The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-07
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Expressfons of Opinion from Leading
Members of the House.

VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Expressions of Opinion from Leading
Members of the House.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 6.-Among members
OF the house who expressed opinions on the
presidents message were the following
Mr.. Hit Rep., I'D, chairman of the
committee on foreign affairs: 1.-THE message
shows that the President has promptly and
effectively acted on the Cuban question in
fullflment of the sentiments he had prev
iOusly expressed on the Cuban struggle LOT
liberty and the just expectations or the
country. He has pressed upon the Afternoon
of the Spanish government the injuries our
business interests were suiterlnS' the I'M
prisonment of American cltlzens, me pa,
barcus warfare under Weyler ana the neeu
of change in the mode OF government III
Cuba The result has been the liberation
Of every imprisoned American, the removal
and disgrace of Weyler, the end OF the con-
centration and starvation policy and the
fnent largely based on that of Canada.
When our suggestions have thus all been
accepted ard are being carried out IN APP
parent good faith, which is shown Dy me
opposition in Spain, he wisely thinks tnat
good faith on our part requires that we
let the measures we ourselves suggested pc
tried at least until we can see Whether the
Cubans themselves will be satisfied. The Sit
uation is vastly different from that OF
year ago..
message is a practical state paper which
will he generally approved. The President
presents some excellent practical sugges-
tions as to the currency What the Presi-
dent says relative to Cuba will, have no
doubt, meet the hearty approval OF the
best sentiment Of the country:
Mr. Dalzell CRep, Pa-( of the ways and
means committee: $50 far as the currency
part of the message is concerned 1t VIII
not meet the views OF those who are de-
manding an entire reorganization or one
system, while by those who believe as L
do that any radical legislation on the sub
Snof rrrnT1 no
sage will be accepted as wise and conserva-
tive. The recommendations as to Cuban
matters, it seems to me- ought to meet the
views of the great body of our people"
Mr. Dolliver (Rep., Ia: 1.-The Presidents
message is a clear and conservative state
ment of the national situation 1t will meet
general popular approval AS to the cur
rency question the Presidents omission to
urge in detail the most radical reforms pro-
posed by Secretary Gage, indicates that ne
will exercise a good deal of charity towards
Congress- if that body should fail to get
together on the question:. -
Mr.. Grosvenor fRep., o.: 1.-THE message
is an especially able, clear and satisfactory
document all the way through. The cur
rency discussion will challenge close exam
ination and in the end viii be found to be
wise and beneficial. The Cuban section is
frank manly and patriotic"
Mr.. Walker (Rep., Mass.), chairman or
the committee on banking and currency
said as to the financial features of the mes
sage: II fear the message is not suf1cient-
ly specific and does not go far enough to
relieve the situation. 1t does noe recommend
that anything shall be done until the reve-
nues exceed the expenditures of the govern
ment which may be many months in the
future, and is far from immediate action.
Secondly, the recommendation that green
backs be not paid out except for gold when
once redeemed in gold, if enacted into law.
would enable one man with $1,O00,OOO or
greenbacks demanding gold of the treasury
and then depoSiting the goldIn the bank Tor
greenbackS and repeating the process S46
times to retire the whole $346. 100000 in the
time it would take him to osciliate between
he c4flnf trad C17 rxY IN NpyN m
federate foreign broker. The recommends
ton that banks be required to redeem their
notes in gold with no other provision of law
would cause every bank in the country to
surrender its circulation and then what
agency would keep the country on gold
basis?"
Mr.. Henderson Rep., la: II am pleased
with the Presidents message because 1t
meets clearly and squarely every vital and
pressing question. On the money question
1t is clear. stating our situation with
marked intelligence, pointing out our dam
that would certainly, if adopted, prevent,
for the present, at least. disasters that we
have experienced in the. past. On the
Cuban question his course has been active,
intelligent, patriotic and wise"
Mr.. Hull (Rep, la), chairman OF the
committee on military affairs: THE rec
concentrations as to currency reform are
more moderate than / expected, and it may
be possible for us to come together in some
way. Personally am opposed to any ac-
ton on the currency at this time. do
not believe in the International Monetary
Congress. The result of the last year has
TO my mind demonstrated the futility Of
any further effort in this line. / cordially
indorse the Presidents position as TO the
Hawaiian islands, but cannot agree TO his
suggestions as to Cuba.
Mr. Richardson (Dem. TENN: 1.-THE
message is wholly disappointing to the
country. Nothing practical for financial
Improvement is recommended. The increase
in revenues provided while we are running
behind nearly 100000 month; nothing
for Cuba, but all for Spain; CleVeland's poll
low 0f n n
serve Endorsed. All for gold and the single
gold standard and nothing for bimetallism
Mr.. Savers Dem. Tex.): 1.-THE recon-
mendation by the President that when any
of the United States notes shall be re-
deemed in gold they shall be Kept and set
apart and paid out only in exchange for
gold will be, in my judgment, If carried
OUT an indirect method of retiring the
greenbacks; and if such policy should pre-
vail it viii be as fatal to the further use of
these notes as currency as if they had been
do not concur. l also regard that portion
OF the message concerning Cuba as fatal TO
any action on the part of this government
looking TO the granting of belligerent rights
TO the revolutionsts.'
Mr.. Bland Dem, MOI the recognized
free silver Democratic leader: THE Presi-
dents proposition to retire the greenbacks
by holding them in the treasury except for
gold deposits. means contraction of the
currency to the amount of the greenbacks
so impounded. His statement OF the situa-
ton as to international bimetallism will
not be accepted in earnest by anybody.
There are few serious international BIZ
metailists. but among them / suppose the
President may be classed as one. The mes
sage on all subjects sounds apologize and
like an affidavit for continuance"
Mr.. Champ Clark Dem. MOI "a member
of the committee on foreign affairs: The
message win be great campaign docu-
ment for the Democrats. If the recon-
mendations therein contained are adopted
by the Republicans the Democrats ought to
win in 1883 and 1900 hands down"
Mr.. Cox Dem. TENN, the ranking
Democratic member of the committee on
banking and currency: THE message in
regard to the currency, in my Judgment,
Is an utter failure. If the policy advocated
was carried out into law it could only re-
suit in the contraction of the currency.
Under the arguments made by the Presi-
dent Il would be the duty of the govern
ment to redeem silver in gold on the APP
plication of the holder of silver as readily
rs il does the United States notes. SO If
every paper dollar OF the government was
retired the raid could be made on the treas
ury just as well with silver. In regard to
the recommendations as to the banking
they are of such a character that no bEsi-
ness bank would do business under such a
law"
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the committee
on appropriations: II am much lratified
with that feature of the message in which
he says II IS commanding duty TO keep
the APPROXIMATIONS within the revenues of