Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-11
FOR WHAT THEY ARE WORTH.


Some Of the northern papers are dis
cussing the improbability of the cur
rency questions failing Of consideration
at the extra session Of Congress. and
one of these. the New York Evening
Post. which goes into the matter at con-
siderable length. throws interesting light
on the inspiration of President Mckin-
ley's allusion, in his inaugural, 10 cur
rency and banking commission. 1t will
he remembered that almost in the open
ing of his address Mr.. Mckinley said;
s1f. therefore, Congress in it's wisdom
shall deem IL expedient to create a COM
mission TO take under its early considera-
zion the revision of our coinage, banking,
and currency laws, and give them that
exhaustive, careful, and dispassionate ex-
animation that their Importance de-
mands. L shall cordially concur in such
action.
The Post. in referring to this decla-
ration. gives the information that last
week the Chamber Of Commerce OF New
York sent a letter to the President
urging him, in calling an extra session.
n state that it was called, not merely for
the nurpose of revising the tariff, but
also TO deal with the currency question
by appointing a commission to revise our
currency and banking systems. our
New York contemporary then remarks
fhat several Republican leaders, both IN
the Senate and the House, are discussing
the matter. and are already impressed
with the necessity Of taking it up at once;
the nniIlOn that
the Presidents language does not snow
distinctly what view he holds regarding
the subject. it proceeds to argue that the
uniting OF the currency question aside
would be a blow 10 public confidence.
However before it gets through, the
POST shows very conclusively that, In
uryine consideration of the currency
question at the extra session, 1t Is acin-
ated more by political than by business
considerations. 1t also shows by the quo
cations from the letter of the New YORK
chamber that that body is in the same
boat with itself Neither the Post nor
the Chamber argues the necessity OF
currency reform to the business and in
dustrial interests and the masses OF the
country. According to the logic OF BOTH
failure to take up the currency problem
at this time might cause the Republican
,artv 10 lose the House in the next con-
gressional election.
Considering the matter from the Posts
ou,n standpoint, we agree with IT that
q seems improbable that the extra ses-
Sion will fail 10 CONSIDER" the banking
and currency problem. But, whether II
win consider it in good faith is another
question We hope for the best. None
The less. the way In which the Post pre-
SCENTS the case justifles the fear that this
commission movement is of piece with
the Wolcott mission and the Republican
monetary conference act. 1t justiies the
suspicion that IL is simply another make
shift and subterfuge. the purpose of which
Is 10 gain time, in order TO disorganize
no c,lrrency-reform forces and get the
Republican fences in shape for the next
congressional election. There is no doubt
that. could the election Of last November
be held over tomorrow, thousands who
voted with the Republican party then
wouid vote with the Democracy. More
over. this reaction is gaining force every
day. AS the Post admits, the danger to
SIS PARTY is TOO real TO be concealed. I'm
less something is done TO check the re
action. the Republican party may well
apprehend that the off-year VIII prove
the precursor OF political revolution
four years hence Let the real currency
reformers keep all this continuously in
mind. 10 the end that they may take
proposed Republican currency reform
measures for just what they are worth
and are intended TO accomplish, and no
thing more