The herald., 1895-12-27
THE BOND BILL
Amendments Proposed and Doubts Expressed
of Its Passage

of Its Passage
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-An attempt was
made by several members of the house to
secure caucus of Republicans on the bond
bill Immediately after the session tonight.
The petition was started by several New
York Republicans, and the necessary num-
ber of names (fifteen) was secured. The
leaders discouraged the plan, however. AMI
Mr.. Hooker of New York, at the request of
Speaker Reed. it is said, induced several
signers to withdraw their names, so the
movement fell through. The petition was
addressed 70 the chairman Of the caucus.
MIR. Grosvenor, and besides asking for a
caucus on the bond bill, made the general
request that caucus be called whenever
party measures were to be considered in
the house.
There may be an important change made
by the ways and means committee in the
bond bill before the scheme is brought be-
fore the house tomorrow. Considerable
dissatisfaction has arisen among the Re-
publicans since the text of the bill was
made public. the dissenters asserting that
/ could be used by hostile administration
for permanently retiring the greenbacks.
In yesterdays committee meeting a SINH
lar charge was made by the Democrats that
the Republicans proposed to secure what
they had always opposed and what Pres-
dent Cleveland advocated-the retirement
OF greenbacks. Accordingly there will be
a committee meeting tomorrow to consider
the amendment prepared by Hopkins of
Illinois, which follows:
"Provided, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed to repeal or modify the
existing laws which authorize and direct
the reissue of said legal tender notes."
Hopkins is confident the amendment will
be adopted.
A partial canvass of the Republican
e a.
tee shows that while there is practically
uuanimity among them in desiring the ac-
complishment of the object Mr.. Hopkins
amendment has in view, there is some
doubt concerning the necessity for the
amendment. Members say that a careful
examination of the laws will be made, the
question thoroughly discussed IN commit
tee tomorrow, and that if the necessity for
an amentment is developed in this partc-
ular an amendment Will be made.
ITS PASSAGE DOUBTFUL.
CHICAGO, Dec. 26.-A special to the Post
from Washington says: A thorough un-
derstanding is believed to have been ar
rived at between the president and the
leaders of both parties in congress by the
terms of which the executive will approve
the tariff bill. His consent to this is said
to have been obtained by an agreement on
the part of the Republican members to
make them by an emergency measure, but
limiting it's operation to n period of about
two and half years, until August, 1898.
The president argued that such iimita-
ton would amount to practical admission
OF the ultimate sutficiency of the Gorman-
Wilson act from revenue point of view
The Republicans were won to acquies-
cence by the lhought that they could ex-
tend the period to suit themselves as soon
as a Republican successor to President
Cleveland is installed in the White House.
Another provision of the understanding
alluded to is pledge on the part of the
Republicans to do their best to push the
bond bill. This bill is along the lines laid
down in the presidents message and the
report of Secretary Carlisle, which
provides for short term emergency
bonds. By making it a Republican
measure, however, hopes are enter
tanned at the White House that it may get
through the senate. This consummation
is extremely DOUBTFUL, however, for the
discovery has been made that concealed in
the bowels of the bills is scheme to begin
the retirement of the outstanding paper
money OF the government.
DEMOCRATIC sTEEREKS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-A caucus of
Democratic senators has been called for
l o'clock tomorrow to pass upon the steer
ing committee assignments to the minor
ity committee places. The seering CON-
mittee was in session today, but as it did
not entirely complete its work another
meeting will be necessary before the cau-
Gus can act. 1t is quite definitely settled
that Senator Mills will be assigned to the
Democratic vacancy on the committee OH
foreign relations.