Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-17

WASHlyCIpJ, Aug t5.-Ine nous ~
terday showed very slim Attendance and
Z growing indifference 70 the Important
auession which Is now engaging the asten-
sion of that body. The b-iisf b now very
general that there l. no prospect whatever
sfths repeal Of the silver purchase scs, with
cut compromise. receiving the concurrent
action Of tine two houses II . measure
should get through the house IL viii Be
radically amended in the senate.
Whether Q committee Of conferences
could agree upon . measure which would
receive the approasi Of the president =
regarded Is extremely doubtful by the
uuost sagacious Of both houses. The Dem
ocraric managers are now turning their
attention TO some other legislation which
will meet the necessities of the situation
ard approval OF the president and peopls.
Nothing Accomplished. a=sss
The committee on finance of the senate
had meeting yesterday at which Tor an
hour and half the silver question In IT'S
various phases was discussed The oaly
result Of the meeting was that anthoria-
ing Mr.. voorhees, to fayorably report the
bill increasing the circulating notes Of
national banks TO the par value OF tae
bonds deposited Ia the committee Dom
there was some very persistent opposition
to the reporting of this measure BY MessrsN
Jones Of Arkansas and Harris OF Tennes-
see.
The discussion Only tended TO show that
the finance committee WAS rs far removed
rs ever from common ground on the ques-
ton Of the financial situation and the ie-
peal Of the purchasing clause of the SheF
man law ia particular. Ii was decided thu
with the long time between the meetings
uf the committee the members could never
come 10 definite understanding, and 1t
WAS agreed that the committee should,
therefore, beginning with Thursday next,
hold daily sessions.
Both sides Are Firm.
The members Of the committee are As
firm and unyielling AS the day they first
met The anti-siiver men on the commit
tee are Sherman, Mcpherson. Morrill,, Al
lison aud Aldrieh. The silver men are
Senators Harris, Vance, Vest, Jones II
Arkansas and Jones of Nevada, with NJ.
Voorhees,. as chairman, holdiugithe balance
# power How he will vote may decide
the action OF the committee.
He has said that he is in favor Of the re-
peal of the Sherman law, either with CO e
ditions or without. that he viii vote FOR -
without condition, but by SO DONG does
not give up his allegiance To silver a. a
money metal He has said that the yu 8
on the repeal will not indicate the stand
ing Of the senate on the question OF b.
inetallism at tll. and for that reason Is
willing To go on record in that way.
On the other hand, should the ultrn-
silver men agree upon some measure NOT
too radical in its character, IT is said thai
possibly Mr. voorhees, might go Win
them. So far the committee is divided On
the lines that show the extremes OF inf
proposition. The silver men insist that
they will submit to nothing but free COLI
age at the present ratio, and the other
side. with equal emphasis, assert that the
only thing they will endorse will be the
unconditional repeal of tAe purcuasin ,
clause.
hut Few Changes in Rules
The code Of rules to be reported for the
action Of the house has been practically
completed by the majority of the com
mittee charged with It's preparation. IL
has yet to be submitted To the full c'iii-
mittee, which will probably be called
together Tor It's COMMUNICATION III IL u"t -
two, There is authority for saying that
the changes in the rules in force in the last
house will be comparatively few, and all
of them intended to expedite the transac
ton of BUSINESS Among the expected
new features are two relating to the con-
mittee of the whole in which are consi l.
cred all bills, either appropriating money
from the treasury or providing for bring
ing money into the treasury. These fix
100 as quorum of the committee instead
Of a majority of the members, and give
10 the committee power to limit debate
without resolving itself into the houst
proper. The former rule was part of the
code ia the Fifty-tirst congress, but the
latter will he "A new provision.
For Unconditional Repeal.
At meeting called by the committee in
charge of the bill for the unconditional
repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act held last night i'll the Ar
ingtou hotel, Representative Raynor Of
Maryland presided About ~ members
sere present, representing every section NJ
the country. They compared notes, and
the meeting felt satisfied that there was 3
majority in the house Of not less than g.
In favor Of the Wilson bill. Various sub
committees were appointed to meet from
time to time and report condition OF tn.
house on the subject of the repeal until
the vote had been taken. An executive
committee was also appointed, of which
General Tracy of New York was elected
chairman.