The Washington bee., 1896-05-16
ton. 1t was Immediately passed by
the Senate and accepted by the House.

the Senate and accepted by the House
Millions of Appropriations.
Of equal importance has been Mr.
iAllisOn'S participation in financial leg
islation. Early in his Congressional
career he gave attention to these diff
cult problems. No man either within
or without Congress has given more
serious though to them. As far as the
practical questions of receipts and ex-
penditureS are concerned he is by all
| factions regarded as an authority in
Congress. He has teen at the head
of the Appropriations Committee, ex-
Cept during the time the Senate has
been in the control of the Democratic
party, since 1881. This committee is
next to the Finance Committee in re
tive importance. As Chairman of
this committee he has had almost
determining influence in the expendi-
lures of millions of dollars annually,
and 1t is to the credit not only of him
self, but of American official manhood,
that no charge has ever been made, that
a dollar has been diverted of all these
vast sums.
In Financial Legislation.
To financial legislation proper he
has had from the first important reIa-
tlonS. He came into most marked
prominence in 1873, when he offered in
the finance committee two amend
ments to the Bland Silver Bill. The
Bland bill was a free and unlimited
coinage measure. The bill had passed
the House. Mr.. Allison believed it
was fraught with danger. His amend
mentS completely changed the effects
OF the bill. 1t turned its influence in
exactly the opposite direction. The
two important features of the amend
ments were the coinage of silver on
Government account and the commit
tai OF the Government to the policy of
the use of both gold and silver as coin
age metals, looking to an ultimate in
ternatlOnal agreement as to a ratio of |
coinage. Mr.. Allison in speaking of |
the So-Called Bland-Allison act, re-
peatedly referred to it as a mere break |
water. Ii was mainly to avert the |
greater danger of free and unlimited |
coinage that he introduced and advo-
Gated the amendments. The Act of
1890, known as the Sherman law, was
likewise temporary measure, but un-
doubtedly the enormous issue of legal |
tender Treasury notes which resulted |
from It's enactment contributed largely
70 the era OF prosperity which followed |
m the wake of the legislation of 1900
In recognition of his eminent service
20 finances, Mr.. Allison was sent. in
1892, to BRUSSELS as the Chairman of
ne American Delegates to the Inter
rational Monetary Conference held in
nat city. Mr.. Allison acquitted him.
'elt there with great credit, and MAIN
alned ably the American contention
or the use OF both metals, gaining the
espeCt and admiration of the dele
,ateS from the other countries.
Cabinets-BIaine's Tribute to Allison.
Mr.. Allison was twice rendered A seat
n the Cabinet, first by President Gar
leld, with whom he had entered the
touse In 1868, and next by President
harrison. In 1851, his domestic affairs
revented him from accepting the
o2veted seat, He shared with Mr..
'lalne the desire the three men,
amely, GARFIELD, Blaine and Allison,
mo had entered the public life to- 7
etner, should be united in a single ad- c
11lIllstratlon: ! In Gail Hamilton's life +
the great Secretary of State, is pub
Shed, on page 4o5, a letter which Mr..
lame wrote to President Garfield in F
egard to Mr.. Allison's place in the
ablnet. The letter begins tersely:
Your Secretary of the Treasury
should be taken from the West This v
Is so evident that | do not stop to ar h
que. He must be identified with an
agricultural community, not manu-
facturlng or commercial community +"
fter discussing the States and the
en, Mr.. Blaine continued: "Tben
comes Allison. < Nor is there anv
other man SO fit, with you and John Z
9herman counted out. Sherman said
the other day that he thought Allison
better posted in financial legis alton
-nan any man in Congress, except u
!arheld and Blaine. This is authen- r.
nc. Allison is known to Won = !,
-noroughly-and long. He is true u
<ind, reasonable, fair, honest and
good. He is methodical, industrious
ind Intell1gent-and would be a =
'plend1d man to sail along with
smoothly and successfully Mr.
alne concluded with tribute to
''With you as President
Saklng your two Chief Advisers from
ne trends ofyour manhoed-who all "
Congress the same dav. ali
II the same age, nearly, and all three