Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-14
INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION CLOSES
ITS SESSIONS.
ADOPTS A PLAN OF ACTION
LOOKING TO THE SECURING OF
REMEDIAL LEGISLATION.
congressman Walker and Fowler En-
Iiven the Final Session by Wig
Orous Opposition to the Re-
port of the Resolutions
Committee.


monetary conference was called to order.
The convention has been conspicuous for
the absence of unnecessary frils. Busi-
ness has been transacted. Prosy speeches
have not been tolerated. The delegates
this morning were seated by states, a
much better arrangement than that of the
day before. The chief event of the morn
ing session was the speech of Congressman
Fowler, of the banking and currency COM
mittee. At 1880 o'clock word was received
| that the committee on resolutions would
not report until go p. m. and the conVen-
ton adjourned till that hour.
1t was after 4 o'clock when the con-
| ference reassembled this afternoon. Chair
man Hanna, of the executive. committee,
called upon Mr.. ingalls,, of Cincinnati, to
| read the report of the committee on reso-
lutions. The report follows:
This convention declares that it has be-
come absolutely necessary that a consist
| ent, straightforward and deliberately
| planned monetary system shall be in
| aueurated, the fundamental basis of which
should be:
"First-That. the present gold standard
| Should be maintained.
''Second-That steps should be taken to
| insure the ultimate retirement of all class
es of the United States notes by a gradual
Sand steady process and SO as to avoid in
yjurious contraction of the currency. or dis
turbances of the business in this, our
II country, and until such retirement pro-
\ vision has been made for a separation of
the revenue and note issue departments of
H the treasury.
/ ''Third. That a banking system be pro-
vided which should furnish credit facilities
to every portion of the country and elastic
4 circulation, especially with view of Sc
4 curing. such distrieution Of the loanabIe
Z capital of the country as VIII tend to equal
ize the rates of interest in all parts
/ thereof
For the purpose of effectively promot-
inp hn al n
"Resolved That fifteen members of this
; convention be appointed by the chairman
1 to act as an executive committee while
| this convention is not in session, with the
| full powers of this convention.
THE executive committee shall have spe-
| cial charge of the solicitation, receipt and
! disbursement of contributions voluntarily
| made for all purposes; shall have power to
call this convention together again. when
and where it may seem best to said COM
mittee TO do so.
Resolved That it shall be the duty of
|. this executive committee to endeavor to
| procure at the special session of congress
which II is understood will be called in
March next, legislation calling for the ap-
| pointment of a monetary committee by the
| president to consider the entire question
and to report to congress at the earliest
| day possible.
or. failing to secure the above legisla-
| tion they are hereby authorized and en-
| powered to select a committee of eleven
members, according to the rules and plans
set forth in suggestions submitted TO the
| convention by ldr. Hanna, of Indianapolis.
Article l. The committee shall consist
of eleven members, to be named by the
legislative committee appointed by this
convention.
Article 2. The first meeting of the COM
mission shall be held at a time and place
to be designated by the executive commit
tee of this convention on call to be issued
therefor: and at such meeting the conven-
tion shall organize by the election of such
officers and the adoption of such rules and
bylaws for its own government as may be
agreed by a majority of its members.
Article 3. All rules and bylaws of the
commission and all its proceedings shall
be directed towards the accomplishment
of the object of its creation. which is to
make a. thorough investigation of the mon
etary affairs and needs of this country in
all relations and aspects, and to make ap-
propriate suggestions as to any evils found
to exist and the remedies therefor and no
limit is placed upon the scope of their in
quiry, or the manner of conducting the
same, excepting only that the expenses
thereof shall not exceed the sums set apart
for such purpose by the executive COM
mittee.
Article 4. The executive committee of
this convention shall use so much of the
voluntary contributions made to it as may
be available for that purpose, to defray
all necessary expenses of the commission,
and shall notify the commission from time
to time of the amount available
ARTICLE 5. When the labors of this COM
mission have been completed so far as
practicable the executive committee, if it
bring this convention together again at a
time and place designated in such call;
and at the meeting so convened the COM
mittee shall make report of its doings and
suggestions in such manner and form as
ii shall deem best adapted to present the
same TO this convention and Its members
for action, and If the legislation is deemed
advisable, shall accompany such report
with Il draft of a bill or bills providing for
such organization.
Resolved, That all resolutions and COM
mlninatiOnS nf,pn
form which have been presented to this
convention be referred to such committee
when formed"
After the reading of the resolutions, J.
II. Walker, of Massachusetts chairman
of the committee on banking and currency.
was recognized and hurled a bombshell
into Camp Peaceful. He said:
THE congress of the United States
through the last congress, deferred action
upon any reform of the finance and bank
ing system of this country TO the present
congress, the presidential election being so
near that the whole question was put over
TO the present congress. At the first ses-
sion of this congress, for the same reason,
II was delayed until the present session of
congress. The committee on banking and
currency of the house and the finance
committee of the senate have taken no
special action. but up to the present mo-
ment it has been determined that before
this congress closes. there should be some
definite scheme formulated to be presented
TO the proposed extra session of the Fifty
fifth congress.
And but for this convention some
scheme would have been provided This
convention was called. What have vou
done? The extra session meets; you cam
not inauGurate your commission before the
close of the present congress: you cannot
determine whether You viii appoint this
commission by this body. That scheme is
tried and then ii goes over to the regular
session of congress, and when the next
congress is elected, if legislation has nor
been had before, you will not get il. You
VIII not. in my judgment, get il for ten
years. don't believe there is .. member
OF congress here por in Washington who
believes that blythe machinery you have
designed here anything can be accom-
plished until the Fifty-sixth congress. 1
ask II you wish to face the people again
IN ra,.anf me hnancial coQdition that has been
In closing Mr.. Walker said: Now did
intend TO say something about the methods
OF securing legislation, if there had been
ht the sIshtest nope or encouragement from
TINS convention. but I want to say that
you have damned the whole reform
damned ii here to-day, IN the weakness of
human nature, and there is no salvation"
f. l. Roots, of Connersville. Ind, jumped
said: iie
Il take 1t that he has misunderstood the
motive OF the men who have been active
IN the calling of this convention. Rather
let II be the beginning of a grand future
IN politics that We are so interested that
we viii spend our money-we from the
East, from the West, from the North and
from the Southland act as citizens he
cause the republic is in our hands and not
IN the hands of congress or senate We
came here fer purpose. We came here
10 express our sentiments, and dangerous
Is the position of that man IN congress who
charges us with being lobbyists for i'm
moral or any other purposes ~
After a running debate. in which l. O.
Ramp. OF Knoxville. Tenn: Mr. Rhoades