The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-23
ALMOST READY.

ways and Means Committee VIII
Have Its EseIEefBill Ready Thursday
WASHINGTON. Dec. 23.-It being gen
orally understood that the ways and
means committee of the house would not
be prepared to report its bill for the re-
lief of the treasury situation before to-
morrow or Thursday the attendance in
the house today was comparatively small,
when Mr.. Dingley, rep, Maine) chairman
of the ways and means committee,
took the floor.
The committe on ways and means, he
said, had met this morning and had
unanimously decided that in view of the
presidents special message to congress
on Friday and the circumstances
surrounding it, that it was
not appropriate that the
house adjourn until a proper response
had been made. In view of the urgency
of the matter, he deemed it proper to say
that the committee had already entered
upon the preparation of bill, or bills.
While he was not prepared to say now
when those bills would be ready he
was certain that they would not be
presented to the house before Thursday.
1t was important that members of the
house had gone home under the i'm
preston that the usual holiday recess
would be held should be pres
ent when the report of the ways and
means committee was made to
the house, and it was proper
pportunity to return. He would ask
the house to meet tomorrow for tho
purpose of agreeing upon the distribu-
tion of the presidents message, after
which he would ask the house to adjourn
over Christmas day. ION Thursday" he
concluded, 1--WE hope that the house will
make response to the urgent requests
of the president and take some action
which will relieve the situation in which
the country finds itself" [Applause.l
Then at 1928 p. N. the house ad-
journed until tomorrow.
The form of the bill to meet the present
emergency, it is said is even now under
consideration. That form is the propo-
sition which Mr. Reed proposed in the
house last February. It is as follows:
That to enable the secratary of the
Treasury to pay the current expenses Of
the government, SO long as current rev.
enues shall be deficient, he is authorized
and required, from time to time, in his
discretion, to issue, sell and dispose of,
at not less than par, such amount
of certificates of Indebtedness of the
denomin atoms $25, $50 and 500,
be necessary for that purpose, bearing
not to exceed 3 per cent interest per an
nun, payable semi-annually and redeem
able at the pleasure of the government,
in coin, after three years from their date.
with like qualities, privileges and ex-
emptions provided in the act approved
January 13. 1875. The secretary of the
treasury may, at his discretion, sell and
dispose of the same for not less han
an equal amount of lawful money of
the United States. at designated
repositories in the United States and
| at such postofices as he may select,
and he shall use the proceeds thereof
for the purpose provided in this sec
ton, and for no other"
The phraseology of the bill may be
changed somewhat, but the form Of
the bonds, small denominations, per
cent and redeemable at pleasure, will
| be adhered to. The president will be
authorized to issue such bords to meet
the emergency. No limit may be placed
on the amount or limit of 81, 900, ,0OO,-
900 may be fixed. That is still under
consideration,