The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrOm Our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON. D. c.. December I. 1894.
The democratic Senators have made ear |
nest efforts this week to agree upon pro-
gram for the session. Two conferences have
been held for the exchange of views, but the
same old obstacle to harmony-too many
different views and too many would-be lead
ers-still stands in the way. There is still
hope, however, that some sort of an agree
ment will be reached, but it is altogether too
much like the hope indulged in by very
sick man that he will get we'll, to please those
democrats who have no sympathy with the
attitude assumed by certain Senators elected
as democrats, at the last session, and which
is still maintained by them. They then
adopted a rule or ruin policy and notwith-
standing the ruin which their rule has al
ready accomplished they still stick to it.
The democrats of the House have deferred
holding their caucus until next week SO as
to give the Senators time in which to decide
what is TO be done, or attempted, at this
session.
That the democrats in Congress are doing
some hard thinking on the financial plan
proposed by Secretary Carlisle and endorsed
by President Cleveland is shown by their re-
luctance to commit themselves at this time
either for or against the proposed plan. The
short time at their disposal will, OF course,
increase the chances against the adoption OF
such comprehensive financial measure, al
though there is disposition on the part OF
Southern democrats TO try to pass bill en-
bodying that part of the plan that provides
Of fho nf
State banks as may adopt the regulations
provided from Federal taxation. President
Cleveland says he considers the plan pro-
posed by Secretary Carlisle as the most
statesmanlike financial document ever SUBJ
mitted to Congress, and that he proposes to
stand by it to the end of his term.
A subcommittee of the House committee
on Banking and Currency was appointed at
the last session to consider the numerous
hills before that committee and to formulate
either from them or as an original measure,
something to take the place OF the nauonal
banking law. Representative Cox, OF Ienn-
essee- is chairman of this subcommittee
and the other democratic members are Cul-
hertsou. of Texas, and Cobb, of Missouri,
the Republicans being Brosius, OF Pennsyl- l.
vauia. and Haugen of Wisconsin. Mr.. Cox
saws the subcommittee will hold daily meet
iugs until it has agreed to some measure to
he reuorted to the full committee or has
demonstrated the impossibility of reaching
such an agreement. In addltlon 10 the
financial bills introduced at the last session
the subcommittee will consider the plan Tor
increasing the currency OF the Natlonai
hanks and for the exemption OF the State
bank currency from Federal taxation, unoer
specified conditions, proposed by Secretary
Carlisle and endorsed by President CleVe-
land. Unless there is very decided change
in the attitude of members of the commlttee
there is very little probability of an agree
ment being reached, more's the pity Ior
something ought to be done.
Chairman Bland, of the House Coinage
committee, says he will endeavor to get that
committee to report his free coinage Dill to
the House, and that if the committee does SC
the bill will certainly pass the House. While
il is known that a majority OF the coinage
committee favor free coinage, there are sew
eral of them who would not vote to report
the bill to the House at the last session, ne
cause they knew it could not possibly become
a law. Whether any of these gentlemen
have changed their minds remains to be seen
Notwithstanding the black eye given the
Nicaragua canal bill by the failnre of Presi
dent Cleveland to endorse it in his message
the friends of that measure are preparing tt
make determined effort to push it through
the House. Its principal opponents are
democrats who believe the measure to be
unconstitutional, aud who say they will de
feat it if possible.