The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-05
OILY TOM REEDS PLAN
He Throws Out a Sop TO the Silver Men,
But lis a Poor One.
SILVER GAINING STRENGTH
Ii Is Quite Possible the Senate VIII
Pass a Free Coinage Bill
During This Sos
sion.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The calculations
of the supporters and opponents of the
new administration financial bill were
upset to-day by the interjection of new
factor in the campaign. Reed, the re-
publican leader, brought forward a new
plan for which he is endeavoring to enlist
the entire strength of his party, and
which he will offer as n substitute. for the
administration scheme if he thinks the
plan can command sufficient support to
make il factor in the fight. There are
but two sections to Reeds plan in the
form in which he has submitted il to his
colleagues. Tho first proposes to restrict
the law of 1875. which authorizes the sec
retary of the treasury to issue bonds to
redeem the greenbacks. The second Sec
ton authorizes the secretary of treasury,
when there is a deficit, to issue certifi-
Gates of indebtedness to pay the current
expenses, the certificates to be in sums of
S25, $50 and 500 and any multiple thereof,
bearing interest at 3 per cent. and pay
able in coin. The bill, as Reed explained
to the republicans, whose support he
sought, is but temporary expedient to
tide over present distress.
The.substitution of "coin" for the gold
provisions of the administration plan is
expected to win for IL the federation IL not
the support of the free silver men who
bitterly oppose all propositions to discrim-
mate by stipulation in any bill in favor of
gold. Its comparative simplicity, it is
expected, will commend the bill to the
house in preference to more complex
plans.
Reed devoted himself assiduously
throughout the day to cloak room con-
situations with the republicans. He first
endeavored to elicit the opinions of the
gold men and then he tackled the silver
men. The measure of his success is diff
cult to estimate.
The plan is to offer the bill as n substi-
tute for the administration bill and poll
the solid republican vote while the demo
Gratis are divided on the administration
bill, the most formidable proposition, and
to perhaps induce the democratic oppo-
nents of the administration bill to rally to
its support.
Chairman Springer and his colleagues
have counted on most of the republican
votes for the administration bill and have
prophesied that it would poll about the
same support that was given to the repeal
of the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act. Accordingly Reeds move overturns
their calculations to a great extent.
the senate to-day ccntered in the activity
of the silver senators and the frequent
conversations held by them. This, taken
in connection with the call issued by
Senator Voorhees,, chairman of tho finance
committee. for a meeting tomorrow, led
to a general supposition that an attempt
is to be made by the silver advocates on
| the committee to secure the reporting of
a free silver bill. Inquiry among the
members of the committee failed to de-
velop such assurance that the effort
would be made, but enough was said in
many quarters TO indicate that tho gen.
eral supposition was not without good
foundation, and to justify the statement
that the silver men are very hopeful of
bringing free coinage bill into the COM
mittee if not at to-morrow's meeting at
the next one to be held. They believe
Senator Jones of Nevada will unite with
Senators Voorhees,, Harris, Vest, White
and Jones of Arkansas in support OF some
measure that will 30 satisfactory to the
silver men.