The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-07
THE NEXT IMPORTANT QUESTION.

From the progress the tariff bill has
| made in the Senate there is reason to hope
it may pass the Senate, be reported by the
| conference committee. pass both houses
| and become a law by the middle of July.
| 1t Is not too soon, therefore, to begin to
bring public pressure to bear on Congress
in favor of the passage of a law or joint
| resolution providing for the appointment of
| a commission to investigate and report "a
plan of monetary reform. This is a ques
ton and duty that can no more be evad-
ed than could that of tariff reform on pro-
lection lines. 1t is fully as important
question, and while the advocates of cur
rency reform have been willing that the
tariff question should take precedence they
have not abated anything of their desire
that when that question is disposed of the
other shall be taken up. The last Repub-
lican campaign was made fully as much on
this issue as on the tariff. The ST. Louis
| platform did not commit the Republican
party to any specific line of monetary re-
form, but it did commit the party to the
| maintenance of the gold standard, the gov
eminent credit and the parity of our differ
CIlI 1Ol HIS VI CulISlICy with SOlds LLl0 I'LL
piled such a reform in the monetary sys-
| tenn of the country as would prevent a re-
| currence of the evils of the last few years.
| The mere election of Republican Presi-
dent and Congress is not a redemption of
that implied pledge Mr.. Mckinley would
not have been elected had it not been I'M
| derstood that he was distinctively in favor
of sound money and monetary reform. He
would not have been elected but for the
votes of many thousands of persons who
| were more anxious for sound money legis-
lation than they were for protective tariff
| legislation. Let us be honest with ourselves
and admit the truth Mr.. Mckinley would
not have been elected had it not been be-
| lieved that his election would carry with
| it an assurance of an honest and earnest
! effort to place our monetary system on a
solid scientific and enduring basis The
least that Congress can do is to authorize
the appointment of a commission to inves-
| tigate and report upon the subject. The
President has plainly indicated his desire
for the creation of such a commission. In
his inaugural address he said:
If Congress, in it's wisdom, shall deem 1t
eXpedlent to create "a commission TO take
under early consideration the revision of
our coinage, banking and currency laws,
and give them that exhaustive, careful and
dispassionate examination that their impor
| lance demands, | shall cordially concur in
| such action. If such power is vested in
| the President It is my purpose to appoint
a commission of prominent, well-informed
citizens of different parties who will com
mand public confidence both on account of
| their ability and special fitness for the
work. Business experience and public train
| ing may thus be combined and the patriotic
| zeal of the friends of the country be SO di-
rected that such a report will be made as
to receive the support of all parties, and
our finances cease to be the subject of mere
partisan contention. The experiment is, at
all events, worth a trial, and, in my opin-
ion, it can but prove beneficial to the entire
country.
If Congress fails to adopt this suggestion
it will fail to meet public expectation and
to redeem one of the most important
pledges of the last campaign. AS the tariff
| question will be out of the way in a few
| weeks it is time for the people to begin to
bring pressure to bear on Congress for
| action on the money question.