The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-19
ITS DOOM SEALED.
Proposition to Repeal the State
Bank Tax
Is Down for Defeat So 1t Is
Said.
POPULISTS OPPOSED.
They Want More Money but
Desire National Money.

WASHINGTON, April 10 Especial. -
The great questions in congress for the
present, for some time past, the re-
peal of the tax on state bank circulation,
the Meyer bill to provide for coming the
seigniorage and protecting it by bonds,
the bills favored by Mr.. Bland and his CO.
laborerS going somewhat further than the
former; the Sperry bill to establish a bu-
reau of interstate banks, the various labor
bills from Mr. McGann'S committee and
the always interesting measures reported
by Mr.. Hatch from the committee on
agriculture. OF the first named it was
stated atthe start by the best judges of the
temper of the house that it was down for
defeat; that it was, in fact, one of those
measures which many had to seem to be
in favor of, while very few really wanted
it. 1t was adopted by the Democratic eau
Gus, it is true, but only $50 members were
present, and half of them were the reverse
of enthusiastic. 1t is probably the only
measure now pending for increasing the
currency to which the Populists are much
more strongly opposed than the Republic
ans They want more money, it is true,
but they are very particular as to having
it national money. With all the Republic
ans and all the Populists opposed to it and
half the Democrats hostile Indifferent
prophet was required to fOretell its fate
State Banks
The bill by Mr.. Richards of Ohio TO for
bid contracts requiring payment in gold
natured smile among the Republicans and
such Democrats vote with them on
financial question 1t would at first view
seen strange -s.esJ the POpulists should also
ride 1le such a bill, but they are quite con-
sistesat in it, saying that gold is nothing
bur a commodity and should be treated as
such and dealt in with the same freedom
as wheat corn.
The Spcrry bill provides for a national
bureau and central redemption agency for
1t,1C Lr.l
pervision and to hold and certify to the
sufficiency of the bonds before any state
bank can issue bills on them, but not to
guarantee the redemption of the bills as it
does of those of the national bank In case,
however, any state bank should fail to re-
deem it's bills on demand this act provides
that the central bureau shall at once act as
a receiver, sell the bonds deposited by that
bank for whatever they viii bring in open
market and pay the bill holders pro rata
Such men as Mr.. Walker, General eros
venor, Mr.. Dingley and other Republicans
who deal largely with financial questions
will scarcely take the time to even talk
about the possibility of such scheme. In
short, it may be said with confidence that
that part of the Democratic platform relat-
ing to the tax on state banks has gone into
innOcuOus desuetude-
The Tariff Question.
1t is curious fact that the appeals from
all over the country for speedy action on
the tariff, which had almost ceased for
awhile, were renewed with increased vigOr
Immediately after the late municipal cleo
tions, and now both senators and members
are bombarded more furiOusly than ever.
Almost every Democratic member has in
his possession one or more letters which
are a strange mingling of the pathetic and
the 1udicrOus. a Texas member has re-
ceived one which outSloes Artemus Ward
and Josh Billings, though all the humOr
in it is unintentiOnal. After a frantic ap-
peal for n reduction of the tariff every
thing except wool, of which the writer is a
producer, and for $50 per capita of silver
and paper money, the constituent states
that his neighborhood will vote as usual,
as there are no Republicans in it, and con-
cludes with this inquiry, What is Cleve-
land a-goin to do with that man Breckin-
ridge?"
a Convert to Reedism.
Such letters or something else, probably
sheer disgust at their own helplessness,
has stirred up the majority members to
vigorous effort, and some of the most in
teresting scenes of this session have Oc-
CURED in the discussions of the new rule
proposed. Mr. Springer repels, with some
Indignation, the statement that his plan
proves him a convert to Tom ReedisIn-
Fourteen years ago, as he points out, he
advocated proposition almost identical
with this one, which was then presented
by Mr.. Randolph Tucker and amended by
Mr. Hunton, both of Virginia.
1t is a curious fact that one of the ablest
speeches parliamentary law he ever
made was delivered by Mr.. Reed in Oppos-
ing the Tucker rule. In the course of it
he said: "A majority of the members pres
emit and participating in the business of the
house is the constitutional idea of quo
rum 1t is not the visible presence of the
members, but their judgments and votes,
that the constitution calls for. - That he
has made several very able speeches in di
rect contradiction to that doctrine is fact
of general knowledge, as is his happy ex-
PLANTATION on the ground of increasing ex-
perience and wisdom
The Wilson Bill.
A western Democrat says: when such
q seasoned veteran as old Bill Holman
gives it up and acknowledges defeat long
before the election, the political weather
must be getting mighty squally, and old
Bill says that if we don t get that tariff act
through and get away from here by the
middle of June our goose is cooked - 1t is
a true bill That is just what Mr.. Holman
says, though he would probably ccmpro-
mise on the middle of July and take
chances Oh the turn of public opinion Gen
eral Black, ON the other hand, since his
return from illinois, is confident that the
people will give plenty of time; that the
Wilson bill viii become a law in the form
it now is in the senate, and shat Illinois
will give a good healthy majority in its
favor. 1t is indeed cheering to have one
healthy OptimiSt on that side of the house,
but so far as can yet be seen it isn't catch
ing. Hon. Lyman Trumbull, for IS years
senator from Illinois and author of some of
the most important reconstruction legisla-
ton recently surprised his old friends by