The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-06-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June 18th, 1S94.-Secre-
tary Carlisle in common with many promi-
nent Democrats, thinks the passage of 4
bill introduced by Representative Coombs, of
New York, and now being considered by a SUBJ
committee of the House committee on Banking
and Currency, would be very desirable thing.
The bill provides for the appointment OF non
partisan currency commission, which shall de-
vote the rest OF TINS year t 70 10 ana
gresS a bill for complete banking, coinage
and currency system which shall come nearer
to meeting the demands OF the country than
what we have at present. The authors of this
bill are c. N. Jordan, U. ): Sub-Treasurer at
New York city, and w. L. Trenholm, who was
Controller of Currency under the first Cleve-
land administration, both of whom have ap-
peGred before the committee to argue in favor
of its being favorably reported to the House.
In view of the difference of opinion on this
subject among Democrats in Congress. so radi-
cal that it has SO far defeated all attempts at
financial legislation, it would seem that this
bill is one upon which men of all opinions could
unite. 1t could certainly do no harm, and, if
the commission was properly made up, might
do much good.
senator Harris has to grit his teeth and bear
the unexpected delay i'll reaching final vote
on the tariff bill as best he can, being unable
to get and keep forty-three Senators on the
floor continuously in order to force things
along faster. The Republicans took advantage
of this to stretch the debate on the wool sched-
uie out of all proportions and at this writing
they are threatening to fillibuster against TAX
ing u vote upon it until wool is taken from
the free list, and the charge is made. but will
not vouch for its correctness, that they have
been informed by several Democrats of their
willingness, if it can be done by agreement,
instead of IL recorded vote, to help them get
small duty on wool.
The attempt of local paper to get little
notoriety by insinuating that Representative
Richardson, OF tennessee, mad engaged IN real
estate transactions that were not entirely
right and proper, With representatives OF
street railway syndicate that is seeking Con-
gressional legislation, was failure even be-
trouble to make an explanation to the House.
The man or newspaper which attacks the in
sent absolute proofs, not vague insinuations,
before the public attention can be secured.
If the evidence taken by the House CON nit
tee on Naval Affairs can be substantiated, the
government should at once cancel the contract
with the Carnegie companies for armor plate
for our warships, and begin suits for the recov-
cry of every dollar that has been paid to those
concerns for plates that are not what they pur-
port to be. This would, of course, result in de-
laying the completion of those ships yet to be
armored, but it would be better that they never
be completed than that the crookedness which
has been testified to should be allowed to go
UNPUBLISHED. The committee is still taking
testimony. 1t will probably be necessary to
remove plates from number of the ships III
order to ascertain whether witnesses have told
the truth or not, and that will consume
considerable time. and make it impossible
for the committee to conclude the investigation
in time to report during the present session of
Congress.
Il
cept Quay, of Pennsylvania has declared I'm
der oath that he neither specialized in nor gave
information to others to be used i'll specializing
in the stock of the sugar trust Quay says he
has been specializing i'll sugar stock whenever
he felt like it and that he going to
tinue. The evidence did not surprise any SEN
Siblc person, but all the same il was wise in
the investigating committee TO examine all the
Senators beginning with themselves; it closes
the mouths of the buncombe speakers and
writers who have been continually asking
'why not swear the Senators?n The only
features i'll the examination of the Senators that
varied from the stereotyped denial of the eight
leading questions asked enough to arouse any
special interest were the confession of Senator
Quay and the statement of Senator Ransom,
that he had day or two before learned that
his son had during the month of April specu-
lated in a Washington bucket shop to the eX-
tent of $40, and that $40 of it had been placed
upon the stock of the sugar trust. 1t was, OF
course, foolish thing for young Mr.. Ransom
to have done, but the amount invested is of
itself sufficient to clear the young man of any
suspicion of having acted upon any informa-
ton beyond his own desire to bet his own money
upon his own Judgment When man goes into
u speculation on inside information he puts up
more than $50. Senator Ransom has never
bought a share of speculative stock of any
kind since he became a member of the Senate.
g. A. S.