The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-08
A Decided Advantage Gained
by the Currency Bill
YET IT NAY BE DEFEATED
The Eighfy-Nine Members Who Voted
For 1t Not . Majority.
Those who Voted Against II in Caucus
Are Not Bound by the Deetsion-Ths
Eules COMMITTEES Instructed TO Ar
range For Closing OF Debate and
Final voteo

Washington City. Jan. 7.-By a vote |
Of 81 to 81 tie Democratic house caucus
voted today TO endorse the Carlisle sub
gtstute currency bill now before the house.
Speaker Crisp took the lead irs presenting
the resolution and vigorously urged the
necessity OF its adoption. The COMMITTEES
on rules was instructed 20 bring n a
rule tomorrow to close the debate. Eff
forts 20 amend Mr.. Crisp's resolution
were voted down. one Of the adverse
votes showing only thirteen members of
the caucus favorable to an Issue of bonds
to retire the greenbacks.
The result Of the caucus Is accepted
with considerable apprehension by friends
OF the bill. notwithstanding the passage
of the resolution Of Endorsement. The
eighty-one votes which the measure COM
fTandei I'm caucus Is far short CT the nurn-
Der necessary TO pass IL in the house. 1t
is the belief. however. that many oz the
flfty-nirse votes recorstesi against the reso-
luton will be changed. now that the Car
Isle bill has the prestige OF tbs caucus
Endorsement
There are several prominent leaders
that the vote showed conelusiyeiy that
the bill could not pass
The caucus was called together at 2
o'clock. with Mr.. Holman in the chair.
All of the party leaders of the mouse.
including Speaker Crisp and Messrs.
catchings. Cultivate. Springer. Wilson.
Tracey and Bland, and the Democratic
members Of the banking and currency
1s2 members present. Mr.. Cochran stated
early In the day that IL the caucus was
TO be binding he would not enter 1t,
and Il was understood that others would
pursue the same course. As assurances
were given that the caucus would be ad-
yisory rather than binding, Cochran and
his associates eoEeluaed to attend. The
Issue of the caucus was presented by
the following resolution, prepared by MIR.
Springer and introduced by Speaker
Crisp:
Resolved, That 81 Is the sense OF this
caucus that the Carlisle currency bill
should be passed bg the house OF repre-
sentatives, substantially as presented IN
the substitute which Was printed In the
Record and which will be offered at the
proper time by the chairman of the COM
mittee on banking and currency: and
that the committee on rules be requested
to report an order tomorrow, after the
reading of the Journal. which shall pro-
vide for its consideration during one
mole day OF general debate, and there
after under the fve-,lsinute rule. and
final vote thereon at the nearest time
practicable during the wssk."
Representative Livingston. OF Georgia,
started the caucus at a lively rate by
moving that all who were irs attendance
should be bound by the action CT the
caucus. From various parts OF the hall
came cries of point of order" and for
a time there was considerable confusion.
Chairman Holman finally sustained the
point of order. For thirty years" said
Mr. Holman, '1t has been the unbroken
rule In the house of representatives TO
consider the actien of a caucus as ad-
yisory and not as binding. IL leaves
members entirely free to act according
TO their own Judgment It was agreed
that all speeches should be limited to
five minutes.
Mr.. Crisp then spoke In support Of the
resolution he had offered. He spoke OF
the profound Importance Of the situation
in whlch the majority OF the house found
careful action and a united party. The
resolution was designed 10 test the senti-
ulent OF the caucus on the vital point In
voiyed whether the currency bin now
before the house should pass.
Mr. Bland followed In opposition 20 the
resolution Eve have now reached the
point" said he, when the Democratic
PARTY for the first time In it's history
Is asked To become the advocate OF na-
tional tanks" lie urged his specific
objections 70 the bill. being interrupted
frequently by calls Of vote, vote"
Mr. Springer next took the floor in
support of tbs resolution. He spoke
mainly OF the Importance Of a caucus In
securing the adhesion Of members. While
the caucus action was not binding, II
was. nevertheless. regarded as very per-
sgasive on the Judgment os members
| when party action was involyea. The
present emergency must he met hy the
Democratic party as a whole. The re-
spoasibiilty Is on the party" said he
..aad the people viii hold the party ac-
coan;able for It's actiaa. In such an
emergency. eauesss action should be very
eneetive In bringing members OF the
party together and overcoming miner Oh
5ectionS." Mr.. spsirger's time was ex-
tended % ten minutes In view OF his
being In charge uf the bill.
srAer WIS q lively interchange Of aales-
stssgs ard answers between Mr. Cochran
azri Mr.. Springer before tie latter c.es.ss
Mr.. Cozkraa asked < MFR Springer ess4
no; regard che currency question as an
ecuaeaiie rather thaa 8 party question, a
ui1sssioa wAseh never should be submitted
70 party caucus action. Mr. Springer re-
pied that the question WAS beth a ysarfys
and an ecaEsSnIc qarSssoa. p1t III the
present case the party wossad h1 lsest. re-
apoassble sor tAa execution OF scorcsnSc
principles There wzs EsEeh sfssssos as
thss eroSSgire between alsss-s. Springer
ngsa Cecs-Aa proceeded. ansi cAaI-yzaa
Holman tried vassly 70 preserve order ana
assses-
BrscS speeches were made by Repre-
seataeveS Cox. 81 Tennessee. Cocage. q
New York. Eaasey. os Texas: Swsnsen. of
Virginia. Cayeen. of NyoznSnEs MeRae.
o. Arkansas: nashaagtoss of Tennessee
Bryan, - Nebraska. ard Spsxy. oE CsSs-
rsoeslcat Tlsey sAawe8 very vide d.
ye~~uses ~ lsssivAasiat views
Nr Sperry Ssoses1 his remarks ~ ofysr-
aag aa amendment 70 ssse pensssEsg re4sssss-
.sass. by wasc.s ths s7es<y hsa tow an IS
sue ~ fezsss - rssGEd the ereerssaSsxs
was 70 BE substituted as the cne ca wr1srss
ssss catseas was ~ express IT'S approval
kSzsa