The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-29

CHAIRMAN sFRINGER OF THE Committee ON
BANKING AID FINANCE
vance that the committee would report
in favor Of the Carlisle bill Neverthe-
less they deliberated two weeks and
heard testimony which makes a printed
volume of $40 pages. then reported with
out even considering the bill In full
committee Tt was said at the start there
were III opinions in the com n1ittee and
there would be more opinions if there
were more members, but the minority
got together much quicker than the ma
joritv and not only voted solidiy against
reporting the bill at all, hut carried two
Democrats with them. So the vote stood
do s. and two Of the nine only voting
to report in order to get the matter dis
cussed, and thus it appears THAT the bill
vas Handicapped from the start.
The wild guesses and sudden changes
of opinion on the prospects of this bill
have been remarkable, even with our pre-
vious experience of this congress At
first there was general and sneering
laugh 1t the very idea Of this congress
adopting the Baltimore plan or any
thing like it. But no sooner had presi-
del5 and secretary Endorsed it than it
gained friends 50 rapidly as to cause Mr..
Springer to prophesy that it would 60
through the house before the holidays
Contemporary with this advance in the
house was a retrogression on the part Of
the bankers, many Of whom, if not a
majority, discovered that they did not
approve of the Baltimore plan, with Car
Isle amendments, and Of all those who
testified not more than two were siren
uous for the Carlisle plan, even with
notifications. Within two days after
the bill was reported to the house it
was evident that every Republican and
many Democrats would vote against it.
As to the PoPulists. of course they are
opposed to all banks Of issue. In the
very opening of the fight, therefore, the
Democrats suddenly shifted their line
and went into action with the left in
front. Chairman Springer led. and Mr.
Walker followed for the minority, and
then the Hon. Uriel Sabree Hall Of Mis-
souri,. next IN command to Chairman
Springer, refused his line, - as we used
TO say 30 years ago, and began to talk
about the substitute bill, which made
the previous speech on that side appear
quite NAL apropos.
Congressman Walker on Finance.
1t soon appeared, however that the
minority. though unanimous against
the Carlisle bin. was far from being SO
ia favor OF the Walker bill. It IS so
hard for the unseientific mind to mas
for my part I would rather take q de-
cent whipping than study one out-that
7 took the short course and Went to Mr..
Walker with three questions:
docs your bill aim to throw the bur
den Of maintaining specie payment on
the bankss''
my bill throws no burden On any
body which they are not willing to as
sumo. lit invites the bankers to assume
the duty of maintaining coin payments
and makes it their interest to do so.
Under my bill there viii be more gold
and silver in use and at less expense
than under the present system, which
practically makes it to the interest Of
the banks not to aid in keeping the coin
in use. The whole weight falls on the
treasury. Under my bill it would not,
and yet both gold and silver would be
more ID evidence.
Glow does the treasury now maintain
the gold standard with SO little gold
against SO much paper?''
1T is by suferance only. But first
fix in your mind the fact that it is not
the gold in the treasury that does it. It
IS the general knowledge Of the people
that there is very much more gold IN the
country. Let that gold go cut Of Use or