The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-22

Gratis ana PopulistS alike reveals a decided
disposition TO couple silver legislation with
any measure for the relief OF the treasury
that may be offered. Cockrell. Teller. Du-
oois, Pritchard. Pettigrew. Baker and Butler
all said that the Secretary OF the Treasury
had the means for meeting the emergency
in his own hands, which was In paying out
silver ana coming tne silver d IN the treas as
proposition that they would not consent TO
give further authority for the issuance Of
even display a willingness to authorize the
short-time certificates Of Indebtedness pro-
posed last session. They expressed the
opinion that the continuance OF Congress in
session during the holidays would bring no
relief. Some of the Republicas. however
expressed a willingness 10 remain with the
nope that tarin legislation might be pro-
NOTED. They are not however. as a class.
disposed as yet to discuss the practicaoility
of trading bond legislation for changes In
the tariff.
AN INFORMAL. DISCUSSION.
There was a little Informal discussion OF
the situation in the ways and means COM
mittee directed mainly to the feasibility Of
keeping Congress in session through the
holidays. Doubts were expressed whether
1t would be possible for the House to get
down TO work within a week. but Ii was
thought that the country would not take
kindly to an adjournment in the present
condition OF financial affairs, with the Pres
idents message unenacted on. Hopes were
expressed that the atmosphere Of financial
unrest might settle by Monday and the best
policy for Congress to pursue be more
clearly apparent. No suggestions for legis-
lation OF any sort were brought forward,
nor was it finally settled beyond doubt
that the committee would attempt TO report
any plan for immediate &C tion. Some belief
was expressed that the financial situation
would materially improve within the next
Mr.. Dingley is understood to be for short
term, low denomination certificates OF in
debtedness.. or bonds. to maintain the gold
reserve and an advance of certain tariff
schedules to provide sufficient revenue for
the expenses Of the government. There Is
general expression in the House in favor
OF a popular bond issue IL any temporary
expedient is to be resorted to. No other
plan to furnish immediate relief to the
treasury Is suggested that appears to have
strong backing. On the other hand IL is
said that the President has the same
authority to make such a bond issue as he
had for the former bond issues and that
1t seems to be conceded that Congress will
not legislate for gold bonds and that no
Tar eGn m also aeed %
The House is not unanimous in favor OF
continuing In session.
the President was trying to take advan-
tage of the position in which Congress
placed itself by its unanimous indorsement
his financial measures which. he knows.
neither the Republicans nor the Democrats
approve. 1t seems to me the surest way
to allay public uneasiness would be for
Congress to adjourn, thus showing that 1t
does not fear financial crisis"
Mr.. Walker, chairman on banking and
currency. says that in his opinion but
three ways out of it's present difficulty are
possible for the treasury. These are: The
continued issue of bonds every quarter. or
so that II will suffice to pay current
expenses OF the government and also to
buy gold to maintain the constantly dimin-
ishing reserve.
The Democratic members OF the ways
and means committee are disposed to let
initiate legislation. In the meantime the
unsettled situation gives rise to talk or
Republican caucus to instruct the ways
and means committee. Incidental to the
caucus talk is the suggestion that the
House Republicans should follow the ex-
ample of the Senate in electing steer
Ing committee to supervise matters or
party policy.
REPUBLICANS CONFER.
The Republican members of the ways and
means committee held a private consulta-
ton for two hours tonight in their COM
mittee room at the Capitol, at which
Speaker Reed and several other leading
Republicans, not members OF the commit
tee,. were present. The purpose was to
discuss general questions of policy, but
not with a view to arranging a definite
plan at this time. Members present were
extremely reticent and evasive stating
that the meeting was only for the purpose
of exchanging individual views generally
1t is known that the Presidents message
on the financial situation was thoroughly
discussed. and the trend of opinion was,
that regardless of the sentiments or the
members as TO the wisdom or the comrnu-
nication, it was necessary TO devise some
plan immedia tely for the relief OF the
treasury as a protection to the business
interests of the country. There was a
good deal of talk about short-term bonds
and expediency of making certain tariff
changes to increase the revenue. There
was discussion of the problem or, SO ar
ranging the bond authorization as TO re-
quire a separate accounting OF the proper
ton of the gold proceeds. that
would go to protect the gold re-
serve and the proportion that might be
used to defray deficiencies IN reeeipts; c,,sa de
should remain in session all next week,
adjourning from day to day until some
plan was effected upon which all the
Republicans could unite, or until the finan-
ciai situation so changed for the better as
to admit OF an adjournment without caus-
ing a belief in business circles tnat the
majority was disposed TO shirk its duty.
The conference adjourned to meet again
A number Of Republican Representatives
friendly TO the free coinage of silver held
OF the Senate in the Republican cloak room
of the Senate after the adjournment OF
the two houses to-day relative 10 the
course the silver men should pursue IN the
House. They considered the advisability
of presenting a resolution instructins the
Secretary of the Treasury TO redeem coin
certificates in silver in certain contingen-
cies. but did not decide positively to follow
change of views upon the situation. ana the
determination generally expressed to
make most Of the situation In both houses
in the silver interests.