The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-05
Ratified THE REPUBLICANS.
THE SENATE COMMITTEES ACTION
ON THE TARIFF 4 SURPRISE.

They Did Not Relieve n Free silver
Measure Would he substituted for
the ThrIG BiII-Scnntor morrill, In
sisted ON Final Action by the Com
mittee One Way or the Other-The
Vote in Detail.
Washington. Feb. THE action OF the
Senate committee on finance this morn
ing in substituting a provision for the
free coinage Of silver for the tariff bill.
was unexpected TO the republican mem
beers of that committee. for they did not
believe. as one of them remarked after
the meeting adjourned. the silver men
would carry out their threat OF substi-
tuting silver for every proposition that
same before that committee. The absen-
tees were Senators Wo,cott and Jones of
Arkansas. but it was agreed that every
senator should be recorded on any vote
that was taken. Shortly after the COM
mittee met at II O'Clock. Mr.. morrill,. the
chairman, announced that he and his
republican associates were determined
that the tariff bill should be reported to
the Senate to-day i'm some shape. either
as it came from the House with amend
ments or adversely. Action. final and
definite, so far as the committee was con-
cerned. must be had and he called upon
the members to make their wishes known.
Then Mr. Vest of Missouri, said that
the matter had been discussed by the sill
yer men of the committee and they be
lieved that the proper disposition OF the
subject was to be found IN a motion
which he would make. He then moved 10
strike out all after the enacting clause
and substitute therefor a provision for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
This motion prevailed by the following
votes:
For the substitute Messrs. Jones of
Nevada, pop; voorhees, of Indiana, Har-
riS of Tennessee, Vest of Missouri,
Jones of Arkansas White of California,
and Walthall Of Mississippi-all demo-
Against the observation-disclosures Morrill,
of Vermont, Sherman of Ohio, Allison Of
Iowa. Aldrich of Rhode Island, Plat OF
Connecticut and Wolcott of Colorado
republicans. Total. 6.
Mr.. 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 favor
of the bill as IL came from the House
With Mr. Wolcott so voting. the major
ity for the substitute Is One-that situa-
ton being made possible through the ac-
ton of Mr.. Jones of Nevada, who has
heretofore acted in unison with the re-
publicans on the tariff question.
The republicans will refrain from de-
batting the bill TO any great extent, con-
tenting themselves with a brief state
ment of their reasons for supporting the
measure. If there Is protracted debate, II
VIII be the Outgrowth Of a desire on the
part OF those opposed to the tariff meas
ure 10 postpone the final vote. The repub-
leans, while protesting to believe that
they can pass the bill, seem to have
reached a point where they are willing
to permit the silver element of the Senate
to do anything of which il may be capa-
bic, and for which IL may have the
strength, so that the country may know
IN whose hands the power in the Senate
lies. They will therefore urge speedy ac-
ton, so that the result may be definitely
determined and the question, so far as
TINS congress Is concerned, disposed of
finally.
During the day the silverite republicans
had ample opportunity to confer together
about the action of the finance commit
tee and there is reason to believe that
they Will almost unanimously vote to kin
the substitute reported to the Senate be-
lieving it is not in the interest but disad-
Vantageous to the silver cause. Many sem
ators expressed their intention of support
instructions to separate the subject mat
ter and bring in two different bills, but
the democrats, on both sides, of the silver
question will vote against this.
While the silver republicans will thus
probably not support the committee free
coinage substitute, II looks as If the adj
ministratiOn men in the Senate who have
to fasten that sort of Legislation upon the
tariff bill for the purpose of killing 1t, on
the ground that the end Justifes the
means.