The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-06

On Currency legislation.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 4. - Speaker Reed
was at the Capitol to-day greeting the in
coming members and talking over the pros
poets of the approaching session of Con-
gress The Republican members who have
arrived seem to agree that there is little or
no prospect of currency legislation, and
many of them, like Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois,
are emphatic in the expression of the opin-
ion that it would be a mistake to attempt
to pass a measure through the House with
the certainty that it would fail in the SEN
ate. Judge Cox, of Tennessee, the leading
member of the Democratic minority of the
committee on banking and currency does
not believe it will be possible even to get
bill out of that committee, owing to the
conflicting views held by the members, and
has advised Chairman Walker not to make
the attempt Mr. Tawney, of Minnesota,
one of the members of the ways and means
committee, believes that If the leaders
should decide to press a currency measure
it would come, not from the currency, but
from the ways and means committee. Any
bill which contemplated the issue of bonds
or involved the revenues in any way as, for
instance, in the reduction of the tax on
national bank notes. he says, could properly
come under the jurisdiction or the ways ana
means committee.
Mr.. Tawney thinks it not improbable that
the ways and means committee may pre-
sent an important measure in the course of
the session for the modification OF some
of the acknowledgements features of the pres
ent tariff law. The internal-revenue features
of the law of 1894 were not amended in any
respect by the Dingley law. Two of the
questions which will be considered in con-
features of the law will be the proposed re-
duction of the tax on whisky and the subject
of free alcohol in the arts, which joint
committee of the House and Senate have
been investigating 1t is the intention of
Chairman Cannon and his colleagues on the
appropriations committee to press the APP
preparation bills through as early as pos
sble and they expect to pass two at least
before the Christmams holidays.
Senator Frye, who arrived in Washington
to-day, expressed the opinion that on ac-
count of the political complexion OF the
Senate it would be impossible to secure cur
rency legislation such as would satisfy the
Republican party at the approaching session
of the Senate. and In this view Senator AL
lison conceded.
the Senate committee on foreign relations.
was among the arrivals to-day. He stated
that the Hawaiian annexation treaty would
be taken UP by the Senate Tuesday ana be
considered thereafter in executive session.
AS to the outlook for the ratification OF the
treaty the senator declined TO express an
opinion saying he had not canvassed the
situation since the treaty was laid aside at
the close of the extra session of Congress.
Mr., DAVIS will not discuss the Cuban ques-
Senator Frye, of Maine who is next, in
rank to Mr. Davis OH the committee on for
eign relations, is more outspoken as to
Cuba. He said to-day that he was in favor
of action favorable to the insurgents, and
that he believed it would be Impossible to
prevent some such expression in both House
and Senate this session.
On the other hand, Mr. Hale, of Maine
who LED the fight against the CUBAN reSOlu-
ton at the last session, expresses confi-
denee in the conservative course of Presi-
dent Mckinley as to the Cuban question,
and feels that this will have a material in
fiuence in preventing agitation. The Senator
has not changed his views that this country
should keep out of the trouble and he will
oppose any agitation in the Senate. In re-
ferring to naval affairs, MIR. Hale, VINO Is
chairman of the naval committee OF the
Senate said he believed Congress would au-
thorize the building of one new battle snip
and some more torpedo boats at the coming
session.
Chairman Dingley, of the ways and means
committee, was among the arrivals to-day:
After comforting with Chairman Cannon. or
the committee on appropriations. the gen
eral programme for the opening days or
the House was mapped out. Mr.. D1ngley
was informed that two appropriation bills
pensions and legislative, executive ana
iudiciaI-were practically completed, Ii
was determined therefore. to take these
UP at the outset. When they are out OF the
way it is probable that bankruptcy iegls-
lation will have a hearing. There has been
some talk that the bill relative to alcohol
used in the arts would be passed at an
early day, but it was generally understood
after Mr.. Dingley had conferred with the
House leaders that no legislation on the
subject would be had in the near future,
and probable none this session.
REPRESENTATIVE Bailey, the Democratic
leader on the floor of the House, arrived
to-day He said il was too early TO outline
the course of the minority IN the House. lie
preferred to wait for the Presidents mes
sage before expressing his views on lead
ing topics On Cuba, however, he said that
while ne would not venture to say what
the House would do, in his opinion II ought
to pass a resolution granting recognition TO
them on the same footing as the Spaniards.
REPRESENTATIVE SayerS, ranking Demo-