Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-12-09
The Presidents Message.

Congress met in regular session
Monday last, with quorum present
in both branches. President McKln-
ley's message was submitted
After short prelude in which he
assured the Legislators that they met
under "Glcltlons conditions" he took
up the currency gu, stion and said:
"The secretary Of the treasury has
outlined plan IN great detail for the
purpose of removing the threatened
recurrence of depleted gold reserve
and save US from future embarrass-
ment on that account. To this plan l
invite your careful consideration.
concur with the secretary OF the
treasury in his recommendation that
national banks be allowed to issue
notes to the face value Of the bonds
which they have deposited for circu'
lation, and that the tax on circulating
notes secured by the deposit OF such
bonds be reduced to One-half OF one
per cent per annum. l also join him
in recommending that authority be
given for the establishment of nation
al banks with minimum capital Of
$4,000. This will enable the smaller
villages and agricultural regions Of
the country to be supplied with cur
rency to meet their needs.
l recommend that the issno OF ma
tional bank notes be restricted TO the
denomination of ten dollars and mp
wards. II the suggestions / have
herein made shall have the approval
of congress, then would recommend
that national banks be required to
redeem their notes in gold"
The president asked congress to
keep it's hands off OF Cuba, and to
let him handle the question. Urges
the annexation OF Hawaii.
The republican papers have very
soIemnly assured their readers that
bimetallism is dead, but MIR. McKln'
ley puts the lie to their statements
by saying;
Under the provisions Of the act Of
congress, approved March 3, 1897, for
the promotion of an international
agreement respecting bimetallism, l
appointed on the fourteenth day Of
April, 1897, Hon. Edward 0. Wolcott
of Colorado, Hon. Adlai L. Steven.
son Of Illinois, and Hon. Charles j {.
Payne of Massachusetts as special en-
voys to represent the United States.
They have been dillgent in their OF.
forts to secure tho concurrence and
cooperation of European countries
in the international settlement OF the
question, but up to this time have
not been able to secure an agreement
contemplated by their mission.
The gratifying action OF our great
sister republic OF France is joining
this country in the attempt to bring
about an agreement between the
principal commercial nations of Eur
ope, whereby fixed and relative val
ne between gold aud silver shall be
secured, furnishes assurances that We
are not alone among the larger ma
tions of the world in realizing the IN
ternational character OF the problem
aud in the desire Of reaching some
wise and practical solution OF it
The British government has publish
ed q resume of the steps taken jointly
bv the French ambassador in London
aud the special ENJOYS of the United
States with whom our ambassador in
London actively co-operated in the
presentation OF this subject to Her
Msiesty's government. This will be
laid before congress. Our special en-
voys have not yet made their final re-
port az to further negotiations be-
tween the representatives Of this gov
eminent and the governments OF 9th,
or countries which are pending and
in contemplation. They believe that
doubts which have been raised in GER
tain quarters respecting the POSSIBLE
NY of maintaining the stability of the
parity between the metals and kind
red questions may yet be solved by
further negotiations.
Meanwhile it gives me satisfaction
to state that the special ENJOYS have
already demonstrated their ability
and fitness to deal with the subject
and it is to be earnestly hoped that
their Iabors may result in an interna-
tionaI agreement which will bring
about recognition of both gold and
silver as money upon such terms and
with such safeguards as will secure
the use of both metals upon a basis
which shall work no injustice to any
class Of our citlzens."
The president talks Of reciprocity
OF the upbuildiDg of our merchant
marine, says we will have enough
warships when those under construc-
ton are finished; wants the tribal
relations OF the Indians broken up;
urges changes in quarantine laws;
asks for money with which to bid
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