St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-21


the National Bank BiIl-Sev-
eral Congressman Are Inter-
viewed.
WASHINGTON, Aug. .20.-A half-month
OF the special session of congress has
passed, and the third week of the finan-
cial contest opens with both parties con-
fident. but with many significant changes
i'll the situation. The developments of
the weeks that have gone have brought
surprises to both elements, and have
demonstrated the impossibility of partI-
san politics entering into the battle.
The Republican s""atorS from the sill
vel states have reiterated with greater
emphasis their loyalty to the silver
cause, while Dan Voorhees,, the Demo-
cratic senator from Indiana, with a free
coinage record of twenty years, has sur
priSed his former friends by declaring
for the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman act, and as chairman of the
finance committee has cast the deciding
vote tor the favorable report of such
measure to the senate. Thus the dis
appointment which the repeal men ex-
perienced when Senator Vest, of Mis-
souri,, so emphatically
Declared for Free Coinage
and against unconditional repeal, has
been more than Offset by the accession
to their ranks of the distinguished
chairman of the committee on finance.
But the free coinage men of the senate
are still resolute and determined, and
no one familiar with the situation can
hope for final settlement of the ques-
tiou in the senate without almost end
less discussion extending through many
weeks, and votes upon innumerable
propositions to be submitted by the
silver men in case of the defeat of their
leading proposition. 1t is not improb-
able that the coming week may see the
bill to permit national banks TO increase
their issue of bank notes to the
par value of their United States
bonds on deposit, forced to vote
in the senate, and the indications
are that it will receive majority
vote. Some of the silver senators are
in favor of resisting all remedial legis-
lation whatever, unless there be coupled
silver, but the majority apparently con-
slider this policy i'll advised. and do not
think the silver men can afford to op-
pose the currency bill, which will
Immediately swell the Volume
of national bank notes $4,000, 900 or
more. and not tend to affect in any de-
gree the essential merits of the free
coinage question. Any legislation fur
ther than this will meet with a solid
phalanX of opposition from the silver
men, and if they see any probability of
finding themselves in minority they
will demand prompt action on the con-
tested cases of Senators Mantle and Al
len, whose admission, it is believed,
will give the silver element at least two
more votes in the United States senate.
The silver men at the capital are just
now criticising Gov. Osborne, of Wyo-
ming, for his delay in appointing a sue
cessor to Senator Beckwith, who has
recently resigned. As any man ap-
pointed from Wyoming wo uld, they be-
lieve, be silver senator, they hold that
Gov. Osborne is showing lack of free
coinage Interests by not promptly ap-
pointing man to represent the grazing
state in the senate, and to protect the
liver measure when that proposition
comes up for vote. It is announced
that the delay OF Gov. Osborne in filling
this vacancy is due to desire to see
the outcome of the Mantle case before
making any apppointment-the Mantle
case being Identical to the Wyoming
k1n
fill vacancy, after the legislature of
the state had failed to elect.
Little encouragement.
In the house the last weeks discus
sion has brought but little to encourage
the free coinage people. Congressman
Bryan, one of theiI most eloquent lead
ers, has spoken, and his speech has
ELECTED the highest praise, but it is
doubted by many whether even such
able efforts could change many votes in
the house now, so little does the situa-
ton seem to depend upon argument or
past predictions. When seen by the
Associated press representative today,
Congressman Bland declined to give
any estimate of the result of the vote on
the various relative propositions, saying
that he had made no canvass Of the
sentiments of the house. Congressman
Bryan, who, by common consent. is ac-
corded the place of chief lieutenant to
Chairman Bland, gave the folio wing
estimate of the situation:
1.-The canvass is not sufficiently COM
plete to make an accurate statement as
to the vote in the house. l am satisfied,
however, that q majority of the men,
bers of the house favor free coinage at
some ratio. Most of the advocates of
free coinage are in favor Of the present
ratio Of 16 o i, but others favor other
ratios running as high as 2s to l. The
propositions submitted to the house do
do not go higher than 20 to 1, but, If no
agreement is reached, the friends of
free coinage will still oppose
Unconditional Repeal,
hoping to secure some affirmative legis-
lation after the committees are organ
lied, when tile matter comes before
congress again. 1t is not only possible,
but probable. therefore, that uncondi-
tional repeal will be defeated even if
the silver men fail to carry free coinage
or the Bland law. The lines are
being closely drawn. The lead
ing advocates of the Wilson bill,
such as Tracy, Hendrix, Harter,
ETC., openly advocate the adoption
of single gold standard by all
the nations, ana it is becoming embar-
rassing to those who are advocating
repeal as a means Of securing bi-
metallism. 1t becomes more and more
difficult to understand how these two
elements can work SO harmoniouslv to-
gether to secure exactly opposite re-
suits. To see them chatting together
one can hardly believe that eacn side
laughs privately to think how uncon-
sitional repeal is going to fool the other
side. Somebody is going to be terribly
disappointed if the Sherman law is re-
pealed Internationally. Will it be