Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-08
NOBODY IS Surprised
The Defeat Of the, Financial Proposition
Had BesnDiscounted
The Debate Was Instructive as Show.
Ing Where Each Party Will Stand
in Case of an Extra Session.

Yesterdays votes in the House on the
several financial propositions submitted
surprised no member of either party. Inc
whole procedure was regarded as an IDLE
demonstration from the outset. Repupn-
cans looked askance at the democrats, anu
democrats at the republicans, and both
sides united in private in questioning the
wisdom Of the Presidents recommended
ton. This encouraged the opinion that
everybody was playing to the galleries, ana
this, In turn, made legislation Impossible
The republicans construed the President
suggestion of gold bonds as something IN
line merely with his record. They accused
him of being moe anxious about con-
sistency than about a remedy. He must
nave known, they asserted, that sucn q
suggestion could hope for no substantial
support from the democrats. The demo-
cratic silver men. for their part mace
quite as free with the proposition OF the
republicans fol short-time bonds payable
in coin. They pronounced that coWardtce.
II meant no more, they declared tnan the
Presidents proposition, and lacked the
merit OF frankness. Then. In a controlling
spirit of deep disgust the divisions were
arranged, and everybody's proposition was
sent to its long home.
The Debate Had Its Uses.
It is conceded, however that the debate
has had it's uses. 1t is instructive so far
as possible extra session OF the next
Congress is concerned Each side knows
pretty we'll now where the other STANDS.
The President is not going to confess to
treasury deficit calling for an immediate
Increase in revenue. He intends to Stuck
to the gold reserve as text, and fashion
his discourses to Congress accordingly.
Congress, in extra or in regular session,
may respond on that line or not, as 1t
chooses If it responds with an. act for
m It'll hD. 1nyy a n
est, he will, of course, be guided by that
authority. If not, he will continue to in
woke the authority now on the statute
books. to which he has already twice APP
pealed, and justify his action by pointing
to the necessity of preserving the public
credit.
The republicans accepting this as the
Presidents attitude, may respond by ac-
ton covering both propositions They have
made 1t entirely plain that the question or
revenue shall not be eliminated from the
equation. They insist that the present
tariff law does rot provide the govern
ment with mol ey enough, and they intend
to add in some way to the government
sources of receipts. Then, as to the gold
reserve, they will express solicitude equal
to the Presidents for the preservation OF
the public credit, and authorize bond Is
sue at as low a rate of interest as the
market will stand
Trouble Possible In the Senate.
But while this policy will probably en-
counter but little opposition in the House,
when the republican majority will be large
and the influence OF Mr.. Reed very great,
1t is certain to experience hard shedding
In the Senate. The silver men, unless
skillfully divided, will be masters Of the
situation in the next Senate. The south
and the west, by standing together, Will
be able to dictate terms on any financial
proposition presented. II they decide that
there shall be no new authority as 10 ponds
without legislation acceptable to them on
the silver question: it will be in their pow
er to nullify every effort OF the east ana
bring the republican party up with round
turn on the very eve OF the pTeSluehtiai
campaign. The question is. Will MT. Ieiler
and his friends do this? Are they silver
men first and republicans afterWard! Or
will it be in the power Of the eastern re-
publican leadership to detach them from
their southern allies by appeals to their
party pride and loyalty, and by Offering
some compromise, which, while not going
as far as the silver men desire, will yet
do something substantial for them, and
That something like this will be attempted
is generally believed. The next Congress
must in some way solve the problems, or
else confess to failure even more pro-
nounced and disastrous than that that has
overtaken the present Congress Inc very
desperation Of the situation, therefore, Will
make the negotiations for control OF the
next Senate lot only delicate, but most
important and fix attention prominently
rpon every maneuver of the silver men.
And the republican leaders, 1t Is thousnt'
because Of this fact, would very mucn
prefer having until December for putting
their propostion in it's strongest form ana
comforting among themselves as to all OF
the details of so momentous program.
But this Senate has vet finally to De
heard from. Is it possible Tor any cnahge
whatever 20 be effected in the situation IN
n body appearing to be even more helpless
than the House has shown itself to be: