The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-03
SILVER IS THE ISSUE
The Two Wings of the Finance Com
mittee Hold Separate Conferences.
THERE'LL BE TWO REPORTS
The Majority VIII Recommend a
Substitute Bill Which VIII Pro-
vide for Free and UnIlm-
tied Coinage at 10 tof

Washington. Jan. 2-The senat:
finance committee adjourned at 1880
until tomorrow. No action was taken
and no vote had. The bond bill was
discussed. but the tariff bill was not
taken up. Senators White and Wolcott
were not present. Senator Vest was
not present, 50 the free SILVER men and
the antt-silver men were tied.
After the regular meeting Of the com
mittee the republican members held a
conference. so also did the democrats.
Senate Jones of Nevada went with tho
democrats. as the conference was con-
sidered a silver conference, more than
anything else. The silver men unen-
imously decided to insist upon an
amendment in the nature OF an entire
substitute providing for the free coin
age OF silver. and the elimination of
all authority for the issuance of bonds
Senator Jones of Arkansas was dele
gated to prepare a measure in accord
ance with these views TO be submitted
to a full meeting of the committee as
soon as completed. There is hope that
the bill can receive final consideration
at the hands of the committee in time
to permit reporting 1t to she senate
tomorrow. but this may not be accom-
plished. Absentees will be paired when
the vote is reached in the committee.
The democratic and silver members
concluded their conference before ?
o'clock. but the republicans and anti
free silver coinage members continued
theirs during the afternoon. 1t is quite
definitely determined. however. that
they will make a minority report. The
majority of the republicans will oppose
fl,,a Of fba hill
morrow, but Will ask that the report be
postponed until Tuesday next They
consider the sencond section OF the bill
somewhat ambiguous. and they favor
that II be so altered as to restrict the
issuance of certificates of indebtedness
to $50. .000. 900 at one time. Senator Sher-
man suggested a change In the provi-
sion for the retirement of the green
backs, but the suggestion did not meet
with general favor. and II was not in
sisted upon.
The republicans. In their conference.
after the democrats withdrew. also dis
cussed the tariff bin at length. They
had before them all the amendments
wthich have been offered in the senate.
and devoted themselves 10 considering
the feasibility of % enending the bill
as to insure its passing. It was sug-
gested that some OF the Western re-
pubiicans, led by Senator Mitchell OF
Oregon, would demand the reztoration
of the full Mckinley duty ON wool. and
the senators concluded TO investigate
the probability OF strengthening the
measure by complying with this de-
mand. They gave like consideration to
the known wishes OF other senators
and, without deciding upon any
changes, concluded TO get an the light
they could obtain before proceeding TO
any definite course OF action on the
tariff.
While the silver members Of the COM
mittee have not decided upon the ex-
act phraseology Of ohe substitute which
they will present. ft is understood that
the wording In a general way. will fol-
low that OF the amendment offered by
Senator Jones of Arkansas. and the
resolution introduced by Senator Vest
The first section OF the Jones amend
ment will be changed 80 as to provide
for absolute free and unlimited collage
OF silver at Is to 1. Another provision
of the substitute will look 70 the issu-
ance OF silver certificates on the silver
dollars TO be coined under the first sec
tion. The issuance OF bank notes OF
denominations of less than $40 will be
prohibited: the secretary of the treasu-
ry will be directed to coin the silver
bullion now IN the treasury for the
purpose OF redeemlng the treasury
notes issued under the act OF 1890. and
provision will be made for the redemp-
tion Of the greenbacks IN either gold or
silver.