Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-03
SENATE A STUMBLING BLOCK
Free Silver Majority Likely to De feat
Currency Legislation.
PROSPECTS FOR BANKRUPTCY MsASU7
Congressman Dinglcy interviewed on
the Probability of Legislation mt
the Coming Session of
Congress.

LEW lSION, Me-, Dec, Emo journal tnlS
afternoon prints an interview with Con-
gresham Nelson Dingley who left for Wosn-
ington today. MIR. Dingey said: "lnasmuch as
this will be the first regular session OF the
Fifty-ffth congress nnd, therefore. this ses
sion is unlimited in length by the constitu
tion and laws, 1t is difiicult to forecast the
duration. Tho business of the approaching
session will be expedited by the fact that the
house as well as the senate Is already organ
lied and the committees appointed. but the
senate has no mems OF limiting debate. so
that it is always in the power of a very
few senators to greatly extend the sitting
| see no reason now, however, to believe that
this session will continue later than June.
Probably bankruptcy legislation will be the
first 10 come UP after such appropriation bills
as may be ready.
The voluntary bankruptcy bill passed by
the senate during the extra session was re-
ferred to the house judiciary committee
which may be ready to report 1T back before
tho Christmas recess. The house Will prob
ably pass substitute on the lines of the
Torrey bill as 1t did two years ago, and then
tho two bills will go to conference. Probably
the conference committees of the senate and
house will agree on compromise measure
which will become q law.
"If the senate were republican and in har-
mony with the majority of the house on
monetary questions, l 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 q sound currency system.
| do not SEQ how it is possible to secure de-
sirable currency legislation of an important
character until the senate Is brought to har-
mony with the house. Possibly some disagree
able amendments to the national banking law
might be passed by the senate. Tne house
joint resolution for q joint committee to
consider and report on needed currency leg
islaticn passed at the extra session, is still
in the hands of the finance committee Of the
senate and may be reported back and con-
sdered by the senate as soon as congress
reassembles.
WILL DEFEND MONETARY STANDARD.
"While | should be pleased to see legisla-
ton which would remedy the want of fleXi-
bility of our banking system and would
separate those functions of the Treasury de-
partment which relate to the government de-
mand notes and certificates used as currency
from those which relate to current receipts
and expenditures and thus better protect the
reserve yet I believe that it is sufficient for
all immediate purposes to know that the ad-
ministration has the power and is determined
to defend the present monetary standard,
Indeed with sufficient revenue to meet all
current expenditures, as we shall have Iii
tho next fiscal year, the Treasury depart
ment can accomplish the purpose indicated
without any new legislation. Legislation, how
ever is desirable, because, under the eX-
isting conditions by which government notes
are redeemed in gold there are only two
ways in which they can be disbursed, viz: By
purchase of government bonds or in exchange
for gold.'
Immigration legislation" said MI. Ding
ley, "is likely to be consummated Some
legislation will be required to strengthen the
hands of the Interstate Commerce commits
sion, whose power for good has been largely
taken away by the decisions of the courts.
1t is said the railroads will again urge their
pooling bill. Preliminary census legislation
is necessary Undoubtedly the effort to Sc
cure the admission of Arizona and New
Mexico as states will be renewed. Some
better form of government must be given
Alaska, and the postmaster general will urge
his postal savings system"
Concerning the proposed postal savings sys-
tenn, Mr.. Dingley said: II have reached no
conclusion on the question, as | want first
to know more definitely how the deposits can
safely be invested what would be the effect
on the existing savings bank system which
has proved so valuable, and whether the
tendency Of the new system would be to
draw capital from the more thnly populated
parts Of the country (where more capital ia
required) and transfer it to the centers Of
business already congested with capital or to
make It available for use outside these cen
ters.
"Unless those who have canvassed the
senate are much mistaken, the Hawaiian an
nexaton treaty will be promptly rati-
fed by the senate, an annexation resolution
passed and Hawaii brought into the union as
a territory
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 with the president,
who has already done much for the Cuban
cause"