The times., 1897-04-14
GREETINGS TO WOLCOTT
Many Callers Congratulate the New
Silver Envoy.
Each Commissioner o BimetaIiist.
Test of the Bill Under Which
They Were Appointed.

Senator WocOtt, of Colorado, passed s
many congratulations during the after
noon from his party associates and from
personal friends in the other political par
ties. While the fact, that he would b.
| appointed il commission were nameC
has long been discounted, still the an
nouncenent of the fact led to many felici
tations. Even the silver men Joined il
| and congratulated ithe,Senator for reasons
| OF personal friendship.
| What time the Senator had left from
/ shaking hands with friends he devoted to
| the newspaper 1Ien, who were in his office
| by the dozen all day. The Senator greeted
| all cordially, but, pursued the policy o
| silence concerning his mission that has
characterized his course since his return
! from Europe. r. 4
| TO Tie lines he said: From the first
! President Mckinley was determined to Ii f;
| this commission above the plane OF parti-
| san politics. He selected as one member
| ex-Vice President Stevenson, a Democrat
| of high character a.id standing a supporter
| of Bryan in the last campaign and an ear
| nest bimetallist, who is undoubtedly salts
| factory to the great body OF Democracy.
There is nothing partisan politically in this
commission. 1t represents both political
parties, aud every member OF the COM
| mission is bimetailist,'
There is so little known concerning the
Congressional act under which the com
mission is named that il is here given in
full 1t is entitled, An act to provide
for the representation Of the United States
by commissioners at any interna tional
monetary conference hereafter 70 be called.
and to enable the President to otherwise
promote an International agreement
The bill provides that whenever the
President Of the United states shall de-
ter1nine that the United states should be
represented at any international conference
called by the United states or any other
country with a view to securing by inter-
national agreement fixity of relative
value between gold and silver as money
by means of common ratio between these
metals, with free inintage at such ratio,
he is hereby authorized to appoint five or
more commissioners to such internd tional
conference; and for compensation of said
commissioners, and for all reasonable ex-
penses connected Herewith TO be ap-
proved by the Secretary Of State, ineluCl-
ing the proportion to be paid by the United
States Of the joint expenses OF any such
conference, the sum OF 500, 900, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, is
hereby appropriated.
That the President of the United States
is hereby authorized, in the name OF the
Government of the United States, to call,
in his discretion, such international con-
ference, to assemble a t such point as may
be agreed upon. And be is further author
ized, if in his judgment the purpose speci-
fled in the first section hereof can thus be
better attained, to appoint one or more
special commissioners or ENJOYS 10 such OF
the nations of Europe as he may designate
to seek by diplomatic negotiations an in
ternatonal agreemeutftr the purpose speci-
fled n the first section hereof, Andin case
of such appointment so much Of the appro-
priation herein made as shall be necessary
shall be available for the proper expenses
and compensation of such. commissioners
or envoys.' 80
1t viii be seen that the present status
OF Messrs WOlcott, Paine and Stevenson
is as special diplomatic commissioners. or
TO Europe Theyare fully equipped
to conduct negotiations with the officials
OF foreign countries, and are provided with
a fund for expenses as large as that which
Was given the Venezuelan boundary com
mission.