The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-17
FRIDAY. AUG. IL.

After four days of skirmishing for position
the battle over the proposed repeal OF the
Sherman silver purchase act was opened in the
House. to continue fer fortnight
AS soon as the journal of the House had
| been read to-day MIR. Wilson wv. Va, DEM
| offered for present consideration bill to re.
peal part of the act approved July ID, 1896
| (ibe Sherman act). II provides THAT so much
of the act approved July Ia, $780, as directs the
Secretary of the Treasury to purchase from
| time to time silver hnllion TO the aggregate
amount OF 81 100000, or so much thereof as may
| be offered in each month, not exceeding 81 for
37l4 grains of pure silver, and to issue in pay
ment for such purchase Treasury notes of the
United States be, and the same is hereby, re-
| peaied. But this appeal hereby shall not i'm
| pair nor in any manner affect the legal tender
! quality OF the standard silver dollars hereto
fore 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
Uuited States at the present legal ratio or such
other ratio as may be established by law"
Mr.. Bland Mo-, d. offered a resolution look
ing TO the order Of procedure on this measure
House Bill No. l: That it shall be taken up
for immediate consideration and considered for
IA days. During such consideration night ses.
sions may he held for debate only, at the re-
quest of either side. The daily sessions TO COM
mence at IL a.. M, and continue until p. NJ
Eleven days of the debate on the bill to be
given TO general debate under the rules of the
last House regulating general debate the time
to be equally divided between the two sides, as
the Speaker may direct the last three DAYS of
debate may be devoted to the consideration of
the bill, and the amendments as herein pro-
vided, under the usual FIVE minute rule of the
House as in Committee of the Whole House.
The vote shall be taken first on an amend
ment providing for the coinage of silver at the
present ratio. If that fails, then a separate
vote TO be had on a similar amendment propos-
ing ratio OF II to if that fails. ON one pro-
posing ratio of IS to l if that fails, one pro-
posing ratio of 10 to / if that fails, one pro
posing ration of 20 to l. If the above amend
ments fail, it shall be in order to offer an
amendment reviviDg the act of Feb. g. 1873,
restoring the standard silver dollar, commonly
known as the Bland-AlIison act. The vote
then to be taken on the engTossment and third
reading of the bill as amended, or on the bill
itself, if all amendments shall have been voted
down, and on the fiua passage of the bill with
out other intervening motion.
After much preliminary argument and ques-
tioning of the meaning of the order, the debate
was entered into. Mr. Rayner Md, d. was
the first speaker. He was in favor of the uu-
qualified repeal Of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman BILL without any condition or proviso
whatsoever. tie had no hostility whatever to
the use OF silver on proper basis as circu-
Iating medium; but, after earnest considera-
uon, he was convinced beyond all doubt and
question that its recognition as a circulating
medium without international agreement was
financial undertaking utterly impossible of
accomplishment, except at the risk of ruin aud
disaster.
Mr.. Brown lind, d. expressed himself as
in favor of the free coinage of silver; but, in
view OF the havoc to business brought about by
the Sherman law, and IN view of tho declara-
tons Of the Democratic platform at Chicago. he
would vote for the repeal Of the Sherman law
IN any event. conditions or 10 conditions.
Dir. Bland mo, d. was then recognized by
the Speaker. lie said the Sherman law was
the only law on the statute books that looked
TO the use Of silver as a money of the country.
he knew at the time of it's passage that the
clement that was striving 10 secure its passage
was the element opposed TO free coinage He
knew at the time that that element would de-
mand its repeal at the first moment it saw its
opportunity. Tho repeal Of the Sherman act
had been part of the Chicago platform.
1t WAS an apprehension that the United
States would repeal the Sherman law that in
duccd the British Government to recommend