Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-08-11
THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN
BILL. TO REPEAL THE SHIsIs-
MAN ACT INTRODUCED.

The Democrats Have Got Partly
Together. and The Fight for Sill
yer and Against 1t Is On In Earn
est.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-the silver and
autsver men have reached an agree
mcnt by which general debate on the bill
for the repeal of the purchase clause of
the Sherman law is to be limited to II
days. This will be followed by debate
for three days under the five minutes
rule. Then voting will begin on the bill
and the various amendments.
The present arrangement is that the re-
peal bill will be introduced in the House
today; that the accompanying resolu-
tion shall prescribe the method of pro-
ccedure, and the general debate shall be-
gin at once. If this plan is carried out
the House will vote on the bill and
amendments August IS.
The silver mems part of the program
is to offer first a substitute looking to
free coinage at the present ratio. If this is
defeated, then votes will be taken on the
amendments fixing the ratio at II, IS,
10 and 20 in order, and, finally, if these
fail, then upon the Bland-Allison Act.
The Program Opened.
The House this morning was in bus
tie OF intense excitement. After the read
ing of the journal, Mr.. Wilson, Demo-
crat, West Virginia, offered for present
consideration bill to repeal a part of
the act approved July II, 1890, the
Sherman act.
1t provides that so much of the act
| approved July IA, 1890 as directs the
Secretary of Treasury to purchase from
time to time silver bullion to the aggrc-
gate amount of 4,5OO,OOO ounces or so
much thereof as may be offered in each
month at the market price thereof; not
exceeding 81 for 3,711I grains of pure
silver, and to issue in payment for such
purchase treasury notes of the United
States be, and the same is hereby re-
pealcd, but this repeal shall not impair
nor in any manner effect the legal tender
quality of the standard silver dollars
heretofore coined, and the faith and
credit of the United States are hereby
pledged to maintain the parity of gold
and silver coin of the United States at
| the presen legal ratio, or such ratio as
may be established by law.
| Representative Bland offered an agree
ment made this morning governing the
course of debate. 1t limits debate to IA
days sessions, continuing from 1 a m.
to p. rn., and with nightly sessions for
debate only if desired; the vote first to
be taken on the bill to be presented as
substitute for the Wilson bill, providing
for free coinage at ratio of Ii to 1. Ii
| that fails, then at ratios running from
II up to 20. If they all fail then on the
revival of the Bland-Allison act of 1878.
Debate Begun.
Bland demanded the previous question
on his order but this was antagonized
by the Republicans, under the leadership
of Cannon who wanted time to debate
the question. Under the ruling of the
Speaker, in the absence of rules or agree
ment, ordering the previous question
would cut off debate by the operation of
voting by tellers. Mr.. Cannon secured
sufficient support to secure vote by
yeas and nays and at 1885 the calling of
the roll began; it resulted, ycas227, nays
| IUO' % tllc previous quSSl'ou was VI
dcrcd. Republicans generally voted with
the Democrats in support of the motion.
The resolution was then adopted, and
at five minutes after 1. Mr.. Rainer,
Maryland, began the debate in support
of the Wilson bill for the unconditional
repeal of the silver purchase clause.
| Hill's Bill.
Senator Hills bill introduced in the
Senate repeating part of the Sherman
act reads:
"Be it enacted. etc, that sections l. 3
and 4, of the act of July 1 +. 1890, entitled
an act directing the purchase of silver
bullion and the issue OF treasury notes
thereon and for other purposes are here
by repealed.
"Scc. 2. This repeating act, however
is not to he construed as an abandon,
ment of bnnetalism, but it is hereby de
clarcd that the policy of issuing botl
gold and silver as the standard money
of the country shall be established, and
to the accomplishment of this end The
efforts of the govcrnmcct should IL
steadily directed"