Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07
WHAT THEY SAY0F IT
CONGRESSMAN GIVE THEIR VIEWS
ON THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
CURRENCY SUGGESTIONS CONDEMNED
Experts of Both Parties Point Ont
Their Inadcquncy to the situation
Commended.
Commended.

WASHINGTON, December 6.-Repre-
sentative Grosvehor. of Ohio, on being
asked his opinion of the message, said:
1.-THE message is an especially able, clear,
and satisfactory document all the way
through. The currency question and the
single recommendation which challenges
close examination In the end, will be
found to be wise and beneficial. The
Cuban section is frank, manly, and pa
triotic."
Representative Hit Republican), of
Illinois, chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, said: "The message
shows that the President has promptly
and effectively acted on the Cuban ques-
ton, in fulilment Of the sentiments he
had previously expressed on the Cuban
struggle for liberty, and the just expec-
tations of the country. He has pressed
upon the attention of the Spanish Gov
eminent the injuries our interests were
suffering, the Imprisonment Of American
citizens, the barbarous warfare under
Weyler, and the mode Of government in
Cuba. This action has been followed by
concentration and starvation policy, and
| the presentation OF a system of self
government largely based on that Of
| Canada"
Representative Walker Republcan). of
| Massachusetts, chairman of the Commit
tee on Banking and Currency, said as
! to the financial features of the message:
II fear the message is not sufficiently
| specific, and does not go far enough TO
relieve the situation. 1t does not re-
commend that anything shall be done
| until the revenues exceed the eXpendl-
| lures of the government, which may be
! many months in the future. and is
| further from immediate action.
Secondly, the recommendation that
| greenbacks be not paid out except for
| gold. when once redeemed I'm gold, If
| enacted into law, would enable one man
| with 81 600 600 of greenbacks, demanding
| gold Of the Treasury and then depositing
| the gold in the bank for greenbacks, and
repeating the process $40 times, TO retire
| the whole $3l6, 600 In the time 1t would
| take him to oscillate between the sub
| Treasury i'm New York and his coniede-
rate foreign broker. The recommends
| tion that banks be required to redeem
their notes in gold. with no other pro-
| vision of law, would cause every bank in
| the country TO surrender its circulation
! and then what agency would Keep the
country on gold basis?' -.
! MEANS CURRENCY CONTRACTION.
Representative Bland Democrat the
recognized free-silver leader: THE Presi-
dents proposition to retire the green
backs by holding them in the treasury
except for gold deposits, means con-
! traction of the currency TO the amount
| Of the greenbacks so impounded. Inc
| President however. proposes the carry
ing ont of this policy until there are SUI
| fcient revenues to meet all current de-
mands. Under the Dingley bill this VIII
Indefinitely postpone the proposition. HIS
| statement of the situation as 10 inter
! national bimetallism will not be accepted
| I'm earnest by anybody. The gold-stahd-
ard advocates do not want bimetallsm'
| and they know how TO prevent II IN the
| future as they have done in the past
| The message on all subjects sounds
apologize. and like an affidavit for con-
7 tinuance. both as to the cuban polcy
| which is the most important question
| affecting our foreign relations, ana me
currency, as affecting our domestic con-
| Germs"
Representative Champ Clark Demo
craft. of Missouri. a member of tia
| Committee on Foreign Affairs: 1.-THE mes
sage will be great campaign document
| for the Democrats. If the recommends
lions therein contained are adopted by
the Republicans. the Democrats ought to
win i'm 1898 and 1900, hands down. On the
money question, the message Is double
header. 1t recommends retiring the
| greenbacks, and at the same time pre-
tends not to. Nobody will be fooled by
| it."
representative Cox OemocraO, OF
| No. rot n mo-
Der of the Committee on Banking and
| currency; "The message in regard 10 the
currency. in my judgment, is an utter
failure"
Mr.. Cannon. chairman Of the Committee
on Appropriations: 81 am much gratified
with that feature of the Presidents mes
! sage I'm which he says: 1T is a command
ing duty to keep the appropriations with
| i'm the revenues Of the government and
thus avoid a deficiency The suggestion
is particularly timely just now. l heart
! uv approve also, Of all the President
saws as to Spain and Cuba, and ] think
| the country is to be congratulated or
| having the situation placed In SUCH g
| clear light
..yvIIL BE GENERALLY APPROVED
Chairman Dingley of Maine, said: "Ihe
| message is a practical state paper, which
| will be 2eneIdllN dppiONtAs Inv -
| dent presents some excellent practical
! suggestions as to the currency. What
the President says relative TO Cuba WILL
I have no doubt, meet the hearty APP
proval Of the best sentiment OF the coun-
| try"
| democratic senators were generally
! averse 10 expressing any opinion upon
the message. Senator Roach was an eX'
ception to the rule i'm this class. lie
| called especial attention TO the Presl-
dents declaration that the government
is pledged to maintain gold redemption
"This" he said, sis a mere assump-
tion We have not a single Obligation
which IS not explicitly redeemable IL
ccin. the word gold being mentioned II
none of them"
Views by Republican senators were ex-
pressed as follows:
PRESIDENT TOO DESPA1RING.
Senator Allison: do not take the de-
sroirinp view concerning our currency
which the President presents. While
there are some improvements when
srculd ike TO see made L think we shal
he able TO get along If we do not get
any currency legislation, and as the
| question presents itself now, IT looks as
a. a. might be mpracticable TO secure
| hesitation on the lines OF the President
recommendation. The recommendations
i'm regard to Cuba are humane ana wise
senator Hale: The presentation OF th'
Cuban question is in all respects adihlra
lilo and one with which L am muCl
nleased. on the subject or nnances' th'
president does not press Tor lmmeuiit'
action. and as for myset 90 NOT DC
iieve that such would be possible undei