The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-08-18
CONGRESS At WORK.

The House of Representatives ON
Friday last settled down to an earn
est discussion of the silver laws, in
the course of which, no doubt. every
point will be made clear on both
sides and the question fairly settled
by Congress.
The ball opened with an order pre-
sented by Mr.. Bland, the distin-
guished champion of free coinage, linn
iting the period of debate to fourteen
days, at the end of which vote shall
be taken on an amendment to the
silver law proposing ratio of II to
l. If that fails Mr.. Bland desires
that vote shall be taken, successive
", on higher ratios, the highest be-
ing 20 to 1. The Populists clamored
for time, but Cavnon, Republican, of
Illinois, supported by Reed and 9th
er Republicans, demanded the pre-
vious question, on Mr.. BANDS order,
for the purpose of obstructing the
opening of the debate, but these tao
tics failed and the previous question
was ordered by vote of 217 to 100.
1t is evident, from Mr.. BANDS Or
der, that the free silver men have
given up all hope of retaining the
Sherman silver law, at least so far as
action by the House is concerned,
and are trying to get the most favor
able law possible for the silver mine
owners.
The Maryland delegation in the
House is solidly in favor of the re-
peal of the Sherm IN law, the debate
being opened by Representative
Rayner, who has given much study
to the subject and is therefore well
equipped for supporting the recon-
mendations of President Cleveland.
He is likewise brilliant and able de-
batter. His speech was a mastery
presentation of the case. While ex-
pressing his desire for the repeal of
the Sherman law he declared that he
had no hostility to the use of silver as II
circulating medium. This appears
to be, in a nutshell, a statement of
the views of a majority of the oppo-
nents of the Sherman law, but exactly
the kind of substitute that should be
passed for the existing law is what
remains to be found out.
Mr. Bland replied in an argument
for ratio of 16 of silver to 1 of gold.
Representive LATE Pence, of Colo
RADIO, spoke for the Populists in favor
of free silver. He is only SO years of
age and this is his first term. He made
a favorable impression.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Wilson,
West Virginia, reflects the Presidents
views. Itsimply repeats the purchas-
ing clause of the Sherman act, but de-
clares:
But this repeal shall not impair nor
in any manner affect 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 the
gold and silver coin of the United
States at the present legal ratio, or
such other ratio as may be establish
ed by law.
Under existing arrangements there
is no danger of filibustering in the
House and as far as that body is con-
cerned it is morally certain that Mr..
Wilson's bill will be passed.
What may be done by the Senate,
however, is matter for conjecture
There are said to be three classes in
that body-the radical silver men,
the radical gold men and those who
favor a middle course. Senator Cor
man is at the head of the Democratic
steering committee" a position for
which he is admirably qualified from
legislative experience, alertness, cour-
age and personal influence. These
qualities were markedly shown in
his splendid leadership of the epposi-
ton to the Force Bill. That great
victory gave him hold upon the
Senate and the friends of honest
money look to him with confidence
to lead their forces again. 1t is stat
ed that he is in thorough accord with
the policy of President Cleveland, but
it seems as unreasonable to expect
him to make known his purposes as
it would be for the commander of an
army to publish his plan of campaign.