The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
SILVER IN THE SENATE.
HILL TO FORCE A TEST VOTE ON
TIE REPEAL BILL.

sherman Declines to Call for a Vote on
the Ground That he is Confident the
Bill Has No Chance of Passage-Eulo-
giles on Senator Barbour.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Senator Hill, one
of the more distinguished of Mr.. Cleveland's
recent converts to the repeal of the silver
purchase law, proposes to put the Senate to
the test on Monday by moving to take up.
the bill reported by the finance committee
TO stop the silver purchases on Jan. next.
It will not be complete test, because that
can only come on a square vote upon the
bill or upon motion to proceed TO vote
upon it, yet unless the republicans change
their attitude of opposition, to which both
Senator Sherman and Senator Teller Jesti-
fed publicly in the Senate to-day, even the
motion to consider the bill may be defeated.
In fact, it is expected on both sides of the
Senate that it will be defeated unless be-
tween now and Monday enough republican
senator's can be induced to changer Ehei posi-
ton. Senator Hill has a list of eleven or
twelve democratic senators who can be de-
PENDED upon, he says, to vote for his motion
and the names of three Others who will
probably do so.
REPUBLICAN INsINCERITY.
The retirement of Senator Carlisle, of
course, deprives the repeal democrats Of one
vote, but if the republicans, with the excep-
tion, of course, of the extreme silverites like
Mr. Teller, would unitedly aud vigorously
support the motion it could be carried aud
if they were sufficiently in earnest they
could stop the extreme silverites from fill
,w,I -, h LQ,,k \
not want to do this. They are playing pol
itics and would rather embArrass the next
administration than pass the bill. Even
Senator Sherman, who is supposed to be
leading the supporters Of the bill on the
republican side, is doing 1t in such
half-hearted way that q democratic
senator had to take the first active step
that has been taken on the floor OF the SEN
ate in the direction Of even getting consid-
GRAFTON for it. Senator Hill did not act un-
til Mr.. Sherman had practically given up
the fight publicly to-day in 50 many words
as result of the canvass which he had
Senator Chandler and Senator Dixon make,
and which disclosed the opposition of the
majority of the republicans to his bill.
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS.
Meantime, the democrats Of the House,
with the exception of a small minority of
extreme silYerites, are becoming more and
more united under the influence of Mr.
Cleveland in support of his policy, and the
chances of the passage of the Andrew bill
or some similar measure are improving
every day. The friends OF the Andrew bill
are getting numerous signatures to petit
tion for q closure rule which will prevent
filihustering when the bill is called up 1t
ought TO be understood that they purposely
selected Feb 8 and 10 as the days for the
consideration of the bill in preference TO
early dates, because they believed that
their strength would constantly increase.
There is some talk of a formal conference
between the democratic leaders Of the House
and Secretary Carlisle Mr.. Dickinson or
some other personal representative of Mr..
Cleveland next week, at which an effort
would be made to agree upon some compro-
mise measure which would unite practically
all of the democrats of the House. Most of
the silver men would be satisfied with the
proposition to permit them to offer amend
rlents which, il adopted. would leave the
Andrew bill providing for the stoppsge of
silver purchases, for the coinage Of the Sill
yer bullion In the treasury and for coming
at the mint for the owners {, 900 900 of silver
dollars a month.
THE DAY IN TIE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sin the Senate to-
day Mr.. Teller, in presenting some petitions
a0ainst repeal Of the Sherman act, declared
lLhG III MS luuELl6Du blSLb Was q uGClQGO
majority on both sides of the chamber op-
posed to the repeal of that act, and also that
IN his opinion it could not be made a polits
ICal question at the next session, whatever
might be the inclination OF the incoming
President, He quoted an article in yester-
daY's New York Herald to the effect that
the President-elect desired to have the Sher-
man law repealed at this session; and said
he was unable to determine what the
pFnaidpnE-alnpk had fn do with the DT1nutfny1
He would not assert that the article was au-
thorized and yet it cOmported with the
general tenor of reports. He had Iever
seen anything more indecent in pubs
location, if it should be traced any
where near the incoming administration.
In conclusion MIR. Teller reasserted his con-
hdent belief that il was not among the pos
sibilities that the Sherman act would be
repealed at this session Of congress.
VEST DEFENDS MIR. CLEVELAND.
Mr. Vest felt compelled as a democratic
senator TO notice what had been said about
the President-elect. He had no authority
him on the silver question, but he had never
suspected any indirection on Mr.. Cleve-
lands part in regard TO that or any other
public question. The character OF no pub
lie man was safe If he were held responsible
Tor newspaper utterances.
Mr.. Sherman said that whenever ne was
assured that there was a major ity of the
Senate IN favor of the bill reported by him
to suspend the purchase Of silver bullion, he
would move to take it up.
Mr.. Gray inquired what better evidence
there could be of the disposition of the
Senate than roll call.
MIR. Sherman repeated virtually what he
mad already said, and added that IL was the
right and duty of any other senator who
believed that the bill could be passed TO
move TO take it up. He had taken means
TO ascertain the sentiments Of the senators
and he was not satisfied that the bill could
De passed at the present session.
HILL TO CALL IT UP.
ElMr. Hill said that, in his judgment, the
best way TO test the sense of the Senate was
by a direct motion; and he therefore gave
notice that on Monday next, during the
morning hour, he should move TO take up
the bill to which Mr. Sherman referred.
The Senate then proceeded 60 other bus-
ness. The House bill to ratify and confirm
an agreement with the Cherokee nation Of
Indians Of the Indian Territory was taken
up and many amendments wsre offered,
discussed and disposed Of. The bill was laid
aside without final action, and at 3 O'Clock
p m. the business OF the Senate was
suspended in order that fitting
tribute might be made to the memory Of
Ihe late Senator Barbour of Virginia, who
qied in the city of Washington on May IA,
1872. Eulogies OF the dead senator were
pronounced nv Massra Danial Mandarson