The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-01
LOCAL BUSINESS MEN CONFER
WITH MTNNEsOTA,s REPRE-
SENTATIvES.
SENATOR DAVIS SYMPATHY
OF LOCAL PET MEAS
URES.
TWO OF THE ooNGREssMEN
Also Took Part in the Discussion of
Measures of Current In
terest.

The chamber of commerce Yesterday
afternoon informally considered a num-
Der of very important matters which
will come up before the next session of
the Fifty fourth congress, and fair
representation of the business men Of
the city was present. The meeting
took the form of an informal discus
sion. Senator c. K. Davis, Congress
man McCleary and Congressman elect
Stevens were present and each dis
cussed the topics of the day Senator
Davis was repeatedly piled with ques-
tions upon current issues and he
eyinced no little interest in the debate.
Speaking upon the question of arbi-
tration, as method of settling diff
ferences between capital and labor,
Senator Davis said the issue involved
was one Of the most important which
faced the American people today. 1t
was surrounded by many complicated
problems, which unless settled wisely
would breed mischief. There was a
spirit Of unrest and dissatisfaction
abroad in the land. said the senator
and it was never SO plainly shown as
it was during the recent political cam
paign. The speaker believed that a
tribunal should be erected which would
have the authority to try and pass
upon all disputes between the two
great forces. The senator believed that
an institution Of this kind would be a
great achievement. The conditions in
the United States were different from
those of the old countries yet it would
not be impossible to erect such a court
in this country. France has court of
Cancellation, and Germany has a sim
liar body. Senator Davis thought a.
similar body should be created in the
United States to prevent further up
risings. The speaker believed that the
uprisings of the past few years had not
been based upon sufficient cause, and
declared that courts of arbitration
| might prevent much strife
The attention Of the senator was
| called to the proposed and pending i'm
mouth Of the Mississippi river and he
was asked as to the advisability Of
pushing them. The senator replied
that the improvements were of the
greatest Importance and that congress
should provide money with which to
keep the works in good condition.
Congressman McCleary said he did
not come to the meeting to talk but to
listen, with the purpose of getting some
impression as to the opinions of repre-
sentative business men upon public is
sues Mr.. McCleary said that congress
would always receive suggestions from
such a body Of men as the chamber of
+ commerce. The congressman did not
agree with Senator Davis upon ques-
tions Of government by commissions,
and said that he believed it would be
a step in the wrong direction. For in
stance, If measures were recommended
by commissions and the president, and
were then thrown out by congress- the
public would gain the impression that
something was radically wrong. Mr..
McCleary said he would not approve OF
a currency commission. Speaking upon
the general commercial and banking
problem, the congressman said that one
person had the right to sell to another
and take his promiSSOry not In pay
ment. That right, he said, would not
disappear If the persons were banded
into corporations and institutions and
he believed that national bank notes
would always be issued. The right Of
bank to issue notes was inherent.
Mr. McCleary believed the country
would never wholly get away from the
present system, although the character
and basis Of the system might be
changed.
Congressman-elect Stevens said he
was too new to the business to justify
his making any remarks. He would
always try to represent his state and
district to the best Of his ability. He
was anxious to learn the wishes of his
constituents and would always seek to
be guided by them.
Mr. Jaggard asked Senator Davis as
to his opinion Of the proposition to
make the presidential term cover six
years instead of four, and limit the
tenure of office to one term. Senator
Davis did not approve Of the idea. He
believed that history had proved the
wisdom of the present system. 1t had
raised such men as Washington, Madi-
son, Monroe, Lincoln and Grant under
it's care and that was test enough.
Mr.. Young stated that he had heard
with regret that Senator Davis did not
approve of the Torrey bankruptcy bill.
In reply the senator said that he did
not approve Of the Torrey bill in it's
present cumbersome form. He be-
lieved the Trainer Of the bill should be
directed to modify it and cut it down
and bring it within proper lines, and
then it might pass congress.
Mr. Young believed the bill was the
only one which made it possible to
| punish offenders for fraud. Mr.. Kirk
| believed with Mr.. Young that the Tor
rev bill was the best commercial meas
ure ever offered. More discussion upon
the trust law followed. Mr.. Davis be-
lieved that a proper commercial mer-
chants and traders bill would pass
congress.
Asked as to the proposition to make
Fort Smelling brigade post, Senator
Davis said the project had been aban-
doned. He was in favor Of the general
proposition to establish deep water
ways to the sea and would do what he
could to further the plan. He was not
in favor Of the proposed Superior and
Mississippi river canal.
Speaking of the repeated efforts to
secure an increased appropriation for
the ST. Paul postoffice building, the SEN
ator said that three attempts to secure
81, 400, 900 from the senate had failed and
that each time the house scalped the
appropriation down to $4,000 and this
sum would have to suffice.