The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-12
MIR. WALKER EMPHATIC.
Views of Chairman of the House Com
mittee on Banking.

Representative j. II. Walker of Worces-
ter, Mass, chairman OF the House commit
tee on banking and currency, was one of
the late arrivals and expressed his views
with his customary emphasis. Said he:
"A law ouPht to he enacted within six
months divorcing this government COM
pletely from having anything to do with the
current redemption of any form of paper
money. II ought to be put on the banks
where it belongs. No financial relief can
come till that is done This convention
ought TO shut out entirely all discussion of
the coinage question. The whole attention
should be paid TO the reorganization of the
finances of the country. beginning with the
United States treasury and ending with the
banking system. We ought TO retain the
national system, enlarge il. and make il
conform to correct financial law it is
understood in every country but this. This
generation of bankers and business men
generally completely debauched by the
systems we have had In vogue for the last
thirty years"
Ought this convention to appoint a
cOmmiSsion?"
DOESN'T BELIEVE IN COMMISSION.
eff they appoint a commission il will re-
suit in the defeat of all legislation. There
is no record OF any Congress ever consider
ing any bill ever prepared by any commits
sion. We congressman when we are elected
are anxious for but just one thing-and that
is TO be reelected. Until you convince
congressman that votes will reward their
action you can accomplish nothing"
Just what, then, ought this convention
to do?"
1T ought 10 appoint committee to tell
Congress what TO do and then see that they
do it. The convention could not prepare a
bill in two years. Congress should be told
what 30 do and allowed TO do il in its own
way. The legitimate work OF this conven-
tiCn is TO formulate the principles on which
the financial system ought to be reorgan-
lied and then appoint the strongest commit
tee possible TO tell Congress about it. They
must make il appear to congressman that
they can't go back into Congress unless
they do something. This convention is the
most valuable that assembled in fifteen
years If they have any sand But If they
are only here to tickle each others backs,
they might as well have stayed at home"
MR.. FOWLER DIFFERS.
Congressman Charles n. Fowler, of Eliza
beth, n. j., also a member of the banking
and currency committee. also had some
ideas on the subject which were not fully
in accord with the views expressed by his
chairman. Said he:
This convention ought to make distinct
declaration upon four or five fundamental
principles that are self-evident TO every
scholar, without going into the details in
any instance. IT should appoint a commit
tee TO work with the banking and currency
committee OF the House, having prepared d
bill to present to the committee, soon as
the Fifty-fifth Congress Is called in extra
session-as it certainly will be. The proper
settlement of the financial systems is vastly
more important than the question of the
tariff. And there never will be settled
condition of affairs until the financial
question Is disposed of"