Evening star., 1897-02-22
M MONETARY CONFERENCE
House Coinage Committee Reports Favora-
bly, on the Senate Bill.
Principal Points in the Report Drawn
by Chairman Stone of
Pennsylvania.

The report on the bill for an internation-
al monetary conference has been drawn by
Representative c. w. Stone of Pennsylva-
mia. chairman of the House committee on
coinage. weights and measures. 1t says
that belief exists that the American peo-
pie intended and expect that an earnest
and bona fide effort shall be made to reach
an international agreement on the currency
question, and to enable the executive to
give effect to that intention it is recon-
mended that he be given full power to deal
with the subject during his term of office.
The prompt passage of the Senate bill. with
an amendment providing for diplomatic
negotiations, If necessary, therefore, is rec
commended. conference of representa-
tives of the several nations heretofore has
been the customary way Of seeking such
agreement, and embodies entirely
proper mode of proceeding, and one which
the committee thinks has received the ap-
proval of leading European nations, as it
says is shown by history 1t is not, how
ever, the report adds the only proper mode
of proceeding. Diplomatic negotiations and
treaty stipulations may be resorted to pre-
liminary or subsequent to such conference,
or. in lieu of it. circumstances seem to
require. The incoming executive. 1t is
stated, has frankly and uneQuivocally
stated that he will employ all proper means
to promote an international agreement,
and the committee believes that he should
be aided in the performance of this duty
by promptly vesting in him full and ex-
plicit power to use every appropriate
mems to promote an international agree
ment, and the committee therefore recon-
mend an addition to the bill providing that
he may appoint commissioners or envoys
to seek by diplomatic negotiations with the
several nations to bring about such an
agreement.
The report refers to the favorable action
taken by the English house Of commons in
1898 on a proposition to hold an interna-
tional conference, the subsequent request
of the German reichstag for such a confer
ence and similar action by the French
chamber OF deputies, and says: In the face
of such explicit declarations of opinion by
the legislative branches of the three great
monetary powers of Europe. we cannot as
sumo that the governments of these coun-
tries would decline to join in a conference
nor ought We to assume that they would
appoint delegates who would misrepresent
or antagonize the national sentiment indi-
Gated by the expressions of the legislative
representatives of the people. Your COM
mittee do not enter into any discussion of
either the feasibility or the merits of inter-
national bimetallism. The great prepon-
derance Of testimony Of students of mon
etary science seems to establish it's entire
feasibility If sustained by the great COM
mercial nations of the world. Its desira-
bility, from an American standpoint at
least. has been recently passed upon by
tne great jury OF the american people, ana
their verdict is to be ripened If possible into
an effective judgment"
Reference is made to the plank of the
republican platform in the last campaign
opposing the free coinage of silver except
by international agreement with the leading
commercial nations Of the earth, which the
republican party is pledged to promote, and
declaring that until such agreement can be
obtained .he existing gold standard must
be preserved. The report continues: There
is nothing of ambiguity or uncertainty in
this declaration; 1t is explicit, straightfor-
ward and complete. 1t must be accepted as
expressing the will and purpose of the
American people. and their will should be
the guide of their representatives. A pledge
fairly made should be unhesitatingly full
filed. Doubts as to the possibility of sue
cess do not absolve from the plighted obli-
cation to attempt success"