The Washington times., 1895-02-20
Jones' Bill Forced Before the Sen
ate, but Withdrawn at Last.
COULD GET NO VOTE ON IT
Opposition Was Prepared to Talk 1t to Death
-Wolcott to the Rescue with Resolution
Declaring for Free Coinage, but Clearing
the Road for Regular Pusiness-This Will
Be Adopted To-day-The Fight Ended

The silver fight in the Senate is finished
and no vote will be had on the Jones bill.
The one day devoted to that bill showed con-
clusively that no amount of pressure would
bring about a vote. aud if the silver bill were
kept before the Senate that it would result In
defeating the appropriation oils and force
an extra session.
The silver men feel that they have shown
their strength, and believe they have gained
a substantial victory in securing the promise
OF a vote upon the resolution presented by
Mr.. Wolcott declaring the sense OF the SEN
ate. Although the agreement was not en-
tered into in the Senate all the Senators pl es-
ent who were opposing the resolution agreed
privately that vote should be had on the
resolution to-day
POSSIBLE TO PREVENT VOTE.
1t will probably be debated somewhat and
Senators will briefly express their views 1t
is possible to prevent vote If those who
were not parties to the private agreement
should decide TO oppose it, as there was no
unanimous consent asked or given in the
Senate
The Republicans, who agreed that there
should be vote. included Senators Aldrich,
Platt. Chandler and Quay, as we'll as the sl-
yer leaders on the Republican side, while
Senators CocKrell. Blackburn and Jones, OF
the Democratic Senators, agreed to the prop
ostion.
The opponents of the Jones bill present
said they were willing there should be a vote
on the declaratory resolution presented by
Mr.. Wocott aud it is believed that this pri-
vate agreement will be adhered TO in the
Senate.
This ends the silver fight for this session
and the appropriation bills will monopoliZe
the remainder of the session with, perhaps,
some time devoted to the bankruptcy bill and
the pooling bill.
THEY COULDN'T PASS THE BILL.
At 8 O'Clock last night the Senate ad-
iourned after a determined but fruitless ef
fort on the part of the silver men. led by Mr..
Jones' of Arkansas, to pass the bill for the
unrestricted coinage OF silver.
Mr.. Jones himself made the motion to ad-
journ after it had been made evident that
voting quorum OF Senators could not be held
in the Senate chamber for an all night strug
gle.
One of the surprises Immediately preceding
the adjournment was resolution submitted
by Mr.. WoIcott. ono of the most active silver
leaders, declaring that while the welfare OF
the country required the free coinage OF sil-'
yer at a ratio of 16 to /, yet in view Of the
near adjournment OF Congress aud the press
ing demand of appropriation bills it was in
expedient TO enter upon the consideration of
the silver bill at the present session OF Con-
gress.
No action was taken or the resolution but
it was regarded as significantly foreshadow-
ing the course of the silver bill when it comes
up to-day.
The silver forces asserted their strength at
the outset of the proceedings yesterday. and
by vote of Sc to n displaced the morning
business and took up the silver bill before
the regular order had been reached.
COULD REACH NO AGREEMENT.
Mr.. Villas then took the floor for four hours
in a carefully prepared speech. defending the
administration for the recent bond contract
When Mr.. Villas concluded. at 5.35 p. m, ac-
tive steps were taken by the silver mento
force n final vote. 1t was evident, however,
that the opposition was ready to talk against
time and thus carry the debate through the
night, il necessary to cut off the VOTE
Mr.. Platt made an argument against the
bill, being frequently interrupted by points of
no quorum and roll-calls and suggestions for
closing debate
Mr. Jones appealed to the opposition TO fix
a time for vote to-day. but no agreement
could be reached At 8 O'Clock the Senate
business was brought to compete standstili
by the failure to secure quorum on Mr..
| Aldrchs motion to 20 into executive session.
From that time until adjournment vain ef-
| forts were made 10 secure a voting quorum,
| although voting quorum was present most
| of the time, many Senators refusing to vote.
| This tedious process continued until o. clock,
when Mr.. Jones reluctantly yielded and the
| long session closed.