Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-08
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Members Of the House on the Banking
Bill.
CURRENCY LEGISLATION CALLED FOR,
Resolution in Favor Of n Rule to Limit De-
bate-Somc Interesting De-
velopmcnts.

ihSc hVuio were spent III '1"S"'. 1880
afternoon by the Democrats Of the House.
The purpose OF the caucus was TO secure
an exchange of views regarding the Car
Isle banklng-bill, which was taken up for
debate week before the holiday recess.
and which Is still before the House.
Mr.. Holman presided. and 152 members
answered to their names at roll-call.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF the
roll-call Mr.. Livingston, OF Georgia.
made motion that all those present
should be bound by the action of the eau
Gus. The Chamber, mean while, had been
rapidly filing up with members, and at
the time the Livingston motion was made
fully l75 Democrats were In their seats.
There was an instant chorus Of "Noes."
and ,pint Of order was made against
the motion.
The Chair sustained the point Of order
stating In effect that the uniform prac-
tice Of thirty years was that caucuses are
advisory and not binding in their char
acter.
Mr.. Springer novel that all speeches
be limited TO five minutes.
Speaker Crisp took the floor, and said
that the Democratic party in Congress
has kept its pledges. II has reformed the
tariff. repealed Federal election-laws. and
practiced economy in appropriations.
The party has differed In matters af-
fecting currency and finance The Sec
retary of the Treasury had formulated a
bill. The question is. Can the party agree
upon something at this short session?
He believed legislation should be had,
and that Congress should respond TO the
call ot the Treasury and OF the country.
He then offered the following resolution:
Resolved That IL is the sense of this
caucus that the Carlisle currency bill
should be passed by the House Of Re-
personalities, substantially as presented
in the substitute ana printed in the Re
cord. and which will be offered at the
proper time by the chairman OF the Com
mittee Banking and Currency, and
that the Committee on Rules be requested
to report an order tomorrow, imme-
dately after the reading Of the Journal,
which shall provide for its consideration
one more day for general debate, and
thereafter under the fve-minute rule.
and that final vote be taken thereon
at the. earliest time practicable time du-
ring this week"
Mr.. Sperry moved that the pending re-
solution be so amended as to read that IL
was the sense Of the caucus that the bill
introduced by him should be passed by
the House.
DOLLAR \ HEAD.
Mr.. Terry. Of Arkansas. offered an
amendment. authorizing each State Trea-
surer to buy silver bullion sufficient in
amount TO coin "a dollar for every inhabi-
tant Of the State. and present II to the
United States Treasurer. the latter to
coin 1t into silver dollars. and in turn
present it to the State Treasurer.
After 4 speech by Mr. Bickner. Of Wis
consin. Mr.. Cofen. Of Wyoming, offered
resolution extending the time for gene
raj debate by three days.
Speaker Crisp then made a point OF
order against it. and the point was sus-.
tained Mr.. Crisp then demanded the
previous question on the resolution and
the amendments. The previous question
was ordered. The Terry amendment was
first considered. 1t was defeated by a vote
Of 81 nays 10 81 ayes.
The Sperry amendment was then re-
jected by an overwhelming majority.
there being but thirteen votes in its
favor. There were east by Messrs. Wells
and Brickner. of Wisconsin: Sperry ard
Deforest of Connecticut; McAleer. OF
1tnilSN NlNbillts fidIifI tiil ItI op4A. VI
OHIO: Fielder. of New Jersey. and Lock-
wood, Coombs Hendrix, Tracey, and
Straus, Of New York.
Mr.. Crisp's resolution was finally
adopted by vote of N 10 80.
DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.
The vote showed that seventy-fve
Democratic members OF the House were
not present at the caucus. This vote and
the speeches for and against the bin
So med TO be differently interpreted. NJ
Springer, for example. believes that many
OF those who opposed the Crisp resolu-
tion to-day will support the Carlisle bill
IN the end. the more especially, as some
Of them are constrained to believe that
II Will be amended. 50 as to be more IN
conformity with their sentiments.
He says that to argue that The nifty
nine gentlemen who opposed the resolu-
ton will also oppose the bll would b.
10 say that caucus has no persuasive
pow "a fact which he is inclined
strongly to dispute He believes that a
majority of the seventy-iiye absentces
Will also support the bill. and that T.
Will be carried by a fair majority.
Others regard the spirit displayed a.
the caucus as Indicating the death of the
measure. They say that the speeches in
opposition TO the bill show that the eN-
trCme silver men. as well as the or
ponents OF free silver, with but few eX-
ceptons. have Joined hands in opposition
t. the measure, and that their opposition
VIII be supplemented by the solid vote
Of the Republicans and Populists. and
that as a result the measure cannot
pass the House.
one of the curious incidents of the
caucus was the meagre support accorded
10 the amendment offered by Mr.. Sperry.
Of Connecticut. the purpose of which was
TO commit the caucus to an endorse
ment OF the bill introduced by him last
W Elk to fund the greenDacks and the
Treasury notes into bonds.
SURPRISES.
An analysis OF the vote given for this
amendment shows that four of its thir-
teen supporters are western men, two
from Ohio. and two from Wisconsin. and
that the remaining nine are from the
East. Equally surprising was the large
vote giving u the Terry amendment.
which authorized the coinage by the Sec
retary Of the Treasury of a silver dollar
Of 4l2l-2 grains for each inhab.tant Of
the forty-four states and Territories. This
amendment received the support OF fifty
four members. and was defeated by a
bare majority of ten.
Mr.. Crsps resolution was divided. The
second proposition was as TO the limi-
tation of debate by the Committee on
Rules. The first proposition was carried
by vote of 81 ayes TO so noes, and the
second proposition without material OBJ
lection. The New York members who
voted for the first proposition Were
Messrs. Lockwood. Warner. and Straus
Four others-Messrs. Cochran, Covert
Hendrix. and Ryan voted in the negative
At o'clock a motion to adjourn was
made and Immediately carried