The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-13

WASHINGTON, ,. nc, March 6.-The
senators and membessehosen by congress
as the representative of their respective
houses on the Experimentation none
tary commission hav 70 fap very indefinite
ideas as to what will be expected of them.
Whether they will e called upon to act
at all will depend firt upon the important
contingency of Whether such conference
will be called, and whether the president
will decide that the United States shall be
represented The PROVISION for the con-
terence explicitly leaves this matter to his
discretion, but there is thought to be very
little doubt that If some European nation
takes the initiative he will put into effect
the law provided for the representation of
the United States. II il also believed that
Germany will issue the call and that the
conference will be held during the coming
summer or fall.
Where it will be held will depend on the
time Of the call, as willalso the basis upon
which the question of ratio or the extent
to which silver shall b used is discussed.
On this latter point it is understood that
advocates Of free coinge on the commits
sion will demand that the ratio shall be
fixed at JIG to /. and that they will not
swerve from this. As now appears, they
will constitute majoity of the commits
sion from this country as five of the six
already chosen hold views favorable to the
independent free coinaye. The delegation
will not be complete lntil the president
shall select the other members of it, whose
appointment is left to him. If these three
should all be opposed t. free coinage under
existing conditions in his country, as Mr..
Hit is, the commission would stand five to
four for free coinage.
THE PERSONNEL Of THE COMMIS-
SION,
so far formed, is Striking The men Sc
lected have been in public life for many
years, and all have distinguished them
selves sufficient to max. national reputa-
ton. Mr. Culberson uttered the Forty
fourth congress, Mr.. Fit the Forty-sev-
enth and Mr.. Crisp thu Fiftieth, and all
have served continuously since. Mr.. Crisp
is serving his second tenn as speaker, and
previously to his election to that office had
distinguished himself or the floor and in
committee. Mr.. Culberon is chairman of
the committee on judiciary, and Mr.. HIT is
ex-chairman of the committee on foreign
affairs. Mr.. Hit has alD served as assist
ant secretary of state before entering the
house, and was for seven years first secre-
tary OF the legation ano charge d'affaires
of the American legation in Paris.
Senator Teller entered the senate in 1877,
Senator Jones in 1895 and Senator
Daniels in 1887 Senator Teller has
made a specially of the study of flnan-
cial and economic quest ons during his en-
tire term and has thoroughly identified him.
self with the movement to secure the re-
monetization OF silver at the old ratio of
IL to l. While they have not so completely
identified themselves with this movement
his senatorial colleagues. have both taken
prominent part in it. It is known that
three senators stand upon the same foot
ing with regard to silver Senator Jones
is leading member of the committee on
finance and was promlneptly identified with
the tariff contest of the last session. Sena-
tor Daniel is a man of learning and is rec
ognized as one Of the leading lawyers and
orators of the senate. Representatives
Crisp and Culberson are both silver advo-
Gates, but are conservative on that ques-
ton. There is but little doubt, however,
that they will stand Tor all that can be had
for silver in case the conference is held.
Mr.. Hit is classed as a bimetallist and is
understood to believe thoroughly in the re-
Mobilization of silver provided it can be
obtained by an international agreement.
All the members of the commission are
lawyers except Hit. and all except Teller
and Hit served on the Confederate side
during the war of the rebellion. All are
so years and over as regards age. Speaker
Crisp is the youngest member, being so.
Senator Teller and Mr.. Culberson are each
81, Jones IS, Daniel 80 and Hit g.