The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-06
Members of the Monetary
Commission at Sea.
Provision for the Conference Left 10
the Presidents Discretion.
No Material Difference In the Law of
the Brussels Commission.


and members chosen by Congress as the
representatives of their respective Houses
on the proposed international monetary
commission have SO far very indefinite
ideas as to what will be expected of
them. Whethersthey will be called upon
to act at all will depend, first
upon the important contingency of
whether such conference will be called,
and il so whether the President will de-
eide that the United States shall be repre-
sented. The provision for the conference
explicitly leaves this matter to his dis
cretion.
1t is also believed that Germany will
issue the call aud that the conference will
be held during the coming summer or
fall. Where 10 shall be held will depend
upon the time of the call, as will also the
basis upon which the question of ratio or
the extent TO which silver shall be used is
discussed. On this latter point 1t
Is understood that the advocates of free
coinage on the commission will demand
that the ratio shall be fixed at 10 to 1,
and that they will not swerve from this.
As now appears they will constitute q
majority OF the commission from this
country, as five of the six already chosen
held views favorable TO independent free
coinage.
The delegation will not be complete un-
til the President shall elect three members
OF it whose appointment Is left to him.
II those three should all be opposed to
free coinage under existing conditions
in this country, the commission would
stand five to four for free coinage. The
law in the present case is not materially
different from that under which the Brus-
sells conference was appointed in 1892,
except in the number Of delegates and in
providing the means for their selection.
The Brussels commission on the part of
the United States numbered five only,
and they were all appointed By
the President. The working of the
law as regarded the purpose of
conference was in that case the same a. 1t
Is in this, the language in both cases
being that the conference should be held
''with a view to secure, internationally,
flxity of rative sale between gold and
silver as money, by means Of common
ratio between those metals, with
free mintage at such ratio"
In 1892 an appropriation OF
$4,000 was made to pay the expenses
Of the commission, while 100000 Is now
provided. The personnel of the commits
sion SO far as formed is striking one.
The members selected have been public for
many years and all have distinguished
themselves sufficiently TO make a ma
tional reputation. Mr.. Culberson entered
the Forty fourth Congress, Mr.. Hit the
Forty seventh, and Mr. Crisp the Fiftieth,
and all have served continuously since.
Mr.. Crisp has served his second term as
speaker, aud previous to his election to
that Office had distinguished himself
on the floor and in committee.
Mr.. Culberson was chairman of the
committee OF judiciary of the late Con-
gress and Mr.. Hit is ex-chairman of the
committee on foreign relations. Mr..
Hit had also served as assistant secre-
tary of State before entering the House,
and was for several years secretary of
legation and charge d. Affair Of the Ameri-
can Legation in Paris.
Senator Teller entered the Senate in
1877, Senator Jones in 1886 and Senator
Daniel in 1887. Senator Teller has made
a speciality of the study of financial and
economic questions during his term, aud
has thoroughly identified himself with
the movement TO secure the re-
monetization of silver at the old
ratio of 16 TO 1. While they have not so
completely identified themselves with
this movement, his Senatorial colleagues
have both taken prominent part in
| ii, so that it is known that
the three Senators stand upon
the same footing with regard to
silver. Senator Jones il a leading member
OF the committee on finance and was
prominently identified with the tariff con-
| test of last session. Senator Daniel Is
man of learning and is recognized as one
| OF the leading lawyers and oratsSs Of the
| Senate.
Representative Crispand Representative
] Culberson are both silver advocates, out
are conservative on that question. There
Is little doubt, however, that they will
stand for all that can be had from the sill
YER in case the conference is held. Mr..
Hit ia classed as bi-metalis,
and is understood to believe thorough,
in the rehabilitation of silver, provided g.
can be obtained by an international agree
ment.
All the members OF the commis-
sion are lawyers except Mr.. Hit,
and all except Teller aud Hit
served on the Confederate side dur
ing the war of the rebellion. All sre %
years and over as regards age. Speaker
Crisp is the youngest member, being 90
Senator Teller and Mr.. CuIberson are