The herald., 1897-12-08
IN THE HOUSE
"a Short Session With Some Lively
Debate

IOAN, OSC. 81 Hc SSsslol
of the house today, though 1t lasted but
two hours, witnessed very lively skir-
mish over the question of distributing
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 Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio fired
the first gun against the civil service
law, and this also brought the friends
and enemies of that measure into ac-
tion.
johnson of Indiana. in ringing warn
ing, declared that If a bill to emasculate
the civil service law were passed it
would meet the presidential veto.
Eventually Dingley, in Difference to
the opposition of the members of the
banking and currency committee. agreed
to a modification Of the order of distri-
button, 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 that he had won decisive VIC
tory, and that his committee, under the
order, would have jurisdiction of a
measure, as he expressed It, to convert
the greenbacks into gold certificates.
But members Of the ways and means
committee insisted that the changes of
verbiage in the order would not affect
their jurisdiction, and that measure
such as the president suggested, If in
troduced in the house, would be referred
by the speaker to their committee.
After the reading of the Journal, leave
was asked by several Of the most i'm
portant committees to SIT during the
sessions Of the House, and for the print
ing of documents for the use of the COM
mittees. These were the customary re-
quests incident to the first week of the
session and were granted.
Before the debate, which lasted over
an hour, had been concluded, the house
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 un-
der the resolution would go to the bank
ing and currency committee.
"There seems to be a decided conflict
of opinion as to what matters refer to
banking and currency" exclaimed Mr..
Walker, rather sharply.
Mr.. Dingley protested that the Ian
guage of the resolution was identical
with that of other 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, wanted to know specifically
whether measure to effectuate the rec
concentrations of the president on the
currency would go to the ways and
means or the currency committee.
Mr.. Dingley avoided direct response.
''If it is proposed to retire the green
backs in the manner recommended by
the president where would it go?" asked
Mr.. Bailey.
Mr.. Johnson, Republican. of Indiana,
pressed Mr. Dingley along the same
line.
Il would leave the determination of
that question to the speaker" at last
replied Mr.. Dingley. The house laughed
ut is to avoid this very thing" ex-
claimed Mr.. Johnson, tt.iet desire this
question to be made clear now. Does
the chairman of the ways and means
committee think a bill embodying the
principle Of the presidents recommend
alton affects the redemption of funds ?"
II think it does" replied Mr.. Dingley.
Then the gentleman indirectly an
swers our question:" exclaimed Mr..
johnson.
BY this time it being apparent that
debate would be required to dispose of
the question at Issue, Mr.. Dingley and
Mr.. Bailey arranged for thirty minutes
on side.
Walker then got the floor and indig-
nantly protested that If the questions re-
lating to our legal tender money, which
lay at the very foundation of our
currency and banking laws, were to
come under the jurisdiction of the ways
and means committee, the committee
on banking and currency might as well
be dissolved.
Cox, Democrat, Of Tennessee, the
senior Democratic member of the cur
rency committee, seconded the protest
Of Mr.. Walker.
Wheeler, Democrat, of Alabama at
this point got the floor and used few
minutes in a plea for a government
armor plate plant In Alabama. He was
followed by Grosvenor, Republican, OF
Ohio, who diverted the whole course af