The record-union., 1897-12-03
That Both Houses Are Already Organized
Will Expedite Business.
Bankruptcy Legislation Will be the
First Measure Taken Up, After
Such Appropriation Bills as
May be Ready Are Disposed OF
Little Chance for Amy Import
ant Currency Legislation.

LEWISTON (Maine). Dec. 2-The
journal" this afternoon prints an in
terview with Congressman Nelson
Dingley, who left for Washington To-
day. He said:
'InaSmuch as this will be the first
regular session CT the Fifty y-ffth Con-
gress, and therefore this session is un-
limited in length by the Constitution
and laws, it is difficult TO forecast the
duration. The business of the ap-
preaching session Will be expedited by
the fact that the House. as well as the
Senate. is already organized and the
committees appointed, but the Senate
has no means of limiting debate, 50
that it is always in the power of i few
Senators to greatly extend the sitting,
l see no reason now, however, to be-
lieve that this session will continue
later than June.
Probably bankruptcy legislation viii
be the first to come up after such an
preparation bills as may be ready are
disposed of. The voluntary bankrupt
cy bin passed by the Senate during the
extra session was referred to the House
Judiciary Committee, which may be
ready to report back before the Christ
mas recess. The House will probably
pass a substitute on the lines OF the
Torrey bill, as ii did two years ago, and
then the two bills will go to confer
ence. Probably the conference corI-
mittee of the Senate and House viii
agree upon a compromise measure,
which will become law.
IF the Senate were Republican. and
in harmony with the House on none
tary questions, 1 should look for cur
rency legislation, but with a free silver
majority in the Senate, antagonistic TO
the ideas of the majority of the House
as to what constitutes a sound currency
system, l do not see how it is possible
to secure desirable currency legislation
of an important character until the
Senate is brought to harmony with the
House.
The House joint resolution for joni
committee to consider and report O.
needed currency legislation passed at
the extra session is still in the hands
of the Finance Committee of the SEN
ate, and may be reported back ana
considered by the Senate as soon as
Congress reassembles.
while should be pleased to sec leg
islation which would remedy the want
of fieXibility of our banking system.
and would separate those functions Of
the Treasury Department which relate
to the Government demand notes and
certificates used as currency, and thus
better protect the reserve, l believe
that it is sufficient for all Immediate
purposes TO know that the adminiStra-
ton has the power and is determined to
defend the present monetary standard.
Indeed, with sufficient revenue to meet
all current expenses. as we shall have
in the next fiscal year, the Treasury
Department cannot accomplish the pur-
pose indicated without any new legis-
lation. Legislation, however, is de-
sirable, because under the existing con-
ditions by which the Government notes
are redeemed in gold there are only
two ways in which they can be dis
bursed, viz: BY purchase of Govern
ment bonds, or in exchange for gold.
Speaking for myself. / think that
sound policy and the best interests Of
Cuba require that the question of our
attitude toward the island and Spain
be left to the President, who has al
ready done much for the Cuban cause"