New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-28
DEMOCRATS ,SHUN THE LIGHT.
MORE DARK-LANTERN" METHODS IN TIE
HOUSE.
INFORMATION ABOUT STATE BANKS NOT WANTED,
AS 1T MIGHT FURNISH REPUBLICAN
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUNE.I
Washington, Oct. 27.-The House Of Representa-
tives seldom INDUCES in a more extraordinary per-
Torrance than It did to-day. when a majority or
the Democrats present. under the leadership OF
Messrs McMiilin Turner. Cuberson. Cobb OF Ala
bama and Hall. OF Missouri stubbornly resisted
the passage Of a resolution reported by Mr.
Springer the Democratic chairman OF the Bank
ing and Currency Committee OF the House. call
ing upon the Democratic Secretary OF the Treas-
ury for information bearing upon a matter or
legislation proposed and advocated by Democrats
to carry out one OF the pledges Of the Democratic
platform. The opposition was carried to such
point that the passage Of the resolution to-day was
prevented by the lack OF a quorum. The point OF
no quorum was made by Mr. Allen. Mississippi
Democrat The resolution was one calling upon
the Secretary Of the Treasury for information re-
atng to the operations Of the old State banks and
to the laws and regulations Of the several states
in regard TO such institutions in 1860 and ls93-n-
formation which is not only pertinent but e&-
ceedingly important. il not absolutely necessary
for Congress to have in view OF pending iegisi'-
ton for the repeal Of the tax State bank cir
culation and the rehabilitation OF State banks
FEARING LIGHT on THr PAST.
The advoca'es Of repeal. who are anxious TOT n
return of the good old Democratic times when
the country was flooded with wildcat and req
dog" bank notes. evidently feared that the publ
cation OF any information In regard to the cur
rency Of those halcyon days would mar their pros
pects of success, and they fought the resolution
tooth and nail They were determined that no
light should be shed upon the past II they coun
prevent IT, and their speeches and votes were tan
tamount to a confession that the whole experience
of the State bank period was destitute OF a single
incident or feature which would induce any honest
and intelligent legislator in Congress to-day 70 cast
n vote for the revival Of the system they advocate
Indeed Mr. Hall. OF Missouri. who opened the ue'
1an1ar n1
words that the information sought would Dc uSeiu'
only to the opponents Of State banks. IT was IN
formation, he said a portion OF which hau pee''
compiled and used an argument against one
of the financial planks Of the Democratic plat
FORM and he became considerably excited on
account of this Republican campaign document
as he STYLED the partial report submitted IN
January 1893 in response to Senate resolution
OF the last Congress. Mr. Hall was 50 excited that
he did not seem to realize how funny ne was "heh
he animated that the present Secretary OF inc
Treasury would supply a Democratic House with
Republican campaign material II that pody shou''
give him the opportunity by adopting the pending
resolution His argument In favor or Congress
legisating in the dark when light was accesSio'e
was vehement, but not otherwise Impressive Vi
strong.
Mr.. Turner. of Georgia, was also in deep
trouble as his speech showed. not only on
account OF the fear that Secretary carlisle
would unload a mass Of Republican campaign
material upon the House. but because MS reply
would be merely compilation OF Information
from unofficial sources: because many OF the facts
asked for could not be ascertained. and If ascer,
tained would only hinder and obstruct the repeal
resolution would cause the indefinite postponemsnt
Of the b to Tepea the s@s S our 10 take
leap in the dark or return to a discarded system II,
experience in relation thereto, but he might as
well have done so 1t came out In the course OF his
mttee on Banking and Currency by Mr. Warner
OF New-York. who Is an ardent advocate OF repeal.
House to-day tried 10 take advantage Of this when
they argued that the resolution TOO broad and
to almost everything to bolster their position Mr.
adopt eGs the "a" committee by the combned votes
of Democrats and Republicans opposed to repeal
sp 'sf HAN h the Of epub
licans In House committees ought not to be
counted.
Mr.. M'MLLIN's BLrNDER.
1t was reserved for Mr.. McMillin. however, to
put his foot in it, TO the greatest depth. lie
amplined Mr. Turner's argument that the Treasury
Department never had anything to do officially
with State banks. and therefore barred from
official Information respecting them lie strongly
intimated that no Secretary OF the Treasury ever
had any business to know anything about state
banks. 1t is one OF Mr.. McMllins strong peculari-
ties to assume a fact something that he doesn't
know much II anything about, and which usually
prominent than to-day. or course he did not know
until Mr.. Sperry. OF Connecticut twho made an *
official document published within the last few
months and which Is accessible to everybody in
Washington. that in July 1892 when Andrew Jack
President and both branches Of Congress
Democratic. resolution was adopted by the
House OF Representatives. which mad Democratic
majority of forty-scyen, requiring the Secretary OF
the Treasury 10 report 'at the next and each sue
cessivc session of Congress" returns giving
riety Of information relating 10 State banks.
In accordance with that resolution returns were
made Congress by the Secretary OF the Treas
for every until 1863 with the exception Of
five years. The Democratic majority In the House
Of Representatives in Andrew Jacksons day seems
TO have been composed OF different sort OF states
men from Mr.. McMillin and the ifty-seven other
Democrats who voted with him to-day The former
did not deliberately choose darkness rather than
light. Messrs. Turner and McMillin appear TO
have become enamoured OF ark lantern meth
DDS in the Ways and Means Committee that they
would be glad 10 have them applied 10 other com.
mittees. and. II possible. TO the House itself.
Strong speeches. In favor OF the resolution were
made by Chairman Springer and Mr. Sperry Dem
ocrats and Messrs. Johnson. Dinsey and Blair
Republicans When Ex-Governor Dingley said that
III this resolution is rejected the country will believe
=