The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-11
GAGE AT WORK ON BILL.
May Submit One, Two or Three Measures
to Conrgess.

Washington, December 10-It was stated
in reliable quarters about the House of
Representatives today that Secretary Gage
has made known his purpose not to enl-
body his hnancialsviews in one compre-
hensive bill. but to cover special sub
jeots in q number of special bills, some
of which would go before the House COM
uittee Of banking and currency and
others before the committee on ways and
means. The banking and currency COM
mittee had formally invited the secretary
to presentga bill covering all phases OF
financial reforms suggested In his recent
recommendation to Congress and the
desire of mem bers.of the committee was
to treat the subject as an entl1ety. For
that reason there was considerable COM
ment when it was stated that Mr.. Gage
would divide thessubjecteinto several bills
some of which would go before the ways
and means committee.
IL was this last feature which occasioned
the liveAsst comment, owing to the
sharp contest between the ways and
means committee and the banking and
troll legislation designed to bring about
currency reform. This feeling found ex-
preston on the floor of the House the
second day of the session and after a
spirited exchange between Mr. Dlngley
and Mr.. Walker, the chairman OF the
two committees, theimatter was compr o
Ismised. The Walker committee felt that
it mad carried the day and at its initial
| meeting on Wednesday, the formal invita-
| tien was extended to Secretary Gage to
present bill based on his reoommeda-
| tions to Congress.
Mr.. Hill Of Connecticut was designated
| by Chairman Walker to submit the re-
qu0st to the Secretary. AS o result of this
1 interview, it became generally understood
about the House that the Secretary would
not comply with the request for general
|, bill of financial reform, but would draft
several distinct hiMs.
When Mr, Hill was asked as to the re-
port be said that be could not say what
The Secretary would determine to do. The
latter had received the invitation of the
committee on banking and currency with
Inuch courtesy, and had said he would
| appear before the committee at an early
| day. While Mr.. Gage did not outline
what he would do as to framing one or
more bills, yet the impression MIR. Hill
received was that the Secretary had under
consideration several bills covering the
several phases of the financial subject. IF
the Secretary concludes to adopt this plan
it is said that the bills relating to bonds,
lsrefunding the public debt and placing a
tax on circulation would go to the ways
and means committee, while the bills for
the establishment of small banks in rural
communities allowing circulation up to
the par value of bonds deposited and other
phases directly connected with the bank
ing business would go to the committee
onsbankiDg ana currency.
When Secretary Gage this afternoon
was informed of the reports in circulation
about the House of Representatives he
said that he had not yet made up his
mind whether to submit his proposition
in one, two or three bills. His plan might
Igbe better understood if divided, but he
had not yet decided about the matter and
was still at work on the proposed legisla-
| tion.