Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
VERY INGENIOUS TACTICS.
The Plan Devised by the Democratic
Leaders in the Senate.
How a Test Vote Can BE Secured
Without Bringing Up the Cues
ton of Unconditional Repeal.

The plan which has been devised by the
democratic leaders in the Senate who are
opposed to the unconditional repeal Of the
Sherman law is regarded as one Of the
most ingenious examples of parliamentary
tactics which has been exhibited in that
body. 1t is one that will permit the sill
yer men to make test of their strength
without the risk Of a vote on the repeal
bill. The program appears to have been
very skillfully contrived and carried out,
up to the present stage. with great fore
thought and accuracy.
The bill to permit banks to issue currency
to the full face value of the bonds deposited
in the treasury Is one which is favored by
the anti-silver men and one which they
would hardly expect to have pressed to the
front by the silver advocates. Therefore.
they saw no objection whatever to the
prompt report of the measure from the COM
mittee on finance and no danger in its get
ting on the calendar Of the Senate before
the repeal bill was reported.
They are gratified moreover by the action
Of the finance committee in reporting bill
for the unconditional repeal of the Sherman
law with the attachment Of what appears
to be merely an empty declaration in favor
of bimetallism. There appears, however, TO
be a deeper depth than that to which they
have penetrated. The silver men are said
to have a pledge from members of the
finance committee that the banking bill
first reported shall be disposed of before the
repeal bill is taken up for considera tion
This opens the way TO the development OF
situation not apparent at first glance.
What May Happen.
In the first place a great deal OF time
may be consumed in the discussion OF the
bank bill, and in the second place, that
bill is subject to amendments i,.defnitely.
AS has been stated in The Ssar. the silver
men expect this bill to be amended in such
MT nrOad
general financial measure. With silver out
of the question the amen tments likely to
be adopted are such as Will either meet
with the approval of the anti-silver men
or not be violently opposed by them III
no silver amendment is attached to the bill,
II is likely to come out OF the Senate IN
shape not to excite the antagon SIN OF the
administration forces. and IL will be apt
to pass the House. But ii is understood to
be part of the plan Of the silver men TO
have an amendment offered providing for
the free coinage of silver at a ratio Of 20
to l. or for any other silver proposition
which may develop the greatest strength
in the House.
To Get a Test Vote.
On this amendment the silver men in the
Senate can get a test vote without involv-
ing the consideration of the Sherman re-
peal bill. If the amendment is carried. il
disposes Of the repeal bill in itself. and they
are confident that this composite financial
measure. silver and all, could be got
through the House. II the silver men. how
ever. prove not to be strong enough to
adopt this amendment the Sherman law
will still be on the statute books. and. by
preventing a vote on It, they can keep II
there.
In the meanwhile the calculations are that
the bank bill as a measure of relief will
become law. This would relieve the sit
uation from one point Of view and leave
the silver question just where IL is. In
other words they propose either to adopt
such silver legislation as they are willing
should take the place of the Sherman law
in the form Of an amendment to the bank
bill. or else to preserve the Sherman law
itself.
By this plan they avoid the danger
should they be in the minority, OF being
defeated in a vote on the repeal bill. They
propose to get their test vote before the
repeal bill is up for consideration.