Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-22
What Three Members of the Ap-
preparation Committee Say.
VIEWSUPON THE FINANCIAL SITUATION
One Southern Member Wants Free
Coinage and One Doesn't.
THE w A L K E r P l. A n

The House committee on appropriations
got to work informally today to begin the
preparation of appropriation bills. They
take UP the pension bill first. and expect
to have that ready very soon after Con-
gress ensembles. Members Of the commit
tee have not met before since the adjourn
ment of last session, and good deaf OF
time was consumed in the discussion of
questions rising out Of the political situa-
ton and the relating of experiences Of the
campaign.
Three Different Opinions.
Even in so small an assemblage as a
single committee the difference of opinion
between democrats is very strongly mark
ed. A representative Of The Star talked
With three democratic members Of the COM
mittee. Messrs. Washington. Livingston
and O'Neil. and got three different views
as to what caused it," what ought to be
done at this session and what probably
would be DONE Mr. Livingston said that
he was very confident that bill for the
free and unlimited coinage of silver would
be passed by both houses of Congress at
this session, giving Mr.. Cleveland chance
to veto 1t. Mr.. Washington expressed the
opinion that this ought not to he and
would not be done. He did not -hink that
any one could at this time have any def
mite idea what might be done at the COM
Ing ScSSlOn, out ne was very strongly Oh
the opinion that a bill repealing the 10 per
cent tax on state bank currency would be
passed. He said that there was a demand
In the south for this, and that If such
bill were passed there will be no more
crying after free coinage os silver. Mr..
O'Neil said that the democrats ought at
once to adopt the financial plan laid down
Nm IN measure prepared ky Representative
which makes gold instead of bonds the
basis OF national bank currency. The
three men differed as radically in their
judgment as to what caused the democratic
tion.
Should Adopt the Walker Plan.
Enlarsing upon the proposition that the
Walker financial scheme should be adopt
ed. Mr.. O'Neil said that he was opposed
to an increase of the public debt, and that
the necessity for a bond issue to replcnish
the gold In the treasury was an evidence
o. the weakness of our present financial
system He did not critiCise the Secretary
OF the Treasury for issuing the bonds, but
deplored the necessity and criticised a sys-
tenn which occasioned the necessity. He
said that the second issue of bonds furnish
ed evidence of the truth of what was said
temporary expedient and that the gold got
In this way is Immediately dIssipated
egain.
.'The right thing to do" he said.'"is to
difference about Walker being a republic
can, his plan Is, in my judgment the very
best that has been presented, and this Con-
gress should not hesitate a minute about
adopting 1t. If the democrats do not adopt
1t this session, / feel quite confident that
the republicans will at the next. This plan.
instead of increasing the public debt would
ultimately wipe out the interest-bearing
obligations and retire the greenbacks What
Walker proposes is that the banks shall
deposit gold on which to base their circu-
lation. and shall have issued to them, dol
lar for dollar, notes for circulation, max
Ing these deposits of gold take the place of
the bonds row required by the national
bank laws as security. But a small Der
cent Of the gold thus deposited with the
government Is reserved for redemption
purposes, and the rest is kept in circula-
ticn by being used for the retrci.ent %
bonts and greenbacEs, or for aEy other
purpose which tie needs Of the government
demand. In a general way the pror osit,rn
Is To have an abundant currency bnsed on
coin, and to keep all the money In motion
so as to have ii earn its own living in
stead Of being locked up moldy and use
less In the treasury vaults"
Against Free Coinage.
Representative Washington, in evidenc.
Of his assertion that the people in the
south would be satisfied with other cur
rency, and would not adhere to tn, do,-
trine of the free coinage of silver, If they
could be furnished a currency in some
other way. said that in his district In
Tennessee he made his canvass In opposi-
tion to the free coinage of silver ard In
favor of the repeal of the state bank tax,
and Notwithstanding the peculiar ccndi-
tons existing I'm this campaign he was
elected by his normal majority of GU0O
Judge Patterson, Representative from the
same state, fought against free silver and
was elected by large majority, whereas
Snodgrass. who warned Patterson that he
would have tC account to the people of
Tennessee for voting for the repeal of the
Sherman law, was himself defeated, though
he from first to last advocated the free
coinage of silver