The Farmers' Alliance

FOR FREE BINDING TWINE

A Bill Agreed Upon by the Democrats
of a House Committee.

REPORT OF THE MINORITY.

Anti-Silver Committeemen Give Reasons
for Opposing the Bland Bill—Reciproc-
ity Negotiations
with
Canada
Terminated.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.—The Democrats of the ways and means committee decided to report a bill placing upon the free list "all binding twine manufactured in whole or in part from tampico fiber, jute, manilla, sisal grass or sunn." The original bill upon this subject was introduced by Representative Bryan of Nebraska and this gentleman was the chairman of the sub-committee which prepared the committee bill agreed upon.

The silver men have secured upwards of 120 Democratic signatures to their petition asking that the rules committee bring in a special order for the silver bills. There are 238 Democrats in the house so the silver men have secured a majority. They say they have received assurances from members of the rules committee that they would do what was shown to be the will of a majority of the Democrats in the house, but it is not likely that the committee will meet for some days, as the speaker is sick and Mr. Catchings is absent from the city. It is probable that a special order on the tariff will be brought in at practically the same time as the order relative to silver.

When the committee of ways and means met the three bills agreed upon by a majority of the committee placing wool, binding twine, cotton bagging and cotton ties on the free list and reducing the duty on manufactured woolen goods, were laid before it for action by Chairman Springer. Mr. Burrows, on behalf of the Republican members, asked why they had not been asked to attend the meetings of the sub-committees to discuss the bills, and Springer replied that a majority thought such a course unnecessary. He was satisfied that the members were fully aware of the provisions of the bills. Burrows called for a yea and nay vote upon the approval of the bills and they were approved by a strict party vote.