St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-05
SENATE COMMITTEE UNExPECT-
EDLY REPORTS BACK A SILVER
SUBSTITUTE.
1T GETS A MAJORITY OF ONE
IN THE COMMITTEE, JONES, OF
NEVADA, CASTING HIS VOTE
WITH THE DEMOCRATS.
WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL DE
No One Knows, but 1t Is Said That
Silver Republicans Will Not
Support 1t.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The finance
committee of the senate agreed to re-
port for the tariff bill substitute pro-
viding for the free coinage of silver.
The substitute was suggested by SEN
ator Vest, and was agreed to by
majority of one, Senator Jones, of Ne
vada, voting with the Democrats for
the substitute, and all the Republicans
present voting against it. Senator Wal
colt, Of Colorado, was the only Repub-
ican absentee and he was recorded as
voting against the substitute. Sena-
tor Jones, of Arkansas, the only Dem
ocratic member absent, was recorded
as voting for it. The substitute agreed
to is in the exact words of the sill
yer substitute for the bond bill, which
passed the senate on Saturday 1t pro-
vided for the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to ]; directs the i'm
mediate coinage into standard dollars
Of the silver seigniorage in the treas
ury accumulated by the purchases un-
der the Sherman act; prohibits the is
suance of national bank notes of a
smaller denomination than $40, and di-
rects the secretary of the treasury to
redeem greenbacks and treasury notes
in either gold or silver exclusively at
the option of the secretary and to re-
issue greenbacks.
The meeting of the committee did not
last to exceed half an hour, and was
devoid of especial feature beyond the
offering and adoption of the substitute.
The Republicans brought up the tariff
bill, and expressed desire to get it
out of committee in some shape. When
Mr.. Vest proposed the silver substitute
it was remarked that the senate had
already been through one silver fight
this session, and the belief was ex-
pressed that another contest could avail
little or nothing. When, however the
vote was taken and the result known
the Republicans made no effort to de-
lay the report to the senate.
AS soon as the action of the COM
mittee became known it was recog-
niZed that the fate Of the bill would
depend largely if not entirely upon the
way it would be received by the silver
Republicans. The report proved COM
plete surprise to them and was un-
favorably received without exception so
far as could be discovered. They i'm
mediately began a. movement to have
the two propositions, tariff and silver,
separated and they win generally sup
port Senator Quay's motion to this eff
feet. The silver Republicans generally
declare that they will vote against the
bill, declaring that they favor tariff,
as well as silver, and declining to do
anything which will block tariff legis-
lation. Among the silver senators who
expressed themselves to this effect were
Mitchell, Pettigrew, Carter. Hans
brough, Warren, Mantle, Wilson, Per-
kins and Phichard. Although the re-
suit of the final vote on the silver SUBJ
stitute to the tariff bill is in a great
deal of doubt there seems to be a very
general opinion that the resolution of
Senator Quay Will be defeated, as 1t is
asserted that all the Democrats and all
the Populists will vote against 1t. If
this. is true, the motion cannot carry
and the contest will come directly
upon the substitute. Some sound
money Democrats are inclined to sup
port the Quay motion, but most Of them
take the position that they should vote
against the motion as means of kill
ing the tariff bill
The senate devoted an half hour to
clearing away routinebusiness and then
Mr.. Morrill,, chairman of the finance
committee, secured recognition to re-
port back the tariff bill. He read in
somewhat tremulous voice the original
title and then the new title as report
ed AN act to provide for the free
coinage of silver" etc. Mr.. Morrill,
smiled as he added: IT am disposed
in presenting this to. add the conclu-
sion of official proceedings in Massa-
chusetts, and may God save the COM
monwealth.' was not in favor of the
action taken by the committee on
finance, but now that the bill is here
I will endeavor to call it up tomor-
row." There had been much confu-
sion through the ecftamber. but there
was hush as Mr.. morrill, proceeded
and a general laugh at his reference
to the Massachusetts proceedings
Mr.. Quay had fremained standing
while Mr.. Morrills spoke, and at once
followed with a motion to re-commit
the bill and substitute back to the
finance committee with Instructions
tn report the original bill and amend