The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-29
Senate VIII Pass n Substitute Bond
Bill and May Load the Revenue
Measure with Free Coinage.
COMPROMISE PROPOSITIONS
UNDER CONSIDERATION. but NOT
LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED.
Argument I'm the Government Suit
ber's Views on Duty ON Congress-.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The admission
of the two Senators from the new State of
Utah into the Senate has made the strength
of the free silver forces in the Senate such
that the vote on the amended bond bill is
awaited with impatience. The bill, as
amended into a free-coinage bill. is now so
certain of passage in the Senate and equally
certain Of defeat in the House that the
period intervening until the vote shall be
formally taken is culpable waste of time,
even in the United States Senate. There
has been some gossip over the alleged at
tempts at compromise. A Compromise of
some Sort with the best end Of the bargain
invariably offered the free-silver men, is a
never-failing feature of every free-silver
discussion in the Senate. The Sherman act
of 1890 was such a compromise, and during
the fight ensuing over the unconditional re-
peal of the purchasing clause of that meas
ure the air of the Senate chamber was blue
with compromises of all sorts One of those
propositions is being revamped for the pres
ent occasion, to wit, Senator Faulkner's
proposition to issue gold bonds sufficient to
redeem all outstanding greenbacks and then
coin silver to the same amount Another
proposition is accredited - discredited to
Senator Gorman-would be more accurate,
by which the Maryland Senator suggests
the issuing of sufficient gold bonds to re-
deem all greenbacks and then provide for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
sound-money men will not accept the free
silver elements of the offer, and the free
silver men know that they can carry a free
silver bill-pure and simple, without any
concessions to gold bonds. Indeed, it would
be wise TO consider the passage of the bond
bill amended into a free-coinage bill an
accomplished fact, and waste no more time
in its considerations
OF far greater interest is the revenue
tariff bill still before the finance committee
The situation, as developed to-day by con-
versations with Senators of all kinds--Demo-
Gratis, Republicans and free-silver mems
complex and interesting. Senator Jones, of
Nevada, has apparently yielded to the ex-
postulations of his colleagues TO the extent
that he Will not insist on his sugar amend
ment in committee, and the finance commit
tee will, therefore. ii is thought, be able
to report the revenue bill back to the Sen
ate in the form it came fiom the House.
Once in the Senate, however, Mr..
Teller insists that he will offer as
of silver. The amendment, however. it is
believed by free silver Senators who have
carefully canvassed the situation, Will
be defeated 1t is figured out that of
the free-silver majority in the Senate, only
the Senators from, Montana, Idaho, Colo
RADIO and Nevada, and Wilson, of Washing
ment. All the Democrats, irrespective of
their attitude toward silver, will vote
as ainst the free-eoinage amendment. 1t is
not difficult to understand the reason of the
Democratic free-silver Senators in thus
voting against measure in favor of which
they may vote this week. They love silver,
but they hate Mr.. Cleveland more, and they
know that by voting for a free-coinage
amendment on the revenue bill they doom
the tariff bill to certain destruction in the
House, whereas If they vote for the straight
tariff bill it may perhaps confront the
President with embarrassing situation
when il comes to him for signature. Mr..
the duty on sugar 10 per cent, but 1T is
expected that this amendment and all 9TH
ers that may be offered will be defeated.
On the final vote to pass the revenue bill
as ii came from the House, all the Repub-
lican votes are counted in its favor with
makes sugar amendment the price Of
his vote. The final vote which will deter
mine the fate of the bill is in serious doubt.
With the detection of Mr. Baker, the Re-
publicans will find themselves compelled to
look to the Populsts for votes to make it
Populist votes are necessary, and 1t is
frankly conceded by Republican Senator's
who canvassed the situation to-day that the
prospect of winning three POpuliStS over
to the bill is not at this time promising.
Almost every Populist approached is willing
10 harter his vote for an amendment but
no votes are to be bought at that price. A
single amendment means a complete surren-
der along the entire line, and that is Synon-
omous with inevitable defeat. Much is hoped
from persuasion. There is to be no haste.
The present programme involves a two
months debate. Possibly the PopuliStS can
be won by that time. otherwise the bill is
oil