Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-08

After the reading of the journal. leave
was asked by several of the more import
ant committees to sit during the sessions
of the House. and for the printing of doc
umentS for the use of the committees.
These were the customary requests Incl
dent to the serious work of the session
and We're granted.
The Presidents message. transmitting
the report of the special commission on
the Paris International Exposition in 1860
and recommending a liberal appropriation
for our republic at the Exposition. was
laid before the House.
Dngley. from the committee on ways
and means then presented Il resolution
tribution of the Presidents message to
the several committees having jurisdic
ton of the various subjects treated
Walker. Rep, Mass, chairman of the
banking and currency committee. asked
for a re-reading of that portion of the
resolution giving the ways and means
committee jurisdiction over all the por-
ton relating to 1.-The revenues, the ma
tional 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.
Walker. after the re-reading of the res
olution. asked. with some heat what was
left to his committee.
Dingley replied suavely that all matters
the resolution would go to the banking
and currency committee.
There seems to be a decided conflict of
opinion as to what matters refer to bank
ing and currency. exclaimed Walker,
rather sharply.
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.
Dingley said the real question of juris
diction would depend on the interpreted
ton of the phrase national finances.
which. ne reiterated. had been used in all
resolutions. Certainly. by specific terms,
all questions relating to banking and cur
rency would go to the banking and cur
rency committee.
With this explanation. Johnson APP
peared content for the time. Then Bailey,
Texas, the minority leader, attacked the
flank of DinSley He wanted to know
specifically whether measure to effect
uate the recommendations of the Presi-
dent on the currency would go to the
ways and means or the currency COM
mittee.
Dingley avoided direct response. If it
related to the redemption fund, such
bill would go to the ways and means he
said.
'If it proposed to retire the greenbacks
in the manner recommended by the Pres
H.,
johnson pressed Dingley along the same
line.
II would leave the determination of
that question to the Speaker" replied
Dingley. The House laughed.
ut is to, avoid that very thing" ex-
claimed johnson, that desire this ques-
ton to be made clear now. Does the
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee think bill embodying the prin-
ciple of the Presidents recommendation
affects the redemption fund.-
81 think it does replied Dingley.
"rhen the gentleman indirectly answers
our uuestions?' exclaimed johnson.
BY this time it being apparent that de-
bate would be required to dispose of the
question at issue. Dingley and Bailey ar
ranged for 30 minutes a side.
Walker then got the floor and indig-
nantly protested that If the questions re-
Iating to our legal tender money which
Law at the very foundation or our cur
rency and banking laws. were to come
under the jurisdiction of the ways and
means committee. the committee on bank
ing and currency might as well be dis
solved IL it was to be shOrn of its re-
why continue it?
He avowed that in the last Congress his
CONTINUED on mage ~