Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-12-27
WASHINGTON Letter

The ease with which the plan was de.
feated to force the currency bill through
the House before the holiday adjourn
ment, has largely increased the number
of those who doubt the passage OF any
currency bill at this session. The aban-
donment of the original bill and the re-
porting of a substitute was a confession
of weakness that also strengthened the
opposition. In addition to the repub-
licans and populists the bill has many
democratic opponents, among them such
parliamentary fighters as Bland of Mis-
souri,, chairman Of the Coinage Commit
tee, who thus states his opinion Of the
substitute: 1.-The changes are evidently
designed to overcome objections, bnt
they do not overcome the one vital OBJ
lection to putting the currency issues
of the country into the hands Of the
national banks. No change short of
eliminating national banks of issue will
make the bill approach an acceptable
form. In my judgment it is not going
to pass the House. am not prepared
to say that my substitute providing for
issue of coin and coin notes directly by
the government will pass, but it will
certainly be urged with yigor,and have
no doubt of it's commanding a very sub
stantial support
The friends Of the currency bill have
not decided what their plans will be-
when the House reassembles, Jan. 3.
Many of them left Washington before
President Cleveland returned from his
hunting trip, and Secretary Carlisle
preferred to consult his chief before
advising them. 1t is generally supposed
that democratic caucus will be held
as soon as the House meets again, and
that an attempt will be made to bind
those who attend to vote for the curren
cy bill that shall finally be approved by
the caucus, after voting on any proposed
amendments.
Representative McLaurin, of South
Carolina, doesn't like the administration
currency bill even little, and unlike
many democrats who are of the same
opinion, he speaks right out. He says,
among other things against the bill ::
This bill is filled with pitfalls and
quagmires, as are all the financial meas
ures which have passed Congress since,
1870. This is not Secretary Carlisle's
bill. That gentleman is simply the
stalking horse for Wall street. 1t bears
the made trademark of that locality
which is beginning 70 be recognized in
all parts of the Nation" Mr.. McLau-
rim closed his speech with an earnest
plea for the free coinage of silver.
Elk Gov. Campbell, Of Ohio, who is
at present in Washington on legal bust
ness, doesn't take a roseate view of the
outlook for Congressional legislation.
He said on the subject: "About all the
country expects of this Congress is to
pass the appropriation bills and adjourn.
n h, 1,,, ,uor1l h, thA fh,t,v
for Congress to act up to this expecta-
ton. 1t has been turned down by the
November verdict, and cannot be deem
ed great in the eyes of the Nation till
an opportunity has been given TO com
pare it with the Fifty fourth Congress"
Andrew Carnegie was in Washington
when Congress adjourned for the holt
day recess. He came to make sure that
Secretary Herbert had succeeded in his
efforts to kill the resolution which was
passed by the House, for the removal of
certain armor plates from naval vessels
and their subsection to tests in order to
ascertain whether the charges made in
the testimony before the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, during the in
vestigation at the last session, were true
Secretary Herbert had already tod
the Senator Naval Committee why be
did net wish the resolution passed by
the Senate, but there must have been
some unconvnced Senators, or Mr.. Car.
negie would not have honored Wash
ington with visit.
The administration has arrived at the
conclusion that the diferential duty on
sugar imported from countries which
pay an export bounty on sugar is a VIC.
lation of our treaty with Germany, and
as soon as Congress reassembles a bill
for its repeal, which has already been
introduced by Chairman Wilson, will be
tavorably reported from the Ways and
Means Committee and passed by the
House. 1t will, however, be difficult
task to get it through the Senate, not
because of opposition to the bill itself,
but because if it once gets before the
Senate it will cause reopening of the
whole question. 1t has been positively