Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-01

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vance that the committee would report
in favor Of the Carlisle bill. Neverthe-
less they deliberated two weeks and
heard testimony which makes a printed
volume of $40 pages, then reported with
out even considering the bill in full
| committee. IL was said at the start there
were II opinions in the committee and
there would be- more opinions II there
were more members, but the minority
got together much quicker than the ma
jority and not only voted solidly against
reporting the bill at all. but carried tive
Democrats with them. So the vote stood
0 to S, and two Of the nine only voting
to report in order to get the matter dis
cussed, and thus IL appears that the bill
was handicapped from the start.
The wild guesses and sudden changes
Of opinion on the prospects Of this bill
have been remarkable, even with our pre-
vious experience of this congress At
first there was general and speering
laugh at the very idea of this congress
adopting the Baltimore plan or any
thing like it, But no sooner had presi-
dent and secretary indorsed it than it
gained friends so rapidly as to cause Mr..
Springer TO prophesy that it would go
through the house before the holidays.
Contemporary with this advance III the
house was reirogression on the part OF
the bankers, many OF whom, If not n
majority, discovered that they did not
approve Of the Baltimore plan, with Car
| Isle amendments, and Of all those who
testified not more than two Were siren
uous for the Carlisle plan, even with
notifications. Within two days after
the bill was reported TO the house j,
was evident that every Republican and
many Democrats would vote against II.
As to tho Populists, Of course they are
opposed 10 all banks Of issue. In the
very opening of the fight, therefore, the
Democrats suddenly shifted their line
and went into action Sith the left IN
front. Chairman Springer led, and Mr..
Walker followed for the minority, and
then the Hon. Uriel Sebree Hall OF Mis-
souri,, next in command to Chairman
Springer, refused his line, as We used
to say 80 years ago, and began 10 talk
about the substitute bill, which made
the previous speech on that side appear
quite nal apropos.
Congressman Walker ON Finance.
Ii soon appeared, however, that the
minority, though unanimous against
the Carlisle iill. was far from being 80
in favor Of she Walker bill. IL Is 50
hard ior the unscientific mind to mas
ter comprehensive currency bill-and
for my part would rather take de
cent whipping than study one out-that
] took the short course and went To Mr..
Walker with three questions:
docs your bill aim to throw the bur
len of maintaining specie payment on
the banks!"
MY bill throws no burden Oh any
body which they are not willing 10 as
sumo. 1t iuvites the bankers To assume
the duty of maintaining coin payments
| and makes il their interest to do so.
Under my bill there will be moro gold
and silver in use and at less expense
than under the present system, which
practically makes it to the interest Of
the banks not to aid in keeping the coin
in use. The whole weight falls on the
treasury. Under my bill it would not,
and yet both gold and silver would BE-
more in evidence.
"How does the treasury now maintain
the gold standard with SO little gold
against SO much paperi'
"lt is by suTerance only. But first
fix in your mind the fact that it is not
the gold in the treasury that does it. 1t
is the general knowledge of the people
that there is very much more gold in the
country. Let that gold 60 out Of use o.
to he .dightest pre- mi I'm, and this little
| jsg IN The treasury " uldn't amount to
. snap Of your finger itshould be noted
also that the amount Of gold in the
country il considerably exaggerated.
There is certainly not more than $780,.
900, 600 and maybe 10 more than $3.50, :
900, 900, and that inactive. There must
be more coin available, and it must DO
daily in evidence, and tho silver must
be utilized so far as it is safe, and be-
lieve my bill will do 1t"