Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-30
CLEVELAND'S PLAN
His Message Was Intended for the
Next Congress.
TO COEMIF THE REPUBLICANS
To the Necessity of Immediate
Financial Action.
THE BILL WILL BE THEIRS

Some pf the astute statesmen in Congress
attribute to Mr.. Cleveland a very clever
design in trying to commit the republicans
In Congress to the support of financial
measure at this time. No one doubts that
Mr.. Cleveland realizes. does every one
else, that there is not the least hope of
the proposed measure going through the
Senate. That u can go through the House
is extremely doubtful. but. If it should. it
would be a matter of some qualification.
but no benefit.
If. however, the measure Is so recon-
structed in committee as to get practi-
cally the solid support of the republicans
in the House. all that MIR. Cleveland aims
at will be accomplished. if his plan is prop
erly understood. What he is credited with
wanting more than anything else at this
time is to commit the republicans to imme-
date action on the financial question.
The Republican Understanding.
Some time ago. as stated in The Star,
general understanding was reached be-
tween the silver republicans and the other
republicans in both houses that IL the
Fifty-fourth Congress was called to meet
in special session they would not attempt
any financial legislation. but wsuld devote
the session to the simple act of increasing
the revenues of the country. leaving the
currency question to go over until the reg
ular session. This suggestion is said to
rave first come from Mr.. Reed. and was
promptly agreed to by all who were spoken
to on the subject. There was no caucus
held, but the matter was canvassed among
the republicans in both houses, until
substantial agreement was reached. the
silver men readily asserting. In all re-
publican speeches since then the present
faul condition
been charged to a lack of revenue. and the
democrats have been urged to present some
proposition for an increase of revenue. In
his speech on the sugar bill Mr.. Wilson.
armed with statistics by the Secretary or
the Treasury, denied vigorously that the
trouble was with the revenue. The PreSi-
dents message denies that an increase OF
revenue would relieve the treasury. and
makes that proposition the basis. of his
urgent recommendation fer the adoption
of the financial measure which he pro-
poses.
A Bill to Suit Themselves.
1t is row proposed that the republicans
IN the committee with the assistance Of
administration democrats. shall be per-
nlitted to reframe this bill to suit them
selves. so as to make it practically re-
publican measure and to secure for it the
support of nearly all the republicans in
the House-as outlined in The Star yester1
day 1t is almost universally conceded now
that this design will be accomplished. Such
amendments as republican members of the
committee have suggested have been
promptly adopted and the leading repub-
licanS of the committee say that the bill
will be reported in way to receive prac-
tically the solid republican support in the
House.
If this proves true Mr. Cleveland will
have accomplished practically all that he
could have hoped for In sending in his
message. He Will have committed the re-
publicans to an acknowledgment of the
necessity for such a measure and at the
same time to definite proposition. Then
II this proposition fails by the expiration
of this Congress. as he undoubtedly ex-
poets it to, he will call the next Congress
together in special session for the repubii-
cans to complete the work which they will
fave begun in this. 1t is urged that if the
republicans are fully committed in this
Congress. both to the necessity of legis-
lation and to a particular measure. they
cannot decline to take up the question on
Icing called together for that purpose in
special session of the next Congress.
Mr. CIevcIand's Plan.
Mr.. Cleveland knew of the intention of
the republicans not to take up the cur
rency question If called in special session.
and he is credited with the design of fore
Ing them to action by this method. In
: pursuance Of this plan it will make very
little difference how few democrats votes
the bill gets so long the republicans
of the House support 1t with substantial
uEanimity According to this construction
of Mr.. Clevelands plan his message was
intended for the next Congress rather than
this. and 1t is the work of the next ses-
sion which is now being done by the bank
ing committee. OF course the work will
all have to be done over again in the next
Congress. but it is hoped that so many
republicans will be committed to it that
it will require little more than formal ac-
t(n in committee to get practically the
same proposition before the next House
one or the other of The republican MEM
hers of the banking committee through
whose efforts the Springer bill Is being
whipped into shape satisfactory to the
republicans will be chairman of this COM
mittee when the next Congress is organ
iZed, and when this measure is brought
before the committee it will be practically
one Of his own making.
MIR. Walkers Amendment.
The banking and currency committee to-
day adopted an amendment to the Springer
bill. proposed by Mr.. Walker, which pro-
vides that from and after July 1, 1875, 10
per cent of cash national bank reserve re-
quired by law shall be kept in coin or coin
certificates. and not less than half of these
coin or coin certificates shall be in gold.
and that the cash reserve shall be kept In
coin coin certificates in amounts in
creased at the rate of 10 per cent each
quarter until the whole reserve is In coin
or coin certificates. one-haif in gold.
The House banking committee did not
complete tTair work on the Springer bill
today. They met again this after rnoon for
further consideration of the matter the
pending proposition being ar amendment
providing that the greerEaCks shall be re-
tired no more rapidly than they are re-
placed by national bank notes. The oppo-
nents of the bill IN committee are doing all
they can 10 render the measure objection
able and to delay 1t being reported from
the committee.