Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-08-25
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 25, 1897
THE CURRENCY COMMISSION.

The most nOtlceaD bic feature o. the
discussion about the currency com-
mission was tae utter absence OF any
, higher toue IN it all than the mere
question OF party expediency. That
the administration owes Its power to
last falls pledges Of currency reform
seemed to be consideration entirely
eliminated from discussion. Perhaps
this is not to be won Tered at so mu IN;
little to be expected in the way Of at
tachment to pledges from an admin
istration which has spent twelfth Of
its lease Of lie in arranging to repay
campaign contributors through the
tariff. to the exclusion of all other
subj cts OF discussion. With such III
administration, under such conditions
it need not excite surprise that so
poor and pitifll sop to decency as
the currency commission scheme
shoul1. after it had been prepared
and publicly an-ounced rs about to
be transmitted to congress, be with
held. while the republican politicians
wrangled over the question OF its ex-
pediency.
Hanna. it appears. favored the
transmission Of the message. Not
that Hanna had any idea that con-
Rress woul do anything on the sub
ject if it was sent in. for Hanna knew
full well how completely at odds the
the republicans in congress were, I'M
derneath their surface semblance Of
harmony, and how harl it had been
to hold congress together long enough
to straighten ont the conflict of sci
fish interests over the tariff. But
Hanna reasoned that the contest in
Ohio, in which he had 81 vital con-
Germ and upon the result of which will
depend his reelection or the loss of
his seat in the senate, is to hinge in
great degree upon the financial ques-
ton. An indication hy ti,a admins
tration that it favors legisIa Ion which
will prevent future drains upon the
gold reserve might catch the business
men in the state and thus strengthe n
the republican cause. Hanna was
well aware that no action would be
taken by the senate upon the presi.
dents recommendations, If made.
but he believed, apparently. that the
mere making Of such recommends
tions wouId be accepted as proof Of
the sincerity Of the administration
and, by giving press and people some
thing else to talk about, steer them
away from the dangerous ground Of
the D ngley tariff.
The eastern republicans in congress
as rule, took the other side of the
argument. They feared that the fl
nancial issue might again bethrust into
prominence at time when their bus
mess constituents were demanding
rest from discussion and opportunity
to adjust themselves to the new con.
ditions OF the Dingley bill. They as
serted that they were deluged with
letters from merchants, manufacture
ers and bankers urging the I'm wisdom
OF renewal Of the controversy over
the financial question until the ext
gencies Of a political campaign should
demand it.
So the president, "simply careful
gentleman, much too amiable and too
'impressionable to be safely mtrusted
with the great executive Office" bal
anced the PROS and cons Of currency
reform on the pole of expediency and
he'itated. How happy might he be
with either, we're t'other dear charmeI
away!-Albany IN. " Argus.
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