The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-04
In TaE HOUSE
Resumptios Of the Debate On the Cur
rency Reform Bill.

rency Reform Bill.
Washington City. Jan. s-The house
presented an animated scene when called
10 orser By Speaker Crisp today after the
holiday recess. The galleries were
crowded. and over half the members were
tn their seats After cali OF committees
for reports. ouigg attempted to osfer q
resolution relating 10 salaries IN the New
York postoffiee. bu, Springer. IN charge of
the currency bill. cut him on with mo-
tion 10 go into committee Of the whole
for further consideration of that bill Ac-
corasngly rhe house went into committee.
Richardson in the chair. Black. men,
l,er CT the banking ami currency commit
tee took the floor IN favor OF the bill.
The debate started siuggishly. Black
denied at the outset thas the banking
and currency committee Had heard o1ly
national hank Officers while considering
the pending measure, az4 had turned q
deaf ear TO all others He met and par
rEed the criticisms, and gave q historical
review of the financial doctrinss OF DEM
ocratic presidents frCxn jefferson TO
Cleveland Legislation had not caused
all the misfortune under xfzch the peo-
pie were suffering. he saiA II might have
contributed TO their ntisfertunes, and he
believed the passage az the present bill
would contribute to their relief, hut he
deprecated the feeling abroad In the land
that far all the ills and mssfortuaes OF
the people they should turn TO congress.
blacks advocacy OF state banks of issue
was ardent but he ccnciuded by ex-
pressing. amid applause. the opinion tha.
the only real function OF the government
was the coinage OF gold and silver.
Haughey. Rep, who followed, opposed
tise measure. He described the bin as a
crude. iII-considered maasure, fraugat
with dangers to the country. lie created
considerable amusement by his refer
enee to Mr.. Springsr's position last sum-
mer. when he tS1singefl airtagenized
the repeal OF the state hank. tax. He re-
ferrei To Mr. Springer as the most agile
mafaber on the floor. one whose voice had
been on every side of every question.
and said that the administration had
made no mistake when 1t had elected
him 10 press the proposition for .'fiexi-
Bile and elastic currency.
At The conclusion of Haughey's remarks
McCreary, Dem. took the floor In favor
ef the measure. He said he had exam
ined all the plans suggested for reform
OF the currency, and he regarded the Car
isle bill. as amended by Springer's modi-
fication. as the best solution Of the prob
lem Mecreary expressed the opinion
that in the event of the failure OF some
currency legislation at this session $780,
ooe,oeo or si5o.ooo,e 600 OF bonds would have
to be issued.
How would the passage of this bill
relieve the condition of the treasury"
asked Mr.. Dingley.
McCreary did not answer that question
directly. but said that the Endorsement OF
the president and secretary of the treas
ury mad been given TO this bill, and all
the members of the house should unite
in an earnest and sincere effort to re-
form the currency and give relief to the
treasury.
Adams opposed the bill. attacking some
of its provisions vigorvasIy especially
the revival OF state banks While speak
ing OF the depression in all other prices.
he. referred to the decline of 50 cents a
ton in the price of eoaa which he said
had cost the people 100000
Jerry Simpson seized on this statement
and asked Adams on whom this loss fell,
the producers or the consumers.
"on the miners. the holders OF railroad
shares, etc." replied Adams
That's what / wanted to get at" said
Simpson.
the gentleman speaks for a class
continued Adams. Legislation should be
for the benefit Of all, capitalists. miners
and consumers alike"
AS the consumers are so much more
numerous than the producers" said
Simpson. ''the break In the price of coal
is benefit to the country
How about the decline in the price OF
wheat? Does IL NOT affect the consumer?"
asked Adams, turning inqulsstor.
IT ought TO under proper conditions.
responded Simpson, but, under the. pres
sent system, after wheat gets through
the milling and railroad monopoiies. the
consumer gets no benefit OF the reduced
price of wheat"
When Adams finished the committee
rose and the house adjourned.