Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-01-10
.ARTPUL DODGERS
Republican Senators Are Scheming
to Compass the Defeat OF the
Silver Bill.
A. VERY INTERESTING CAUCUS
The GoidbuS Democrats Also Meet
and Conspire Against frea
t0iuage.

NAsHINGroN, Jan. 5. The feature o
the republican senatorial caucus hell
today was the discussion Of the adyisa
bility OF amending the house tariff bill
by adding free coinage amendment to
it il the senate. This discussion was
confined largely to the free coinage wing
of the party. The result OF the meeting
was the adoption Of Senator Quay's
resolution introduced yesterday, ex-
pressing the sense of the caucus to be
that the finance committee should re
port the bill as it came from the house
with a few verbal changes, which will
not alter the meaning OF the measure in
any essential feature. There was no
roll call upon the motion, but there were
a few dissenting votes. There was no
formal effort to bind the senators to
support the bill when it should come
before the senate and it will be left open
to amendment at that stage of the pro-
ceelings, 1t was while the advisability
o. attempting to secure pledge OF sup
port was under consideration that the
silver question came up. 1t was sprung
by the question as 10 what the silver
republicans would DO in case a free sill
yer amendment should be offered to the
tariff bill in the senate.
Senate Mitchell Of Oregon was the
first TO respond to this inquiry. lie
stated that lie should favor the silver
forces in al effort to aecure the adoption
of a free coinage substitute for the house
bond DI2l, out that until the silver qucg-
tion was dispoeed Of IN that connection
he would advise the silver republicans
should refrain from participation in any
effort that might be made TO amend the
tariff bill! by adding free coinage pro-
vision.
Senator Carter followed in the same
line Of argument, advising united action
on the part Of the silver republicans in
opposition to such auandmen: in the
event of the previoug passage Of the sill
Yer bill substituted for the bond bill.
He said ne thought such action on the
bond bill would be sufficient indication
to the country Of their attitude. lie did
not say he would oppose such an amend
ment by his vote IN case Of the failure to
secure concerted and unanimous action
by his silver Colleagues, but urged item
streuu0uEly to agree to this line of action
Senator Teller announced his inten-
ton to vote for the amendmentif offered
from any source, without announcing
any purpose OF presenting such an
amendment himself.
Brief speeches were also made on this |
feature of the question by Senators Du-
bois, Mantle, Shoup and others.
There was d sufficient tly general ex-
preston of opinion among silver senators
to show that there were not t. exceed |
half dozen who would hold out against |
caucus agreement to refrain from |
voting for silver amendment, and this |
showing was such as to lead the anti
silver men in the caucus to conclude
that if those who had expressed them.
selves against the policy of the amend |
ment could be induced to vote against
this amendment, regardless of their col |
leagues, they could defeat the amend
ment when offered.
Senator Baker Of Kansas announced |
himself as friendly to a proposition to
coin the American silver product, and |
said he would offer an amendment to |
this effect to both the bond and tariff |
bills,
Baker also reiterated his declaration
Of yesterday 10 disregard the iDstruc,
tions Of the caucus and vote against the
bill until amended On protection lines
There was a general expression Of the
opposition that whether amended or uu-
amended iu the senate, the bin never
would never become a law on account
Of executive opposition.