The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-28
VOTING BEGINS AT NOON.
The Lines Are Sharply Drawn in
the Great Battle for
Bimetallism.
Bland's Free Coinage Bill Comes
Up First as Substitute
Measure.
Then the Fight VIII be Over the Ratio
IT'S Predioted tho Repeal Measure
viii Pass the House.


bato has closed and the line Of battle is
now being sharply drawn for the decisive
contest that takes place In tho house to-
morrow. The leaders on both sides have
exerted every effort TO haye their men all
hers. and it is expected the fist roll call
will md almost every member of the house
present and voting. The result OF the sue
cessivs roll calls tomorrow is no longer a
matter Of doubt to any ons familiar with
ths situation. The free coinage bill to be
ofFeisd by Bland az a substitute for tho re-
peAlinR bill Of Wilson. will be defeated.
The exact vote 10 uncertain. az tho fealsy Of
certain members to the measure depends
m uch on the ratio that receives the largest
support in the house. There seems no
doubt that instead of the highest ratio,
twenty to one, being the most popular. the
old ratio, sixteen TO one. will receive tho
grentest vote and be the only one seriously
considered. But whatever may be
the result of the vote on the
separate ratios. the Bland bill will be re-
jeoted a. Q subatitute TO. the Wilson bill
and the majority for rejection will not be
less than forty. After the rejection Of the
Bland bill and when the question has re-
solved itself into the simple one of the re
peal OF tho purchasing CLAUSE Of the Sher-
man Law, the Wilson bill will be passed by
q ma jointly of not less than sixty.
Immediately after the passage Of the
Wilson bill IL will bs reported to the senate
and II the usual course is pursued it will be
referred to the committee on finance OF
that body. II 10 expected the polioy Of the
senate will bs to let the bill slumbsH there
while all the efforts Of the upper ohambe,
are directed to securing the adoption of the
repeating bill now pending in that body
The reason for this IL the repeating bill re-
po ted BY the senate committee on finance
IL believed 10 bs superior to the house bill
because II contains a declaration oriRi.
mated BY Senator Hill. plsdRing the govern.
msnt 70 policy Of binetallism. II 10 quite
certain that no bill can pass the senate with
out a declaration endorsing the policy o.
bimetallisna. and II no declaration is *
plicitly mnde in the Wilson bill the pro
arem...e will be TO pass the senate bill anl
send IL TO the house for the concurrence oi
| the latter body. OF course the effect OF
this will be TO revive tho whole question in
the house. but it ia not thought any consid
erable time will be consumed by the house
III pabsAHk upon tuo 4uesNon bno eccOOO
time.
Considerable speculation IL being in
dulRed in rs to the next step TO be taken In
financial legislation after the passage of the
bill repeating the She man law. The com.
mittee on coinage. under the leadership OF
Chairman Bland, will, IL is expected. repott
free coinage bill in due time, and Chair.
man SprinRer's committee on banking anc
currency are expected to present several re-
lief measures to tho house. ConRrsssmaK
McCreary, Of kentucky, ono Of tn.
deleRates on the part of the UnitsC
States to the recent into nationA
monetary conference at Brussels. has pre-
pared q joint resolution for introduction
in the house next week. The resolution
proviies for tho appointment OF a commits
of representatives., with threo experts, to b.
selected by the president. who shall in
quire into the whole financial question il
its broadest phases, not as to bimetallisn
alone, but also as TO reorganization OF tn.
banking system. Means of promoting in
ternational bin etsllisn will also be sab
ieot for the commission to consider. II /,
provided that The report of the commission
shall be presented to the senate and hous,
not later than January l, 1894.
With reference to the report that tn,
committee on banking and currency ma,
take up the question of repeating the 10 pei
Chairman Springer ia quoted - saying: -
do not believe the committee will report
bill in favor of tho repeal of the tax OF
state banks. I do not believe in going bac
to the days of the Old state banking sy stem
l favor stable currency. good alike in al
states. Any other currency is an obstruC
tion to business. and shall oppose it,"