The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-14
FOR A COMMISSION.
Concluded from Second Page.)


followed the presidential elections for years
have been of opposite temper on financial
and economic questions from the congresses
that have been elected with the President.
Now, J say again thar this reform-if this
machine is adhered tO-in the natural order
OF events, in the weakness of human ma
and 1t will lake years TO accomplish 1t
where. if we had a man elected from each
State who had influence with the represen-
tatives from that State. who would imme-
diately go to work with the Senate COM
mittee on finance and the House committee
on banking and currency ut once. within
ten days L believe that something could be
developed entirely satisfactory TO the coun-
try and TO this convention. Now. if il is
not done, you will have a hostile Congress.
You have a friendly one now. say again,
this. and nothing more. that the members
of Congress are not absolutely ignorant,
and all the wisdom of the country is not
outside of Ii.
Mr.. Nelson-Wil the gentleman allow a
question? Are We to understand that you
favor the amendment offered by Mr.. Fow-
Ter, of New Jersey?
Mr.. Walker-I favor that amendment for
one reason
IL is that the States appoint rather than
the chairman Of this convention?
Mr.. Walker-Not at all. That Is a minor
reason. 1t Is for this reason. and This onIy.
and i am exceedingly unfortunate if / have
not made II appear. aud that is. time. time,
time, and nothing else. We have no time.
This bill must be prepared before the extra
session meets, or IL goes over to the Fifty
sixth Congress just as sure as you are
sitting on these seats. There is not a man
here who has served in Congress but who
knows that is true. and there isn't a con-
gresham but knows that is true. Now we
look at this convention. at Washington,
for assistance. As / said before. you have
tied our hands. The banking and currency
committee cannot meet again. This action
practically ends our action for this Con-
gress. and practically for the next.
George Peabody. OF New York-Would it
be your view that the commission should
be constituted at once in order TO appear
before the special session of Congress on
the 4th of March?
DRAW a BILL AT ONCE.
Mr.. Waiker-The commission ought not
to appear before Congress at all. This
commission has got to draw a bill that can
be passed. Success is your duty with this
convention ana with Congress. Let your
committee go before the banking and cur
rency committee. Let them sit there day
after day. ane feel the pulse of the country.
as we have to feel it. and know IL. and
then you will know what bill can be passed
and what cannot. III this convention will
appoint don't care how, so that il is
make the sacrifice To come TO Washington
and stay a week and meet with our COM
mittee. as members of the committee, IL
YOU choose. come to that committee and
ask questions of il. and let us ask questions
OF you. and don't you see that your bill is
passed when IL is drawn in the committee.
hNl II VI AtdW IL Oul1AtAt VI the GOIlIlllk
tee and outside OF Congress and submit
1t TO Congress. you will have to educate
the committee and educate Congress. and
that Is a process that YOU cannot accom-
plish TN two years. tApplause.) If you
will take hold and work this banking and
currency committee they will make any
sacrifice To accomplish wnat you want.
Mr.. Rhoades. OF New York-Has the
banking and currency as IL is
now organized. I'm its present form. for
nearly two years. reached any conclusion
on any of these subjects?
Mr.. Walker-They have reached no con-
illusions because OF the political exigencies
of the presidential election. but they would
have reached a conclusion before the close
of this present Congress. but for this con-
vention.
Mr.. Rhoades-You cannot get your COM
mittee together.
Mr.. walker-WelL. we could get our COM
ngtttee together. and we would. but for this
col ven, ION. You have said To US that we
don't know our business.
Franklin McNeagh. OF Chicago-You can
not charge us with the fact that you can
not get your banking and currency COM
mlttee TO meet.
Mr.. Walker said after this convention.
II this convention has decided TO appoint
a commission and take this business out
of our hands.
Mr.. Rhoades-Suppose you get your COM
mittee together and frame a bill. what
chance would there be of passing IL? Let
me say 10 you that the mercantile and
bankin interests Of this country. which
represent every interest Ia this country.
from the poorest To the richest. has been
SolnS to the nauS OF congress Tor the last
ten years. We have sent delegations there;
We have passed resolutions OF our boards
of trade: We have pleaded and begged OF
the committee on coinage and currency In
the House. and finance In the Senate. and
We have asked them for help. The coun-
try to-day lies PROSTATE: we are tired of
it. sir. We mean business I'm this conven-
tion. and 1 ask you. sir. II We pass any
such resolution as this. what chance is
there for relief from the present Congress.
or the Congress 10 Gomez
WHY CONGRESS DOES NOTHING.
Mr. Walker-You have come 10 Congress
with just precisely such "a measure as your
commission Will agree upon. and Congress
has done nothing, and IL will not. l ask
you not 90 repeat that folly again. which
this convention is doing. 1 ask YOU to ap-