Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-12
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee's Meeting Today.
SECRETARY CARLISLE AND THE BONDS
He Tells the Inside History Of the
transaction.
TO FORMULATE A PLAN

The session of the committee on ways
end means this afternoon to take some
action upon the suggestion of the Presi-
dent for authority to issue three per cent
gold bonds is the subject of considerable
interest in both houses Of Congress- today
About the first thing which the committee
did after assembling was to pass reso-
luton which enjoined secrecy upon the
members of the committee. This action
was taken at the request Of Secretary
Carlisle, who was present on invitation
from the committee to enlighten its mem
bers upon the inside history of the late
bond sale by the President.
The Secretary's Statement.
In spite of the resolution of secrecy some
Of the proceedings Of the committee be-
came known on the outside. 1t was learn
ed that Secretary Carlisle did not lay be-
fore the committee, as he was expected to
do, the original memorandum of the BOND
negotiations, but gave the committee
verbal statement from memory OF What
had taken place. Mr.. Reed and the repub-
lican members showed a disposition to in
vestigate the rate bond issue thoroughly,
while it was apparent from Secretary Car
isles manner that he felt that there were
certain features of the transaction which
it was not incumbent upon him to make
known to the committee. The most I'M
portant feature of his statement concern
ing the latest negotiations for the sale OF
bonds was that the purchasers OF these
bonds had pledged themselves as part OF
the contract to use their efforts to protect
the gold reserve in the treasury and to
furnish the government with gold When-
ever it was needed.
A Favorable Report Probable.
There was a feeling among members of
Congress this afternoon that the commit
tee might report favorably on PROPOSE
tion authorizing the President to change
the character of the S62.O0o,0O0 bonds
which have just been negotiated to con-
form to his idea of a per cent gold bond.
The republicans, who were hostile to this
proposition until yesterday, appeared pas
sive at the committee meeting this morn
ing, and the impression was abroad that
they would permit Chairman Wilson to re-
port favorably on the Presidents suggeS-
ton, without giving any guarantee as to
what attitude they would assume toward
the measure when 1t came to vote IN me
House. The House shows no more dfsposi-
now than it did last Thursday, when the
Presidents message suggesting 1t was re-
ceived with a profound silence in the
House.
To Formulate Plan.
Shortly after 1 o'clock the committee
took recess until g. A subcommittee of
five was appointed to formulate q pan.
Bryan. democrats; Payne and Hopkins of
Illinois, republicans. Mr.. Bryan is free
silver man, and the other two democrats
are supporters of the administration. Mr..
McMillin was named as the third member.
but he is not well Mr.. Bryan will act in
his stead. 1t is prophesied by members of
the committee that resolution for gold
bond will be framed, but the committee
will not be unanimous in Its support.
Senate Finance Committee.
The meeting of the Senate committee on
finance today resulted in a decision, by a
vote of to 5, to report a measure for the
unrestricted coinage of silver on the basis
Of the provisions of the ninth section of the
fins ncal bill introduced by Senator Jones
of Arkansas. This section was amended in
several particulars, and as agreed upon is
as follows: THAT from and after the pas
sage of this act the Secretary Of the Treas
ury is hereby authorized and directed to
receive at any United States mint, from
any citizen of the United States silver bull
same into silver dollars of 4121a grains
each. The seigniorage of said bullion shall
belong to the United States, and shall be
the difference between the coinage value
thereof and the market price Of the bullion
in New York on the day the deposit Is
made, and all expenditures for coinage
done under the provisions of this act shall
be paid out of said seigniorage: and the
Secretary of the Treasury shall deliver to
the depositors of such bullion standard sill
Yer dollars equal in amount to the price
thereof as aforesaid; and whenever the
said coins herein provided for shall be re-
ceived into the treasury, certificates may
be issued thereon, in the manner now pro-
vided by law.
The vote en- the motion to report this
section amended was as follows: Yeas
Voorhees,, Harris, Vest Jones Of Arkansas,
Jones of Nevada and White. Nays-Mc-
Pherson, Morrill, Sherman, Allison and Aid
rich.
There was comparatively little discussion
of the question after the suggestion for
such report was made, and it soon be-
came apparent that there was an under
standing among members of the majority
of the committee to the line of action to
be pursued, and they afterward stated that
they had held conference and had agreed
upon their course The repubScan mem
bers offered no substitute and put no OBJ
structions in the way of securing vote.
The Dihercntinl Sugar Duty.
It was also agreed to hold a special
| meeting Friday next for the consideration
of the bill removing the differential duty Of
one-tenth of cent on sugar imported
from bounty-paying countries.
Republican members Of the committee
expressed some surprise at the calling of
the meeting today. They had supposed
that on account of the indisposition of
Senator Voorhees,, chairman of the COM
mittee, there would be no meeting. and they
| had received assurance to this effect, but
it would appear that after the decision
reached to report BILL Senator Voorhees,
| vas prevailed upon to issue the call. which
was not received until early today. AS
consequence Of this delay some of the re-
publican members were late in reaching
the committee.