New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-12
THE sJTUaT;ON At FLASHING TON.

Tn tho Uouso the two Democratic wings have
o,reod unon a mode of procedure. 1t gives
the free silver men opportunity to vote upon
free coinage at the present ratio OF Ii TO !,
mon free coinage at all other ratios up to 20
TO /. and upon bare restoration OF the Bland
Allison bill of 1873, before any vote can be
taken on naked repeal of the purchasing clause
of the present Silver law Debate Is to con-
tinue until August 2S on the general subject,
and the division of time appears to have shut
out the Republican minority entirely, though 1t
is likely TO cast more votes than one or the
other of the two Democratic factions
The order adopted by the Democrats gives
the advocates of free coinage all the advantage
they could have asked. If they have not votes
enough on the question OF coinage at the pres
ent ratio they may gam enough, through III
difference or absence OF members, Oh some
other ratio, before the amendments have Dcch
exhausted In that case the free coinage Dill
mt some ratio Will become the only measure u
be considered and the simple proposition SUD-
mitted by the Administration can never come
70 a vote. If there is a clear majority Oh all
the members ready to be present at every
session, and t. vote at every stage against
every amendment, the free coinage men VIII
he defeated but not otherwise The assent OF
the Presidents friends to such plan OF acton
suggest, the thought that some compromise on
a new ratio of coinage ma! have been CON
tcmplated by them all the time, as the only
way of preventing division Of the party III
power
The debate will be largely an appeal to local
sentiment and in such a waste OF time II the
Republican members have small share, thcy
will lose nothing The straight question which
the President has submitted i'll his message
they are as ready To vote upon now as they can
he after weeks of oratory. Meanwhile hlmS
are failing every week, and works are closing
and the consequences may before long be 50
serious that Congressional action will scarcely
cot things right again. All this delay, the
country well understands, is entirely of Demo-
cratic making.
II has been supposed for some weeks that
clear majority for the unconditional repeal OF
the silver purchasing clause had been secured
in the House, and that the danger would como
in the Senate. The Steering Committee
Amounted by Senator German under authority
of the Democratic caucus, appears to include
supporters and opponents OF free coinage
equally divided, so that Mr.. German himself
NAV have the deciding vote. According to re-
norts recently current in Wall Street, the true
reason of want of haste III pushing matters III
the Senate is that canvass there does not
disclose majority for simple and uncondl-
tional repeal "Any vote now" 1t is urged
would result in the Presidents defeat" but
there is hope that the action of the House may
improve the outlook. Whether these eStl-
mates are correct or not. it is at least highly
probable that the division in the House VIII
not render the choice of Democratic senators
less difficult.
vote in the House before the end of this
month may perhaps result in final acton by
both houses before the end Of September. At
the best, the country will then have en-
dured some most trying months needlessly.
But whether final action is delayed much or
little. it is still to be hoped that the repeal OF
the purchasing clause without any dangerous
condition may bring some practical benefit to
the country. 1T cannot now do all the g0od
that it would have done earlier, or all that some
! expect but it would nevertheless be welcomed
! as step in the right direction