Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-25
currency Reform May be secured.

1t is pointed our by Washington
correspondent that an earnest campaign
for currency reform may prove succosa-
ful next winter, even in the face Of the
adverse conditions prevailing in tho
United States Senate He claims thai
currency reform stands as vol with
the present Senate as the Sherman re-
peal project stood with the Fifty-third
Congress at the time it was convened
in extraordinary session, There was
then clear free silver majority in the
Senate, In February of that year the
same body had rejected like propo-
sition by an overwhelming majority,
and yet such was tho force tho new
Cleveland administration threw into
tine contest that the silver purchases
were stopped. and the result was
secured without compromise or evasion.
The friends OF currency ana banking
reform declare that the same thing
can he done with the present Senate,
ami that the task would he much easier
than that accomplished four years ago.
Hib buGy btlithtf $500
If currency reform measure were
forced to vote in Congress- to morrow,
il might not receive the support of half
Of the Republican members.
The correspondent further shows that
| there is a latent strength in the Senate
| in favor of currency reform, and that
| the only thing to do is to bring out
| this latent strength and make 1T
effective. Tho sound money forces OF
the country, lie urges, will have to pull
together un;tedly for whatever measure
a majority OF their leaders think best,
aud 1t is entirely likely that some con-
csssions will lie made to popular
opinion in the framing of that meRsure.
Whether Secretary Cages plan. or the
| Monetary Commissions plan, or a
modification of either, Is finally
adopted as the ralying issue, the
sound money forces of the country will
doubtless stand together firmly in it's
favor, and not wholly without hope OF
success. Vics President Ilobart'H recent
declaration that few Senators will
MT be allowed to defeat needed legis-
lation by dilatory tactics is en-
couraging. 1t is Of no use to wait for
tho Fifty sixth Congress- There is no
knowing that the Senate will be- in
any healthier condition. and the House
ia almost sure to DO in wurse one.
The Bureau Of Information Of the
League of American Municipalities has
begun the task of gathering statistical
matter pertaining to municipal and pri
vats ownership Of electric lighting
plants. Statistics will be gathered from
all cities and towns of five thousand
inhabitants and over, to show the cost
of lights under both private and
municipal ownership, giving the cost
of each plant. capacity, operating ex,
penses, the items Of interest, deprecia.
ton, repairs, &C. 1t is tho Intention
to make comparison bewtee munici'
pal and private ownership, The bureau
is also gathering and compiling inFor
nation on the various garbage system,
now in use also on the cost and differ
emit muthods of street cleaning. Other
important departments of municipa
i work will be taken up, aud within @
3 shurt while it is expected that the
a Bureau OF Information will have {
{ large and complete library. ard com.
prehensive record of departmental worl
in nearly every municipality in thu
country. a bureau of this kind vii
. be of great hop to the officials Of th,
., cities belonging TO the league and j,
the eud it 10 likely TO result beneficial,
to the Taxpayers. The league has upor
: it's membership roll at the present tim,
cities from one end of the country t,
= the other and of from five thousand tt
three million population. 1t would b'
: we'll for the authorities of Wilmington
TO give consideration to the subject o
becoming connected with the league
as tho practical information to he CD
: tanned thereby may prove valuable.
y Secretary of the Treasury Gage, il
I his Address at the Chamber Of Com
IS morce dinner in New York Tuesday
D came out sduarely IN favor of currenc
n reform. lie said. In word. com
u init myself to the following proposition
q At a cost too contemplate for seriou
l consideration the debatahlo conditio
Il of our currency and banking System
10 may be put upon clearly safe, il no