The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-22
SIMPLE CURRENCY PLAN
WORK OF MONETARY COMMISSION Is
ALMOST COMPLETE.
Mr.. Hanna Has Strong Belief I'm Prob
ability of Congressional Ac-
ton This Winter.

Hugh H. Hanna. chairman Of the none
tary executive committee. in conversation
with Journal reporter yesterday, ex-
pressed a strong belief in the probability of
currency reform legislation at this session
of Congress. Mr.. Hanna has but recently
returned home from an extended Eastern
journey during which much Of his time
was spent in Washington, where the mon
etary commission selected by his commit
tee is at work
THE work Of the commission" said he,
''is almost completed, and am highly graf
flied. but not surprised, to know that the
plan it will recommend is so simple, SO
comprehensive and so conservative that
every levelheaded man in the country, no
matter what his occupation may be- can
cordially support it. It's very simplicity
demonstrates the bigness of the commits
sion. While / have never felt nervous
about the outcome since we succeeded in
persuading men of such large caliber to
devote months of their time to the purpose
yet have understood all along that every
thing depended upon the character of the
plan proposed. Had it proven something
impracticaple, something too radical or
have been useless to go further, for the
country would not have supported it.
"Plans without number from all manner
of citizens, from the greatest financiers
and economic thinkers and men of large
affairs, down to the humblest thinker on
tho subject, have rolled in upon the COM
mission. A number of these have been pub
lished, and you will note that the same
great leading ideas run through all of them
ultimate redemption in gold. the separa-
lion of the revenue and note-issue depart
ments of the treasury, the gradual dis
placement of the government demand obli-
cations by bank-note currency and i'm
provement of the banking facilities of the
agricultural communities 1t is surprising
that so many men whose time is extremely
valuable should have taken up the subject
and devoted the time and thought neces-
sary to reply fully to the interrogatorieE
sent out by the commission, and there has
baen hardly one that has not contained
SoY''e suggestion of value
with the right kind of plan thus as
sured J am confident that the sound bust
ness sense of the country will prevail and
that we shall have legislation that will sim
plify and fortify our currency system
There is more of this sound business sense
in Congress than writers on public topics
seem to appreciate. The average member
of Congress. senator as we'll as representa-
tive, Is anxious to do the right thing and
the thing the people want as soon as he
is convinced OF what that is. l believe ]
know enough of the situation in Con-
gross. In the administration and in the
country at large not TO speak idly when
express the belief that the people of the
country will support this measure and that
Congress will respond to the peoples will
1t will not he an easy matter. of course
but no step in this movement has been an
easy matter. In a popular government no
great measure was ever conceived and
chrystaliiZed into law without a struggle
struggle with this. but in its results TO the
country II will be we'll worth the effort