Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-09
NATIONAL CAPITAL GOSSIP Twenty-eight Banking Bills to
 Be Examined FOR AGENERAL BANKING LAW Less Tran Half Million of Gold Was With
 drawn Yesterday MIR. HERBER1's LETTER. TO THE SENATE The Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions Made No Attempt to Consider
 the Important Matters Now
 on the Docket.
OR GENERAL BANKING LAW
NR. HERBER1's LETTER TO THE SENATE

Washington, Jan. S.-Twenty-eigh bills were divided by Chairman Walker of the house banking and currency com mittee at their meeting today among five subcommittee. From this number one will be selected to serve as a basis for general banking law, especially de- signed to relieve the treasury from the current redemption of all forms of paper currency. It was decided that on Mon day next a hearing would be given on the bill introduced in the last congress by MT. Hit of Illinois looking to the establishment of an international bank. This measure is designed to carry into effect one of the recommendations made by the Pan-American congress, which met in this city in 1889.
 On Monday of next week the bill in- troduced by MT. Cox of Tennessee, which passed the house in the last congress, to prohibit officers of banks from misusing their position to borrow money in undue quantities from such institutions, will be considered
 At the close of business today the treas ury gold reserve stood at $57, ,S26,2 ,224. The withdrawals at New York amounted to $420,0 900, of which $20,000 was in bars and $400,0O0 in coin.
 The treasury has begun the distribu-
 
 bids for the new bonds. These blank forms will be obtainable at any sub treasury by those wishing to submit bids. All national banks and others making application by mail to the treasury here or to sub-treasuries will be supplied with these blank forms. They are not actually essential to the integrity of the bids, but are the most convenient man. ner of submitting them.
 In response to the Quay resolution re- quiring information as to whether the navy department deemed It advisable to build six battleships instead of the two authorized by congress on the ba- sis of the bids submitted for these two, Secretary Herbert sent to the senate today a long letter on the subject. Af- ter informing the senate that contracts for both battleships authorized have al ready been awarded to the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock com pany, the secretary says the department does not deem It advisable to recommend that any bids received and not accepted should be further considered, because 1t sees no reason why, if other ships are now authorized, the building of them should not also be open to competition. Since the departments plans for battle ships have been completed, and as all the contractors in the United States have had an opportunity to inspect these plans. and as they have been examined by all those able to build the ships. the secretary thinks there seems to be no reason why any delay should occur in letting out contracts for new ships to be authorized by this congress. If an ad- yertisement for new bids for battleships were issued, he says, ten days from the date thereof for receiving and opening the bids would give ample time and op- portunty for competition. Under such an advertisement the department would also, as in like cases heretofore, call for bids upon plans of bidders, and any plans heretofore prepared by bidders might be submitted upon the new bids.
 The secretary calls attention to the fact that in his recent annual report he recommended that three additional battleships be authorized, and he says the department would be glad to have authority to build four such ships as contemplated in the senate resolutions. Plans for torpedo boats S. and have also been examined by contractors, and the secretary sees no objection to mak- ing contracts for the additional torpedo boats recommended in his annual report on the basis of this plan. Bids for these could also be opened in ten days mo- tice.
 The senate committee on foreign rela- tions held it's first meeting this morning since the reorganization of the senate. There was no attempt made to consider the important business before the com- mittee The docket was unusually large, owing to complications now existing be- tween this government and foreign pow CTS. This business was divided between various subcommittee and. after an in formal talk ranging over the entire list of subjects before the committee, an ad- journment was taken until Saturday, when special meeting will be held.
 Chief among the matters referred to by this committee are affairs relating to Cuba, Venezuela and Armenia. Mem bers of the committee say that later on they will cause this government no end of trouble. The papers before the com mittee indicate that half has not been told, and how to effectuaily interfere without violating our national policy of evading entangling alliances with for eign powers is problem that all of the committee and the diplomacy of the state department alone can solve. Some senators are in favor of sending an ap- peal to Russia to take charge of the case and look after the interests or merchants in Armenia. J
 The recognition of the belligerent rights of Cubans is also pressing upon the committee, and this will be the first thing taken up at the meeting Saturday. There is no division of sentiment among members on this subject. Should the in- surgents secure Havana or make vital attack on the Spanish troops that would give them a stronger fOothold on the island, the senate will, 1t is believed, at once pass resolutions recognizing the bel ligerents of Cuba. An informal discus sion of the members of the committee has shown the practical unanimity with which they look upon this question. The only element of doubt in the whole case is, when is the proper time, to grant the rights prayed for by the Cubans. The meeting of Saturday may result in an important action on this subject.
 
 The Louisville and Nashville Report.
 New York, Jan. 8.-The Louisville and