Year: 1879

A BLACK EYE FOR THE SILVER BILL.
THAT MEASURE NOT YET PURIFIED OF ALL IT'S


wICKEDNEss, BUT THE JOB AIMED AT IN IT


PARTIALLY DEFEATED.


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


WASHINGTON. May 2O.-The fate of the Silver
bill was rendered more uncertain than ever by the
proceedings in the House to-day which resulted to
the advantage of the Republicans and the few hon
ost-money Democrats.


As soon as the bill was taken up, the pending mo-
tion being the adoption of the third section, Mr..
Conger moved to lay the third section on the table.
llr. Warner, who had charge of the bill, had re-
fused to allow Mr. Forts substitute for that section
to be offered as an amendment. If this motion had
prevailed the bill would have been killed; but it
was lost by four votes.


The question then recurring on the adoption ofthe
third section, the Democrats still refused to allow
n vote on Mr.. Forts amendment The Republicans
refrained from voting and deprived the House of
Quorum The friends of the bill then concluded,
after wasting considerable time, to allow vote on
the amendment which provides that silver bullion
may be deposited at the Mint and the owner
thereof receive its market value mot exceeding
par in standard silver dollars. The amendment
was lost by thirteen votes This result was due to
the action of the hard-lnoney men, enough of whom,
like Mr.. Chittenden, L. p. Morton and Generals
Hawley, joyce and Einstein, voted against it to
cause its defeat They believed that if this amend
ment were adopted il would ensure the passage of
the bill by engaging the support of number of
Republicans who would otherwise vote against it.


The third section, which is the most vicious one
in this vicious measure. then adopted by a vote
OF 113 to 10; and Mr. Warner felt that his triumph
complete.


BUTT was a short lived triumph indeed. Mr.
Marsh, of Illinois, offered amendment to the
Ill, Tlo
charges for converting gold and silver bullion into
coin shall be the difference between the market
value in New-YOrk City of the bullion and the legal
tender value of the coin." This brought out DIS
tincty the issue between the interests Of the bull
ion-holders and those of the Government Some
OF the silver men when brought to this point felt
compelled to support the amendment. To the sur
prise Of every body and the manifest confusion of
General Warner and his friends, this amendment
was adopted by vote of III to 105. This action
was clinched by vote TO table motion TO recon
slider, which was carried by the same majority
call Of the ayes and nays. All the Republicans. and
such honest money Democrats as Messrs. Bliss,
Covert Morse, Wood and others, voted for it. This
unexpected check completely demOralized AlT.
Warner and his cOadiutOrs.


The Republicans applauded the result vigorously.
a shout of laughter from them greeted the motion
to adjourn which was Immediately made by Mr..
Warner who was laboring under great excitement.
The motion to adjourn opposed by the Repub-
lcans, but the frightened Democrats succeeded in
Jaying enough votes TO carry il and thus TO cover
their retreat While they may now feel compelled
10 abandon the fourth section altogether there is
strong feeling the Democrats in favor of ac-
ceptIng it as amended. Whether they do this or
not is of comparatively little moment. The mischief
of the bill is III its third section. Supposng the
Marsh amendment to be incorporated in the bill it
will simply prevent the deposit of any bullion what
ever at the mint for purposes of coinage for holders
will not be likely to pay fine Of per cent for the
coinage Of their silver bullion when they
have the alternative of depoSlting 1t in the
Treasury and receiving its full value in silver
tfcates and as the bill also prohibits coinage OF
any silver on account of the Government, another
effect of the amendment would be to prevent the
coinage of any more standard silver dollars at all


If the Democrats remain until tomorrow IN the
demoraIized condition in which the adjournment
found them to-day, even ifthey do not, the Re-
publicans will try to force the lighting on the War
neT bill by motion 10 send 1T to the COMMITTEE OF
the Whole where 1t will be open to amendments
ad infinitum The Republicans are sangulne that
if this motion is carried they VIII be able so to
emasculate the bill that 1t Will be comparatively
harmless If all the members who are opposed TO
the BILL and who are not paired, are present. there
is doubt thar 1t can be defeated at once Efforts
are being made 10 secure the return OF the absentees
and some of them will probably be in their seats to-
morrow


Chairman Buckner, of the Committee on Banking
and Currency, believes tonight that tue warner
Silver bill will not pass the House, and he has pre-
pared a bill which, in that event, he will offer as
compromise. The bill contains three propositions:
o. The Government 10 enjoy the profit of coinage
~ Free coinage whenever bullion and coin are
both at par CD The minimum Of coinage of stand
ard silver dollars to be 81 100000 a month. This
is the maximum amount under the present law.
The Committee on Banking and Currency Will not
feel very badly if the Warner bill is defeated, as
that will give the committee opportunity 10
bring forward a measure of its own. and thus per
haps TO gain q victory over the COnInttee on
Coinage. which presented the Warner bill 10 the
House. The friends Of honest money ought not, at
all events to regret this rivalry between these two