Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-18
CURRENCY MATTERS.
New Bill May Pass Hous, But Will
Fail in Senate.
Courtesy Of the Senate Becoming Thing Of
Past-H6Iman's Book.


nnitteo on banking and currency, with
Secretary Carlisle, Comptroller Eckels and
a number of leading bankers Of the coun-
try giving talks on the proposed reform of
rho rrrcncy system. These hearings have
becn held in the room of the committee Oh
says and means, and by some it is con-
sidcrcd significant that they should be
held there, where all the great tariff bills
have been prepared Nothing could en-
phosize to better advantage the fact of
which we in Washington have already be-
como cCnscious-that the tariff Is at least
temporarily III the background and cur
rcncy questions taking its place as the
leading issue Of the day. Veterans about
tho capitol say Secretary Carlisle never
spoke to better advantage than when he
appeared before the committee in defense
of his plan. He was as nearly eloquent
as man can DO with such dry subject,
and it was evident he was terribly In
earnest. There IL theory here thcS Car
Isles future may depend to n large extent
upon bis SUCCESS in this matter. Many
persons believe he Is the choice of Mr..
Cleveland for the next presidential nCmi-
nntin Of his party, and that he may sue
coed If no can carry this proposed currency
seform through congress.
Currency Prospects.
In the opinion of many members of the
houre and senate with whom your corre-
spondcnt has talked, Il currency bill will
pass the popular branch of congress, but
fail In the senate. As matters look now
nothing can so through the upper branch
which the Republicans object to, and the
Republicans appear to bc unanimously op-
posed to any legislation that might be
said to bo Of u party nature at this session.
If they persist in this they Will easily be
able to prevent action, for il is settled the
rules OF tho senate gro not to be changed
at this session. The Republican princi
pic is that while reform OF the rules must
como in time tho change should not be
made for the purpose of putting through
any given measure. They say they will
change tho rules after awhile, but not TO
take effect at the session duringwhich the
change is made.
1t Is remarkable fact that neither the
Republicans nor the Democrats care to
have nominal control of the senate for
some time to come. A prominent Demo
cratic senator said today that his side of
the chamber would DO glad to give up
control Of the senate If they could. THE
trouble is" said he, that while we ap-
pear to be In majority, and therefore are
held responsible by the country, as mat
ter of fact we are powerless to do anything
except what the Republicans arc willing
to permit us to do. If they were in nomi-
nal control, they would be in the same
fix. Responsibility without power does
not work very well, as every one knows. "
On account Of this peculiar state of facts
no one would be surprised il the two par.
ties would run race with each other after
the 4th of March next, not to SEQ which
shall control the senate, but which shall
evado control and responsibility.
Something of u Myth.
Tho traditional courtesy of the senate, -
about which we have heard so much, ap
pears to be good deal of myth. A day
or two ago, fer instance, Scntor Palmer
was making speech. He had just nicely
started and worked up his preliminary
and reached his climax when in the very
middle Of his most important sentence he
was interrupted by Mr.. Harris, who was
in the chair.
"Tho hour of O'Clock having arrived" "
said tho temporary vice president, 1T is
the duty cf the chair to ask the senator
from Illinois to suspend whlle bill No
SAT is laid before the senate under rule O."
And thcrcupcn tho Nicaragua canal bin
was taken up, Mr.. Morgan proceeded with
his speech on that subject and Mr. Palm
or had nothing to do but bite his lip and
take his scat.
a veteran observer Of matters about the
capitol says: 1.-The house will pass cur
u -
haps littlo earlier 1t viii como over TO
the senate, the finance committee will sit
on it a week or two, and it will just about
reach consideration when the session is
drawing to a close, and it will be race
against timo in getting the appropriation
bills through. As a compromise bill or
resolution may DO brought forward at the
last moment authorizing the president to
appoint currency commission to go out
and investigate the whole subject and re
port to tho next congress, but doubt II
even this will be DONE
What Reed BIay DO.
An intimate friend of ex-Speaker Reed
tells mo there is no warrant for the suspi-
con that IL he is ro.clccted speaker, rs be
is pretty sure to be, Mr.. Reed will take
tho craftsmanship of the ways and means
CUulliiitttc away lTblil tHc iilhi VIM Ilcs
be entitled to it by seniority of service on
the committee. There has been a suspi
cion that Reed might peddle cut this great
Craftsmanship in such way rs to furthor
his presidential ambition, but this friend,
who says be has recently talked with Reed
on the subject, declares the ways and
means committee will go to Burrows Of
Michigan in case Burrows does not win
the vacant senatorial seat in Michigan and
to Serene Payne of New York if Burrows
leaves the house. So with the other inn
portant committees. Reed will not at
tempt to peddle them out where they
might do him the most good, but will give
tho chairmansbips to the men who have
under the traditions of the house earned
them by their service.
Considerable interest has been reused
by the announcements that Judge Holman,
who was defeated for reelection, will
write a book concerning his experiences
in congress. Probably its title will be
Thirty Years In Congress That is
precisely tho period which Judge Holman
will have served when his present term
comes to an end next March. and it is
said to be the longest service ever known
in that body, with enc exception. If Judge
Holman had not been three times defeat