The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-08
House Committees Debate Over
Their Jurisdiction.
A LIVELY TWO HOURS SKIRMISH
WITNESSED YESTERDAY.
Question of Reference of Financial Part of
Presidents Message-Mr. Grosvenor
Attacks Civil Service Law and It's
Friends Come 10 It's Rescue.

Washington, December 1.-THE session
OF the House today, though it lasted but
Two hours, witnessed lively skirmish
over the question Of distributing the
Fresldent's message to the various COM
mlttees clothed with jurisdiction over the
subjects dealt with. The conflict of au-
Vhorlty came between the ways and means
ana the banking and currency commit
Uees. Chairman Walker and other mem
pers of the latter committee believed that
the Language of the resolution for distri-
button, which referred all matters relat-
ing TO the revenues, the national
finances, the public debit to the ways
and means committee would rob their
committee of all jurisdiction over the
question of impounding the green backs
as recommended by the President, q
question which they contended was
fundamental to any scheme for the re-
vision OF our currency law The battle
waged all along the line. During the de-
bate Mr.. Grosvernor of Ohio, fred the
flrst gun against the civil service law,
and this also brought the friends and
enemies of that measure. into action.
Mr.. johnson of Indiana, III a ringing
speech declared that if a pill to emascu-
late the civil service law were passed it
| would meet the Presidential veto.
Eventually Mr.. Dingley agreed to q
modlncatlon of the order of distribution
SO as to send to the ways and means com
nlt6ee all matters relating to the 'treye-
| nues, the bonded debt of the country and
the treaties affecting the revenues"
| Ihls resolution was then adopted.
| After the session Chairman Walker
claimed he had won decisive victory
and that his committee under the order
would have jurisdiction of a measure to
convert the greenbacks into gold certifi-
Gates, but members of the ways and
means committee insisted that the verbal
changes in the order would not affect
their Jurisdiction and that measure
such as the President suggested, If intro
duced in the Houss would be referred by
the Speaker to their committee.
The Rev. Henry Couden, the regular
chaplain, who delivered the Invocation
| today, asked for the divine blessing upon
the President in his hour of trial and
anxiety.
After the reading of the journal, leave
| was asked by several of the more inn
portant committees to sit during the
sessions of the House, and for the
printing Of documents for tho use of the
committees. These were the customary
requests incident to the serious work of
the session and were granted.
The Presidents message transmitting
| the report of the special commission on
the Paris International Exposition in
| 1900, and recommending liberal appro-
pr1ation for our republic at the exposition
| Was laid before the House.
| Mr.. Dingley, from the committee on
ways and means, then presented reso-
| lution adopted by that committee, for the
| distribution of the Presidents message to
the several committees having jurisdio
tion of the various subjects treated
| Mr.. Walker, Republican of Massachu
setts, chairman of the banking and cur
rency committee. asked for a re-reading
of that portion OF the rsolution giving the
| ways and means committee jurisdiction
over all the portion relating to 1.-THE reve-
nues, the national finances, the public
debt and the preservation of the public
credit"
| A very considerable debate followed
and before it had been concluded the
House was plunged into the currency
| problem.
Mr.. Walker after the re reading of the
resolution asked, with some heat, what
| was left to his committee.
/
| matters relating to banking and currency
under the resolution would go to the
| banking and currency committee.
"Ihere seems to be a decided conflict OF
| opinion as to what matters refer to
banking and currency exclaimed Mr..
| Walker rather nharply.
Mr. Dingley protested that the language
of the resolution was Identical with that
of former resolutions on the same subject,
but he was Immediately bombarded with
questions as to the practical effect of the
| resolutions language.
Mr.. Dingley said the real question of
| Jurisdiction would depend on the inter
probation of the phrase, national fnan-
ces y which he reiterated had been used
in all resolutions. Certainly, by specific
! terms all questions relating to banking
and currency would go to the banking
| and currency committee.
With his explanation, Mr.. johnson ap-
peared content for the time. Then MIR.
Bailey of Texas, the minority leader, at
tackled the flank of MIR. Dingley,., He
| wanted to know specifically whether q
measure to effectuate the recommended
| tions Of the President on the currency
would go to the ways and means or the
| currency committee.
MIR. Dingley avoided direct response.
IT it related to the redemption fund, such
bill would go to the ways and means he
said
eff it proposed to retire the green backs
in the manner recommended by the Presi-
dent, where would it go?" asked MI.
Bailey.
Mr.. johnson pressed Mr.. Dingley along
the same line.
"I would leave the determination Of
that question to the Speaker" replied
Mr.. Dingley. The House laughed.
"It is to avoid that very thing" eX-
claimed Mr. johnson, THAT desire this
question to be made clear now. Does the
chairman of the ways and means commits
tee think a bill embodying the principle
of the Presidents recommendation effects
| the redemption fund.-?
II think it does, - replied Mr.. Dingley.
"Tben the gentleman Indirectly answers
our questions, > exclaimed Mr.. johnson.
By this time it being apparent that de-
bate would be required to dispose of the
question at issue, Mr.. Dingley and Mr..
Bailey arranged for thirty minutes side.
emf. Walker then got the floor and in
dianantly protested that If the questions
| relating to our legal tender money which
| lay at the very foundation of our our
rency and banking laws were to come un-
der the jurisdiction of the ways and
j ar1Nit