Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Question OF TarIT TinkerinR In tho Com
ing Session.


ing Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. at Is probable
that there will be conference Of the demo-
cratic mem bers of the ways and means COM
mittee soon after Congress reassembles, to
determine whether the committee shall take
up and act ON any more separate tariff bills
or wait until the new ways and means COM
mittee of the SD Congress begins q general
revision of the tariff. There are several
separate tariff bills now on the house oalen-
dar, and the majority OF the ways and
means committee during the last session
held a number OF fruitless conferences TO de-
eide whether or not it should report the
free lumber, salt iron ore and refined sugar
bills.
Chairman Springer Of the committee said
to-day that he had not seen any OF his COL
leagues on the committee and therefore
could not now say what the committee
policy would be for tho remainder OF the
session. Unless the Senate shows some dis
position to notice tne free wool, free bind
ing Irvine and free bngging bills passed by
the House months ago, the indications are
that the ways and means committee in the
House will rest on its oars and await the
time when the democratic party gains con-
troll Of affairs.
Private hdvices From Brussels.
Secretary Charles Foster said this after
noon that he has private advices in regard
to the proceedings OF the International
monetary conference at Brussels to the eff
feet that the committee to which the Roths-
child plan was referred has reported modi-
fcations liberalizing that plan, but that the
conference has decided to first consider the
general question of BIZ metallism.
Secretary Fosters Own Opinion.
Secretary Foster regards the proceedings
OF the Brussels monetary conference as of
a practical character, indicating that tangi-
bic results will follow.
Tho fact that the gathering is attracting
&c much attention on both aides of the
ocean be considers proof that its delibera-
tions are looked upon as something more
than the academic character of those Of the
conferences of 1878 and 1881. The fact that
the gold supply of the world Ia hardly suffi-
Gent as basis of the monetary circulation,
he thinks, is beginning to be understood by
leading European statesmen as well as by
our own
That there should be n scramble by the
leading nations to get the gold and force
other countries to take the silver is natural,
but the secretary has been inclined to think
that if this country refrainel from encour-
aging
The Free Coinage Monom aniaon
all the powers must come to see that an in
ternational agreement for the use of silver
in combination with gold was their only
safety.
The proposition of Baron Rothschld, so
fer as it is limited to the purchase by the
European powers of $95, 900, 600 worth of
silver, Secretary Foster does not consider
very important. What he hopes is that
this amount will be increased by amend
ments proposed in the committee or in the
conferences.
The part OF Baron Rothschild's PROPOSE
ton which strikes him with the most favor
is that relating to the issue OF s notes re-
deemabe In silver. This was one of the
suggestions which the secretary discussed
with Chancellor Goschen when he made his
hurried trip to England last spring and it
is q scheme which il likely to open con-
siderahly wider market for silver in Great
Britain than now exists there, il it is adopt