The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-09

WASHINGTON, d. G. Jan. The
feature OF the Republican senatorial.
caucus held to-day was a discussion Of
the adyisabiiity of amending che house
tariff bill. by adding free coinage
amendment 70 It in the senate. This
discussion was condued largely TO the
free coinage wing OF the party. The
result OF the meeting was the adoption
OF Senator Quay's resolution intFodp:
ced yesterday expressing the sense OF
tine caucus TO be that the finance COM
niittee should report the blu as II came
from the house With a few verbal
changes which will not alter the mean
ing OF the measure in any essential fea-
ture.
There vns no roll call upon this mo-
tion. but there were few dissenting
voices. There was no formal effort TO
bind the senators TO support the bill
when It should come before the senate
aud It was left open TO amendments az
that stage of the proceedings. It was
while the advisablllty of attempting to
secure a pledge OF support was under
consideration that the silver question
came up. 1t was sprung by question
as to what the silver Republic licans would
do In case a free silver mendment
should be offered to the tarin bill IN
Il
Senator Mitchell, Of oregon. was the
first 10 respond to this inquiry. de
stated that he should join the silver
forces inlthe effort to secure the adop-
ton OF the free coinage substitute FOR
the house bond bill, but that with the
silver question disposed of in that con-.
nection he would advise that the silver
Republicans refrain from participating
IN any EFFORT that might be made 10
amend the tariff bill by adding free
coinage provision.
Senator Carter followed In the same
line OF argument, advising united act
ion on the part of the silver Repubh-
cans in Opposition TO such an amends
ment In the event ofthe previous pass.
age of the silver substitute for the bond
bill. He said that he thought the action
on the bonHd bill would be sufficient In
dioation TO the country OF their attis
tude. He did not say that he would
oppose such an amendment by his vote
IN case OF failure to secure concerted
and unanimous action by his silver coli
leagues. hut urged them strenuoasly TO
agree to this line OF action.
Senator. Teller atlupunced his inten-
; tf,h 10 vote fora Silver amendment Of
fered from any source, without an
nounclng any purpose or presenting
such an am nendinent himself He talked
very earnestly on the subject, saying
that he had when the Mckinley bill
was before Congress In 1880 foregone
the opportunity to amend that meas
tfre with n free coinage provision on the
representation that the BILL with such
an amendment would be vetoed. only
70 be told afterwards by the friends OF
that bill that the Sherman bill was
passed as the only hope Of defeating
freecolnage. He declared he would not
again be placed in that predicaInent.
Brief speeches were also made on this
feature OF the question by Senators Du-
Bois, Mnntel, Shoup and others.
There was a sufficient general express
sion OF opinion among the silver sena-
tors to show that there We're not TO e,S..
ceed a half dozen who would not hold
out against unanimous agreement to
refrain from voting for a silver amend
meut, and this showing was such as to
lead the nrti-sifver men In the cAucus
10 conclude that II those who had ex-
pressed themselves against the policy OF
amendment cotfid be induced to vote
AGAINST these amendments, regardless
OF the action OF their colleagues, they
could defeat q silver amendment when
offered.
Senator Baker announced himself as
friendly TO the proposition TO coin the
American silver production and said he
would offer an amendment 10 this effect
to both the bond and the tarll bills.
Mr. Baker reiterated his declaration of
yesterday to disregard the instructions
OF tine caucus and vote agninst the bill
unless amended on protected lines.
There was q general expression OF
opinion that the bill whether amended
or unamended in the senate never would
become, law. Several senators ex-
pressed the opinion that II could not re-
eelve executive sanction.
After the conclusion Of the consldern-
tion OF the tariff bill an effort was made
10 proceed 10 the consideration Of the
reorganization OF the senate by the elec-
tion OF general officers. but the meeting
adjourned without tukirg up this pro-
position. Immediately after adjourn
Hnent call was circulated for n caucus
tomorrow TO consider this question,
and II Is understood thnt sufficient
number ot signatures were received to
Insure a caucus for that purpose ut the