The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-05
SILvER'S PULL IN THE SENATE.
JONES' SILVER BILL SUBSTITUTED
FOR THE TARIFF BILL.


The Enncting Clause of the Diuglcy
Measure stricken out in Commit
tee and the White Metal Substitute
Inserted-The Republican Scna-
tors Greatly Disconnected by the
ActiOn-MOrrIII the Central Figure
in "A Dramatic Scene.
Washington. Feb. 4-"It Is free coinage
run mad" exclaimed Senator Mitchell
of Oregon to-day, when he was informed
that the finance committee had substi-
tuted the Jones free silver bill for the
Dingley tariff bill. that has been held
up in that committee ever since IL passed
the House. Senator Mitchell is a repub-
lican, but he is also a free silver man and
has voted consistently to advance the
white metal on all proper occasions. In
this instance he contends that the free
silver men on the finance committee have
made mistake, and he declares he viii
not vote to sustain their action.
There were many surprised people at
the capitol to-day when they heard Of the
action of the finance committee, and IL
was difficult to make some of the sena-
tors believe that the report was true. IL
was expected that some of the ardent sii-
yer men might offer the free coinage
bill as an amendment to the tarin bill
after Il was reported to the Senate, but
even the friends of silver We're not aware
that the bill would be thus amended In
committee. The closer the question was
studied the more apparent was the fact
that there was politics at the bottom OF
the committees action, for the motion
to strike out all after the enacting clause
or the tarim bill and insert the Jones free
silver bill was made by Senator West of
Missouri.
There were many conflicting opinions
on the subject in the Senate as to what
the outcome will be. Senators who are US
ually in accord on political questions diff
Tered widely on this subject, and tonight
one mans judgment is as good as anoth-
er's in predicting the fate of the bill. There
is unquestlonably a majority of senators
who believe that additional revenue Is
needed to assist the treasury in its present
emergency. II debate could be stified and
vote taken tomorrow on the tariff bill
practically as II came from the House, It
would surely pass by from seven 60 twelve
majority.
When the Senate met this morning, it
was noticed that many Of the leading re-
publicans wore troubled expressions as
they entered the chamber. To those VIZ
We're acquainted with the action OF the
finance committee. their knitted brows
and anxious looks were not surprising, but
to the general public 1t was evident that
something was wrong in the republican
camp. When the Father" of the Senate,
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, arose to present
the report from the committee on finance,
OF which he is chairman, a hush came
over the chamber, for his voice Is weak
and feeble and his years number nearly
@ with voice trembling with suppressed
indignation, he read the title OF the bill,
and then sarcastically called attention TO
the ill-shapen amendment, which he said
should have no place on revenue raising
bill. Then he lifted his eyes TO the cell
ing, and reVerently exclaimed in the Ian
| guage of distinguished Massachusetts
| statesman, God have pity upon the com
| monWealth" The scene was brief but Ii
| was intensely dramatic, and the republi-
| cans showed by their earnest faces that
| they were In sympathy with the remarks
| of the venerable senator from Vermont.
on the democratic side Senator Hill,
| surrounded by Senators Mills, George,
| Pugh and others, smiled at the discom-
| future of their political enemies across
| the middle aisle. it was evident that the
| democrats intended to fight the tariff bill
| as bitterly as they would have fought the
| Mckinley bill or a similar measure origi-
| mating in the republican ranks.
Senator Quay made two attempts to
/ have the BILL as amended, recOmmitted
| to the committee on finance with in
| as separate measure. Objections by
| Senator Hill. in both instances. met the
| proposition, which was subsequently put
| in the form of resolution which went
| to the table as unfinished business, to be
| called UP tomorrow.
| The whole performance did not occupy
| more than fifteen or twenty minutes, but
| 1t furnished gossip and speculation for
| the entire day. The announcement that
| ex-Presdent Harrison is not to be a candi-
| date for the presidency was almost for
| gotten in the interest that settled around
| the financial question.
The question was frequently asked dur
| ing the day, What does the action of the
| finance committee mean?" When this
| question was put to Senator Hill, who is
| leading the opposition to the tariff bill,
! he replied in substance that there is no
| necessity for more revenue at this tfr1e
and therefore the bill ought not to pass.
| He said. further, that 1t Is the old tariff
fight over again, and 1t is the policy Of
| the democratic party 10 oppose an in
crease in the tariff and therefore the fight
must be made against the pending bill.
| He added that the administration says IL
| has sufficient money TO defray t1e ex-
penses of the government and therefore
| II is not in order to inquire how that
money was obtained, but simply TO uphold
| the policy of the democratic party
Tomorrow a motion will be made to
| table Senator Quay's resolution to re-
| Instructions. The democrats will vote SOL
| idly to lay the resolution on the table.
| They are expecting the support Of the
| populists, and several of the free silver
| republicans, but in the latter they may
| be disappointed.
On the other hand Senator Quay Is equal
| ly confident that his resolution to recon-
| nit will be adopted and he Is counting
upon a solid republican vote, and one or
| two populists, and perhaps q few demo-
| Gratis. The Quay resolution is debatable,
and there is apt to be a sharp discussion
| on the subject tomorrow.