The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-05
Another Free Coinage Substi-
tute in the Senate.
INSTEAD OF TARIFF BILL
It Is Identical With the Bond
Bill Substitute.
THE REPUBLICANS OPPOSE IT
They Declare That it is a Democratic
Scheme to Side-Track and De-
feat the Pending Tariff

Bill
Washington, Feb. 1.-The free coin
age substitute for the House tariff bill,
agreed upon by the Senate Finance
committee, was suggested by Senator
Vest and was agreed to by a majority
of one, Senator Jones, of Nevada, Vot-
ing with the Democrats for the sub
stitute and all the Republicans present
voting against it.
Senator Wolcott, of Colorado, was
the only Republican absentee and he
was recorded as voting against the
substitute, Senator Jones, of Arkan-
sas, the only Democratic member not
present was recorded 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 on Saturday. 1t provides for
the free coinage of silver at the ratio
of 1G to i, directs the immediate coin
age into standard dollars of the silver
seigniorage in the Treasury, accumu-
lated by the purchases under the Sher-
man act; prohibits the issuance OF ma
tional bank notes of a smaller denomi-
nation than SO, and directs the Sec
retary of the Treasury TO redeem
greenbacks and Treasury notes in
either gold or silver exclusively at the
option of the Secretary and reissue
greenbacks.
The meeting of the committee did
not last to exceed half an hour and
was devoid of special feature beyond
the Offering and adoption of the sub
stitute The Republicans brought up
the tariff bill and expressed a 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
opinion was expressed that another
contest could avail little or nothing
When, however, the vote was taken
and the result known the Republicans
made no effort to delay the report to
tn 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
a complete surprise 10 them and was
unfavorably received without eXcep-
ton so far as could be discovered.
The silver Republicans seen, express
ed themselves as follows:
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon-"It is q
Democratic move to defeat the tarlff.
/ won't vote for it"
Senator Pettigrew am against it.
You might just as well try TO put the
ten commandments on any bill that
comes into the Senate"
Senator Carter-"The bill will he re-
committed, and ought to be, with in
structions to report the tariff and the
silver propositions separately.
Senator Hansborough-"1 will not
vote for it as an amendment to the
tariff BILL
Senator Clark--"I am surprised at
| the action of the committee. ! could
not say until / investigate the subject
whether / viii vote for the substitute
or not. At first thought, the commit
tees work looks to me like boyish
play"
Senator Warren-''I am not for it.
IT is not in the interest of silver"
Senator Mantle-'I am a silver man
and / may vote for the substitute.
However, will not feel bound TO do so
if it becomes apparent, as the matter
progresses, that the substitute is in
tended for no other purpose than to
beat the tariff bill"
Senator Perkins-'I voted consist
entity for the silver substitute, for the
bond bill, in accordance with the wish
es of my constituents, and even went
to the extent of opposing all amend
ments offered to defeat it. but do not
consider myself under obligations to
support a measure SO evidently intend
ed as this, for the purpose of defeat
ing the tariff legislation"
Senator Pritchard-"l am silver Re
publican and in favor Of tariff as well
as silver legislation. Hence, ! would
feel it my duty to oppose this sub
stitute"