The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-08
HAD A LIVELY SKIRMISH
Congress Begins It's Work With
a Warm Debate.
CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY
A Battle Between the Ways and Means
and Banking Committees Ends in
Compromise Both Claim to
Have Won Victory.

Washington. Dec. THE session ol
the house to-day, though it lasted hut
two hours, witnessed "a very lively skir.
| mish over the question of distributing
1 the presidents message to the various
committees clothed with jurisdiction
over the subjects dealt with. The con-
flict of authority came between the
| ways and means committee and the
| banking and currency committee The
! battle ragged all along the line. During
| the debate Grosvenor of Ohio fired the
| first gun against the civil service law
and this also brought the friends and
enemies OF that measure into action.
Mr.. johnson of Indiana. in a ringing
warning. declared that if bill TO
emasculate the civil service law We're
passed it would meet the presidential
veto Eventually Mir Dingley. in de-
ference to the opposition of the MEM
bers of the banking and currency COM
mittee agreed to modification of the
order of distribution. so as to send to
the ways and means committee all
matters relating to the revenues, the
bonded debt of the country and the
treaties affecting the revenues" The
resolution was then adopted
After the session Chairman Walker
claimed he had won decisive victory
and that his committee, under the or
der, would have jurisdiction Of a meas
ure to, as he explained it. convert the
greenbacks into gold certificates But
members of the ways and means COM
mittee insisted that the changes of
wording in the order would not affect
their Jurisdiction and that a measure
such as the president suggested, If in
troduced in the house. would be re-
ferred by the speaker to their commit
tee.
The presidents message transmitting
the report of the special commissioner
TO the Paris international exposition
and recommending liberal appropria-
tion for our representation at the ex-
position was laid before the house.
Dlngley, from the committee on ways
and means. presented "A resolution
adopted by that committee for the dis
tribution of the presidents message to
several committees having jurisdiction
of the various subjects treated on
walker lrep) of Massachusetts Is
chairman of the banking and currency
committee, asked for a re-reading af
the portion Of the resolution giving the
ways and means committee jurisdiction
OF all portions relating to national
hnances, public debt and preservation
of the public credit. Debate followed
upon what the language of the resolu-
tion meant and the issue as to the
jurisdiction of the currency problem as
p'tNttii hIt " dA = anu IitdllS ana DAnk-
ing and currency was sharply raised
Before the debate. which lasted over
an hour, had been concluded the house
was plunged into "A debate on the cur
rency problem. Mr.. Walker, after the
reading of the resolution, asked with
some heat, what was left to his COM
mittee.
Mr.. Dingley replied that all matters
relating to banking and currency up-
der the resolution would go to the
banking and currency committee
There seems to be a decided con-
Llct OF opinion as to what matters re-
fer to banking and currency" ex-
claimed Mr. Walker rather sharply
Mr.. Dingley protested that the Lam
guage of the resolution was identical |
with that Of former resolutions on the |
same subject, but he was Immediately |
bombarded with questions as to the |
practical effect Of the resolutions Ian
guage.
Mr., Bailey Of Texas. the minority
leader, attacked the flank of Mr.. Ding |
ley. He wanted to know specifically |
whether measure to effectuate the |
recommendations of the president on t
the currency would go To the ways and T
means or the currency committee.
Mr. Dingley avoided direct re-
sponse.
IF il is proposed to retire the green-
backs in the manner recommended bv
the president where would il go?"
asked Mr.. Bailey.
Mr.. johnson rep. Ind pressed Mr.
Dingley along the same line.
Il would leave the determination Of
hat question 10 the speaker" at last re-
5lied Mr.. Dingley. THE house laughed
1t is 10 avoid this very thing" ex-
claimed Mr. Johnson. that I desire
his question 10 be made clear now.
Does the chairman of the ways and
means eETnp4ffIgn thtnlr
ng the principle of the presidents rec
affects the redemption
und'
II think il does" replied Mr.. Dingley.
Then the gentleman indirectly answers
,ur question. exclaimed Mr. Johnson
BY this time II being apparent that
iebate would he required To DISPOSE IF
he question Al issue. Mr.. Dingley and
Mr.. Bailey arranged for 80 minutes on
side.
Mr. Walker then got the floor and IN
iignantly protested that IL the dues-
ions relating - our legal tender money
which laN Al the very foundation of our
currency and banking laws were III
Ome under the Jurisdiction of the WAYS
md means committee. the commit faa
N banking and currency might as well
~ dissolved. II II was to be sn0rn 0f
Is responsibilities. why continue it2 lie
vowed that IN the last congress his
had been steadily disregard
"a. Its members had cooled their heels
n the speakers lobby. he said. and
when al LAST they were allowed t8
ring lu p ttH the previous question
lad been demanded without permission
or debate. aHa ae had been allowed IL
.ddresS tine 49dse only by unanimous
DuSelt
Mr. ok democrat. Tennessee. the
eniur lew4# sal3e member of the cur
tnDv committee. seconded the protest
+ NJ. Walk The presidents RECON-
l-udati7Us - 10 national bank cfrCu-
alton h said. were inextrlca bly inter
woven HzEn The proposition 10 retire the
.recr backs. = the banking and car
.ues- committee vas 10 do anything Hz5
ubMs fHa Is hands should NOT Es
i~&. f.- ~ dressed the opinion that raa
h3.lt fHa resolution was ta ~ 5s
.iIe subject mat nothing practical
e.uFl H.sEztE.
SIR Wheeler democrat. Alabama r.
his r.rr -af ne floor. and us-T 4 #-.s
minute Ia HIaa fpr. "a .r..f-..rr-5s. ~