Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-26
A SILVER MANS VIEWS
Congress Will Wait to See What Cleveland
Has to Propose.
Democrats Arc Impatient mt Any
Proposition to Postpone Action on
the Financial Question.

| It is not believed that Mr.. Cleveland will,
| on account Of the recommendations Of some
| Of his cabinet substitute a commission for
| the general financial scheme proposed to be
presented to Congress. While Attorney
General Olney, Secretary Morton and per-
| haps another Of the cabinet, argue that
| under existing conditions 1t would be well
for the administration to keep clear of de-
| tails and by securing a commission to con-
slider the whole financial question throw the
| matter over until next Congress, Mr.. Cleve-
| land will adhere to the opinion that 1t Is
| better to begin the agitation Of financial
| reform at once. In fact, he is. in a way,
| already committed to this. But a short
| time ago, it will be remembered, in an in
| terview explaining his relations with Mr..
| Carlisle. he said that he had no scheme Of
his own. but that Mr.. Carlisle would prob
| ably present one which he would indorse.
| This plan of Mr.. Carlisle's, it is known, is
| not that which provides for monetary
| commission. The proposition favored by
Olney and Morton contemplates, of course.
only temporary postponement OF the ques-
| ton and would take 1T entirely out of the
| hands of this Congress, leaving 1t for the
| next to act on.
| Impatient of POstpOnement.
| II anything may be Judged Of the gen.
| eral temper of the democrats from what
| those who are now here say privately they
will be very impatient Of any proposition
| to postpone. The silver men, whether now
allied with the democratic party, with
| the populists or with the republicans, credit
Mr.. Cleveland with the purpose to avail
| himself of the republican majority in the
| Fffty-fourth Congress to get through q
financial plan inimical to the silver in
| terests. III he shoGld refrain at this time
| from laying his plan before the demo-
| cratic Congress- affarWar6
| action by the republican Congress 1t would
| excite very general resentment on the
part of the democrats, who would insist
| that 1t was his duty to give them the op-
portunity to pass judgment upon his plans.
| This consideration is liable to prevent the
adoption Of the commission proposition.
| There is an evident desire on the part
of democrats to avoid the appearance Of
hasty action in antagonism to the ad-
| ministration. In anticipation of the meth
DDS of Mr. Cleveland on the subject there
| is very general disposition shown to
| refrain from any utterances which would
| prejudice a fair consideration of what
ever proposition he might present. Among
| southern men in particular this dsposi-
| tion is manifested. AS one of the leading
southern silver men put 1t in conversation
| today:
Southern Silver Mans Views.
"The situation is altogether too grave
| and the possibilities of conflict between the
| democratic party in Congress and the
| administration too close for any hasty
expression of opinion. Propositions are
| now in order. Something must be done
to establish for a financial system.
| 1t is said that Mr.. Cleveland has some
| ideas on the subject. either his own or
| those Of Mr.. Carlisle which he will in
| dorse in a message to Congress. The best
| thing we can do is to wait and see what
| he has to say. 1t Is in order for him to
present some proposition for the improve
| ment of the condition which he is to a
| considerable extent responsible for When
he asked us to repeal the Sherman law
| no one for q minute assumed that that
| was the beginning and the end Of finan-
cial legislation. The repeal was to be
| followed by something else. Now we want
| to know what that something else is. Let
| Mr.. Cleveland say what his aims are and
| we shall then determine. after full consid-
| GRAFTON of the matter, whether or not We
| shall follow his advice. We may regard
| 1t as improbable that he will recon-
| mend anything which we can adopt,
| but until he has recommended something
| definitely there is no use of our talking
| in the air. / think you will find dispo-
| stion to treat this matter fairly and an
| indisposition to either talk act hastily.
| If conflict between Mr.. Cleveland and a
majority of his party comes the opposi-
| tiCn to the administration will not be
| weakened by the fact that 1t is formed
| calmly and after deep consideration of
| all his recommendations. There are many
men in Congress who will never agree to
| banks and who are opposed to any sys-
| tenn of finances which involves either the
| enlargement of the public debt or gives
to the banks the power Of life and death
| over our currency. 1t is not fair to as
| sume however, that Mr.. Cleveland will
recommend any such policy, and 1T would
| be merely lighting in the dark to antago-
nize him before We know what he wants
| to do.'
An Understanding to Re Reached.
Apparently this represents pretty we'll
the feeling OF the leaders of the majority
in this Congress During the next five or
six days most Of the members and Soma
tors will assemble in Washington, and
there will speedily be reached an under
standing between all those of the same
faith. Speaker Crisp will be here on We'd
nesday or Thursday, and naturally most of
those who agree generally with him will
talk the matter over with him before there
is any direct movement toward a policy,
and even then it is believed that the policy
of silence Will be the one adopted until
after Mr.. Cleveland has spoken. But what
ever policies are adopted and however the
subject is approached II is not believed
that there will be any positive action by
this Congress on the financial or any other
general question. The most important
work, and that which will begin at once,
will be the formation of lines for general
engagement later on. 1t Is by no means
certain that Mr.. Cleveland will not have
as strong a following in the House this
session as he, had for the repeal of the
Sherman law during the special session,
but his antagonists will be more determin.
ed, and even IL he should get the majority
in both houses in favor of the plan he
may present, was the case with re-
gprd to the repeal of the Sherman law,
there would still be the power in the hands
o. the silver men to prevent action