New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-03
THE FACT ABOCT STLVEE.

The Republicans in Congress arc p'"o'i'ri'
unanimous for stopping silver purchases p"'
the Democrats are 50 largely opposed 10 'ha'
course that no direct vote Is expected SUI"
is the information telesraphed TO Democia'c
and commercial journals. when state 'ha'
there are found only eight Democratic senators
,,ho will vote in favor of repeating the silver
p,,rcbasa act. but only seven Republicans IN
tho House who will vote against it. The dill
cnItv is that there does not Yet appear 10 he
mai,ritv that will vote to cut OF debate
and force a vote on the question. The he
nublicans in the House are powerlesS. 'h'e's
the Committee on Rules Will report a reSVi"
ton TO close debate at a fixed time ho'h''e
can he accomplished. The rule OF tna' com
mittee has been to report no such resoluuoh
without written request by majority OF Dem
ocratic members As this has not been oo-
tainod Inv men who have been constantly hoping
and working for il during the last two months
tho presumption is that it cannot be oo'alhcu
bocanso the majority of the Democratic mem
berS oppose the repeal.
The Republicans in the Senate nave no RUE
for closing debate. They are informed 'h''
a few Senators stand ready TO occupy the reS'
Of The session in speaking, if necessary, III oruer
to preyent a vote on this question. ohue'
tboso circumstances it Is reasoned iohg
stmcc,e in the Senate could do no good unless
tbe House can be brought ~ act, ana "e"'u
only use I'D the time needed for other legisia-
ZION Hence it is held. with much reaSoii' 'id'
tho majority in the House holds tho Key OF 'he
s;tuation. As nothing can be done wi'hou'
,ho assent of that majority, the Senate declines
70 waste time in battling for action which, II
t,ken. would DO entirely unavallins IL Is
esnociallv impor,ant that this phase of the
situation should be clearly understood because
,horo i an evident endeavor to make it APP
near that tariff changes cannot be reaened
until the silver question has been se"!eu' lh'
resnonsibilitv for failure TO settle that qncs-
ton must rest entirely with the Democrat"
majority in the House. If that majority
chooses TO defeat any action on the silver qucS-
,ion it must take upon itself responsibility 1or
nil the consequences that may follow.
As if restivo under this uncomfortable bur-
don members of the House arc proposing Ndr'-
ous compromises. The latest, proposed by NE.
7 livingston of Georgia, is that purchases OF
silver shall cease WITHOUT free coinage nu' 'ha'
80 Gao 600 worth OF silver bullion each month
may be presented at the mint by holders, ana
hall then be coined into silver dollars Ou'
shall no. 90 into the Treasury in any way the
holders of the bullion being required to take
away from the mint the coined dollars anu
nothing else. This proposition has merits oi
| \ peculiar kind 1t would bring out IN strong
Gcbt the insincerty of many who cry tor moro
coinaoe because they are well aware that no
body would tako bullion TO the mint on pen
a)ty of having TO cart away the silver doIlaf'
made from that bullion. What they desire j.
mora naper currency rcdcemable in silver
| only. If Mr.. Livingstcn's bill should express
| ~ nrovide that no silver certificates or notes
sbonld hereafter be issued against silver com
deposited or silver bullion purchased, he would
| quickly enjoy the luxury OF hearing hihSeii
extensively denounced "a gold bug, even
though he should propose actual coinage OF
silver without limit.
No compromise is likely to deceive anybcdy
in this matter, and probably no compromise Is
nossible. The men who clamor Tor free com
ace. and really want unlimited issues OF paper
NOT practically rcdcemable at all because ic-
deemable in silver only, cannot be expected 10
assent to any plan whatever FOR cnl1r3ing inc
uso of silver in coined FORM On tho other
hand. conservative business men OF all parties
and in all parts Of the country feel that IT i
not safe any longer to drive gold out OF tho
United States by TRUSTING into circulation
paper that is liable TO become indellnitel!
deprecated.