The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-17
THE SILVER DEBATES PROGRESS
The Ablest Debatsrs on Either Side
Yet to Be Heard.

Washington, Aug. 16.-The fact that
about two weeks more will be devoted to
discussing the silver business, and that
no other business can come before
the House until that is dis
posed of, has induced many mem
bers to take temporary leave of alb
sence while the debate is going on. Those
who live near Washington have taken
advantage of this excellent opportunity
to 90 home for a while; and some, who are
fortunate enough to have summer homes,
have gone to them with the hope of get
ting some of the vacation which they
were enjoying when the Presidents
proclamation interrupted them. Still
there is considerable more than quorum
present There are many who want TO
speak, and the number who have so noti-
fed the speaker of their desire reaches
way up towards a hundred. Most of
them do not want to speak right away,
however, and in that disposition to delay
may arise some difficulty in finding op-
portunity towards the close of the de-
bate. There may be such a rush at that
time that some may be cut out.
WHY MEMBERS WANT TO SPEAK.
Some members want to speak because
they voted for free coinage before, and
being now in favor of unconditional re-
peal, they want a chance to explain why
they have seemingly changed. Others
there are, who have spoken on this subject
before, and they say to speak now will be
simply threshing old straw over again.
They will speak, however, in order to put
themselves on record this time. AS one
of them said to-day, their constituents
might want to know why they did not
speak for the rights Of the people when
they had the opportunity. There are
others still who really think that they
can have some influence on the action of
the House by presenting their arguments,
though it is doubtful 1if this can be done
only in exceptional cases.l
The giants have not entered the arena
vet. Both sides have some of ther strong
est men in reserve. On the unconditional
repeal side strong speeches are expected
from Ceckran and Fellows of New York
Bynum of Indiana, and Wilson of West
Virginia; on the silver side Bryan Of Ne
braska, Hatch of Missouri, one of the
toughest fighters in the House, and Cul-
bersOn of Texas, whose utterances always
command the undivided attention of both
sides, are counted on to do valiant service
for their side.
REPUBLICANS DON'T INTEND TO DO MUCH
TALKING.
The republicans so far talk as if they
do not intend to take any considerable
part in the discussion. One Of their lead
ers says that they do not believe that free
silver and no silver are the only two pos
sible solutions of the question, but that
the democrats having refused to give
them a chance to amend the order regu-
lating the debate, and thereby to present
a proposition which would go further
than any other TO meet and relieve the
necessities of the financial situation, they
will take no formal part in the debate. 1t
is not believed, however, that they will
be able to maintain their silence when
things get warmed up.
The absence of the President at this
time is regarded as a good thing by
some They say that il he were here
there would be constant suspicion on
the minds of some that he was trying to
influence congress, and this suspicion-no
matter how groundless-would be the
cause of some friction. They therefore
commend his course in going to Gray
Gables.
The Senate caucus committee win in
all probability be ready to report some
plan of action, in accordance with the
purpose for which they were appointed,
by the time the debate in the House IS
ended.
NO HURRY IN REPORTING RULES.
I0eTG DSlnR no lulueOldbS neCcSSlJy iOE
reporting the rules or the appoint
ment of the standing committees,
the speaker will proceed with that work
somewhat more leisurely than he would
have done if the order of business of the
House had not been adopted for two
weeks to come. There will be no general
legislation until the present debate is
concluded, and hence no special necessity
for either committees or rules. 1t is not
believed that there will be any material
change in the new rules from the old ones.
The only change Of any Importance that
has been talked about was with
regard to closure, and there is no necessi-
ty for any more closure power than was
in the rules of the last congress. Under
those rules the majority Of the members
had the power to adopt a closure when
ever they wanted it, and the best men in
the House think that the majority is the
right place for the closure power TO rest,
and not in the speaker. The majority has