men. the
latter demand that the bill of the free.
coinage men. which also contains Q
clause repeating the purchasing act.
shall be given priority OF eonsidera-
which is suggested. shall explicitly
state the various propositions upon which
the House shall be called to vote. thus as
suring free discussion and fair vote On
the free-coinage question. The points upon
which the silver men insist are that the
fullest opportunity snail be Afforded for
discu ssion. approximate three weeks. And
that sc parate votes shall be bad upon all
the free-coinage propositions. including the
to l to % to ].
In the difference to-day the free-coinsge
men were represented by Representatives
Bland Boatner. Culberson. Bryan. Bailey.
Bankhead, Oates and Lane; the uncondi-
tional re epealers by Cochran. Tracey. Harter.
Rayner, Catchings. Lapham. Geissenhain-
er Coombs Fitch. Wilson of West Nir-
ginia and John DEWITT Warner.
Considerable interest was added TO the
situation by the fact that Secretary
Carlisle visited the Capitol In the course OF
the morning and was in consultation in tho
library with Representatives Cochran.
Tracey and Rajner. He also called upon
Speaker Crisp in the latter's room and re-
NAMED some time. After the House had
adjourned. Representatives Cochran and
McMilllp called at the Treasury Depart
ment and were closeted with Secretary
Carlisle. Another JOINT conference will be
held tomorrow.
THE LATEST PROPOSITION.
This evening q proposition was formu-
lated by the anti-silver committee. which,
il is believed, will be acceptable TO the free
coinage committee. and. at the meeting to-
morrow. the conference VIII request the
committee on rules to report an order to
the House covering the arrangement lt is
that the House proceed to the discussion
of a bill providing for repeal OF
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
law, that opportunity be given to offer
amendment providing for free coinage