Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04
FOR FREE COINAGE
Silver Substitute Reported by the
Finance Committee.
INTENDED TO DEFEAT THE TARIFF
Surprise Among the Members of the
Upper House.
DECIDED VIEWS EXPRESSED

DECIDED VIEWS EXPRESSED
The substitute for the House tariff BILL
a bill fer the free coinage of silver, reported
| by the Senate finance committee, was sug-
gested by Senator Vest, and was agreed to
by majority of one Senator Jones of Ne
| vada voting with the democrats for the SUBJ
stitute, and all the republicans present vot-
| ing against 1t. Senator Wolcott of Colorado
was the only republican absentee, and he
was recorded voting against the substi-
| tute. Senator Jones of Arkansas, the only
democratic member not present, was re-
| corded as voting for it.
The substitute agreed to is in the exact
words of the silver substitute for the bond
bill, which passed the Senate Saturday. 1t
provides for the free coinage Of silver at
the ratio of 10 to !; directs the immediate
coinage into standard dollars of the silver
seigniorIge In the treasury. accumulated by
the purchases under the Sherman act; pro-
hfbits the Issuance of national bank notes Of
a smaller denomination than $40, and directs
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 reissue greenbacks.
The meeting Of the committee did net
void OF espec!a! feature beyond the Offer
| ing and adoption of the substitute. The re-
publ.cans brought UP the tariff Dill and eX-
pressed a desire to get it out of commit
tee in come shape. When Mr.. Vest pro-
posed the silver substitute it was remark
ed that the Senate had already been
through one silver fight this session and
the opinion was expressed that another
contest could avail little or nothing. When,
however, the vote was taken and the re-
! suit known the republicans made no effort
| to delay the report to the Senate.
Disliked by Silver Republicans.
AS soon as the action of the committee
became klown It was recognized that the
| fate CT the bill would depend largely if not
entirely upon the way it would be received
by the silver republicans. The report
proved Il complete surprise to them and
wa. unfavorably received without excep-
ton SO far as could be discovered. They
two propositions, tariff md silver. sepa-
| rated and they Will gene'ally support SEN
ator Quay's motion to this effect.
Senators Express Plain Views.
The silver republicans seen expressed
themselves as follows:
Senator Mitchell (Oreg.)-It is a demo-
cratic move to defeat the tariff. 1 won't
vote fer it,
| Senator Pettigrew-I am against 1t. You
mandments on any bill that comes into the
Senate.
Senator Carter-The bill will be recon-
mitted and ought 10 be, with instructions
| to report tariff and the silver propositions
separately.
Senator Hansbrough-I will not vote for
| it as an amendment to the tariff bill.
senator Clark am surprised at the ac-
ton OF the committee. l would not say
| until l investigate the subject whether
Will voto for the substitute or not, but at
| first thought the committees work looks
to me like boyish play.
Senator Warren-I am not for it: it is not
| III the interest of silver.
Other Decided Opinions.
Senator Mantie-I am a silver man. and
1 may vote for the substitute However,
VIII not feel bound to do so if it becomes
apparent as the matter progresses that the
substitute is intended for no other pur-
pose than to beat the tariff bill.
Senator Wilson, am against the sub
Sttute
Senator Perkns-I voted consistently for
the silver substitute for the bond bill. in
accordance with tine wishes of my constitu-
ents, and even went to the extent of op-
posing all amendments offered to defeat it
but do not consider myself under obliga-
tions to support measure so evidently in
tended as is this for the purpose of defeat
ing tariff legislation. The tariff bill is an
emergency measure and the revenue which
it provides Is needed for the support Of che
government.
Senator Pritchard-I am a silver republic
can and in favor of tariff as well as silver
legisla ton. Hence 1 would feel it my duty
to oppose this substitute.
Senators Cannon and Brown of Utah de-
clined to be quoted, but it is understood
that they consider the subject as ineXpe-
dent with the tariff.
From the Democratic Standpoint.
There is some doubt as to the attitude of
the substitute of the finance committee
for the tariff bill. Several have said that
| they thought IT would be good way to de-
feat the tariff BILL but whether they will
carry out their plan to the extent of vot-
ing for free coinage remains to be seem
Some of the anti-Silver democrats are dis
tinctly opposed to any such plan and will
do all they can to prevent the free coinage
substitute passing.
Senator Villas said that he would do all
he could, so far as no harm was DONE to
defeat the tariff bill, which he regarded as
very atroclous piece of legislation. Sem
ator Smith of New Jersey said that he
thought the tariff bill was worse titan any
Morrison, and that every means possible
ought to be taken to defeat it.
VIII Consider Before Acting.
Senators Faulkner and Palmer said that
the anti-silver democrats We're enjoying
the dilemma Of the republicans and there
had been some jocular expressions of inten-
tons to vote for the free coinage substi-
tute in order to defeat the tariff bill, and
that plan was quite probable.
Senators German and Hill said they did
not know what would be the course of the
anti-silver democrats, but Mr. German did
not look with much favor upon the propo-
sition to vote for the free coinage substi-
tute, and said that the democrats would
probably weigh the matter with a great
deal Of care before taking any action
Although the final vote on the silver SUBJ
sttute to the tariff bill is in great deal of
doubt, there seems to be a very general
opinion that the resolution of Senator Quay
will be defeated. as it is asserted that all
the democrats and the populists will vote
against 1t. If this is true the motion can
not carry and the contest will come direct
ly upon the substitute.