Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
MANY IDEAS OF REFORM
Banking and Currency Bills in the
House.
Measures That Have Been Refereed
Their Authors and Their Pur-
poses Defined by Title.

AS the currency question and amendment
of the banking system of the country will
come up for extensive discussion, If not for
action. in the House at this session of Con-
gress some interest attaches to the char
acter of the bills relating to these subjects
which were introduced during the extra
session of Congress. Even If no more bills
We're offered the committee would have
enough material to work upon. although 1t
| is expected that nearly every member of
the House will have some idea to express
| upon the currency question, and will mani
fest it by introducing bill.
Capt. Mckee, the journal clerk of The
House, in carrying out his pians of assort-
ing the bills introduced at the last session,
has collected all of the bills referred to the
committee on banking and currency.
Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts, the chair
man of the committee, is the author of sew
eral bills. One OF them proposes Ito Sc
cure to the people the advantages accruing
notes by banks. to increase the volume of
such notes, and to supervise and control
banks by officers of the United Statcs.''
Another is Ito call in and cancel the pa
per money now injuring the prosperity of
the country a third proposes Ito modify
the national banking laws so as 10 pro-
vide the people with safe, ample, elastic
and cheap currency" A fourth bill offered
bank act as to secure to the people in all
sections of the country equal opportun-
ity to freely use paper money
Mr. William Alden Smith is the author
of five bills Offering amendments TO the
national banking laws. Mr.. Mccall of Mas
sachusetts has bill to provide a uniform
currency for the United States.
Mr.. Fowler of New Jersey introduced a
bill entitled Ito amend the national bank
act, take the United States government out
of the banking business, refund the ma
tlonal debt, reform the currency, insure
depostors improve and extend our bank
ing system, and to provide funds i'll case of
a deficit The bill contains about twenty
seven sections and occupies nearly twenty
printed pages.
Mr. Bingham of Pennsylvania introduced
a bill to refund the outstanding United
States and treasury notes with bonds bear
ing interest at the rate of per centum.
He also has a bill to increase the eircula-
ton of national bank currency and to re-
luce the taxes thereon.
Mr. Hills bill proposes to increase the
circulation of national hanks. while Mr..
Cox OF Tennessee wants 20 repeal the tax
on state banks and state bank assUca-
items. Mr.. Cox also introduced bills to
regulate the national currency and for the
better control of national banks.
Mr.. Brosius is the author of two bills,
one of which has been the subject of con-
siderable favorable comment i'll Congress
heretofore. This is the bill 10 provide For
the organization of national banks in towns
OF not exceeding 5000 inhabitants. The
other bill is to increase the circulation of
national banks and to promote "A redemp-
tion of legal tender and United States
treasury notes.
Mr.. Skinner has n bill directing the is
sue of bimetailic certificates and to main
tain the parity of gold and silver at the
present legal ratio. Mr.. jenkins bill IS to
amend the laws providing for the organi-
ZatloE of national banking associations,
and Mr.. John Murray Mitchell's is to es-
flIn
The committee on coinage, weights and
measures also has a number of bills re-
lating to the finances of the government
Among them are half a dozen measures
for the unlimited free coinage of silver and
gold by the United States, irrespective of
the action of other nations.