Evening star., 1897-12-03
A JOINT COMMISSION
Plan to Consider Currency Reform Passed BY
thu House.
Now In Senate Commtttee-The p-..,
dents Rec0mmcn ndatiops
for Its Adoption,

chairman Dingley, in an interview In
Ihe Star yesterday. telegraphed from Lew
is'on' Me-. said in discussing the outlook
iol currency legislation. that the House
resolution for joint committee 10 con-
sioer and report on needed currency lepis-
iauon. which Is now In the hands of the
senate finance committee might be re-
ported back ard considered by the Senate
as soon as Congress reassembles
lhis resolution. 1t will be remembered.
passed the House toward the close Of the
extra session, upon the Presidents recon-
ihehuauon. II was not reported to the
senate Gs the finance committee had its
hanos fuli with the tariff bill, and there
was an indisposition in the Senate to enter
upon financial discussion. which would pro.
long the session of Congress.
The Proposed COmmission.
The resolution provided in part:
Flrst-That the President is hereby au-
thorised to appoint a monetary commits
sion OF eleven members, who shall be per.
sons specially fitted. by experience, train.
ing and study. for the consideration OF
subjects coming before said commission,
second-Said commission shall investi.
gate and report what changes, IL any. are
banking and currency laws and What
further legislation, II any, is desirable reIa
tiVe TO our national banking system and
ouI eovcrnment paper currency Of note,
ana certincetes. and may in connection
herewith report a codirication of existing
laws on these subjects
Ihlrd-Sa.d commisslon may take tes.
tlmony and listen to arguments I'm their
' olscIetlon' ana may require, and shall be
entitled to receive Information from any
department or officer of the government
on any matter within Its or his special
Jurisdiction and coming within the scope
OF their Investigations"
The sum Of $l1OOOo was proyided for ex-
penses and it was contemplated that the
commission would be ready to report to
the President by November 15 1897.
IT Will undoubtedly be urged against the
passage Of the resolution at this session
that the duties contemplated by the COM
mission have been performed by the none
tary commission organized by the conyen-
ton OF business men at Indianapolis and
which commission has been holding ses-
sions In this city during the fall
Ihis argument will be met. however by
sc me with the statement which has been
advanced from time to time by congress
men in interviews that the business mems
commission could not fill the requirements
OF a government commission, but could be
CT use only as rejecting the views Of a
poruGh OF the business community touc.l-
Ing their own interests.
AHSshucuto 1tcc0mmen0at ton.
President Mckinley. in recommending the
Passage Of the resolution, said:
Our financial system needs some re-
vision; our money is all good now, but its
value must not further be threatened. 1t
should all be put upon an enduring basis.
not subject to easy attack, nor its stability
to doubt or dispute. The several forms Of
our paper money offer. in my Judgment, a
constant embarrassment to the government
ana lmper1l safe balance in the treasury
Nothing was settled more clearly at
the late national election than the deter
mination upon the part of the people 10
keep their currency stable in value and
equal to that Of the most advanced nations
Of the world
The soundness Of our currency is no.
where questioned. No loss can occur to its
holders. 1t is the system which should be
simplined and strengthened, keeping cur
nc ney just as good as It is now, with less
expense e to the government and the people.
Ihe sentiment of the country is strongly
In favor of early action by Coner.sa IN
thls direction to revise our currency laws
and remove them from partisan conten-
uon."