Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-05
END JUST|F|ES THE MEANS So the Sound Money Democrats
 in the Senate WILL VOTE FOR FREE SlL YER It Is Necessary in Order to Kill the House Tar
 if Bill. THE REPUBLICANS WERE SURPRISED They Did Not Believe That the Committee Would Tack on the Silver Bill-Jones of Nevada Voted With the
 Democrats.
THE REPUBLICANS WERE SURPRISED

Washington, Feb. 1.-The action of the senate committee on finance this morning in substituting a provision for the free coinage of silver for the tariff bill was unexpected to the republican members of that committee. One of them remarked after the meeting adjourned that the sil- yer men would carry out their threat of substituting silver for every proposition that came before that committee. The absentees were Senators Wolcott and Jones of Arkansas, but it was agreed that every senator should be recorded on any vote that was taken. Shortly after the committee met at Il o'clock MT. Nor rilf the chairman, announced that he and his republican associates were deter mined that the tariff bill should be re- ported to the senate today in some shape, either as it came from the house, with amendments or adversely. Action, final and definite, so far as the committee was concerned, must be had, and he called upon the members to make their wishes known.
 Then MT. Vest of Missouri said that the matter had been discussed by the silver men of the committee and they believed that the proper disposition of the sub ject was to be found in motion which he would make He then moved to strike out all after the enacting clause and sub stitute therefor a provision for the free and unlimited coinage of silver. This motion prevailed by the following votes
 For the substitute-Jones of Nevada populist; Voorhees, of Indiana, Harris of Tennessee, Vest of Missouri, Jones of Ar kansas, White of California and Walthall of Mississippi, all democrats. Total, 2.
 Against the substitute-Morrill of Yer mont sherman of Ohio, Allison of Iowa, Aldrioh of Rhode Island, Platt of Con necticut and Wolcott of Colorado, all re- publicans. Total, G.
 MT. Wolcott. although a silver man, is recorded against the substitute for the reason that at the last meeting of the committee he stated that he, was in fa- ivor of the bill as it came from the house. With Wolcott so voting the majority for $he suhstitpte is one, that situationrbe- ing made possible through the action of Mi. Jones of Nevada. who has heretofore acted In unison with the republicans on tariff questions.
 The republicans will refrain from de- batting the bill to any great extent, con tenting themselves with a brief statet- ment of their reasons for supporting the measure If there is protracted debate it will be the outgrowth of a desire on the part of those opposed to the tariff meas ure to postpone the final vote. Republi- cans, while protesting to believe that
 
 reached point where they are willing to permit the silver element of the senate to do anything of which it may be capa- ble and for which it may have the strength so that the country may know in whose hands the power in the senate lies. They will, therefore, urge speedy action, so that the result may be definite ly determined and the question, so far as this congress is concerned disposed of finally.
 During the day silver republicans had ample time to confer together about the action of the finance committee, and there is reason to believe that they will almost unanimously vote to kill the sub stitute reported to the senate, believing that it is not in the interest, but disad- vantageous to the silver cause. Many senators expressed their intention of sup porting MT. Quay's motion to recommit with instructions to separate the subject matter and bring in two different bills. but the democrats on both sides of the silver question will vote against 1t.
 While the silver republicans will thus probably not support the committees free coinage substitute. 1t looks as if the administration forces in the senate, who have vigorously opposed free coinage. will vote to fasten that sort of legislation upon the tariff bill for the purpose of killing it, on the groundsthat the end jus tifies the means