Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-12-28
CURRENCY BILL.
SECRETARY GAGE OUTLINES HIS PLANS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND
CURRENCY.

SECRETARY GAGE OUTLINES HIS PLANS
TO TIE COMMITTEE on BANKING AND
CURRENCY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 97.
Secretary Gage, In presenting his
Treasury bill to the members Of the
Banking and Currency Committee Of the
House, said that he had four objects In
view when he asked Congress to pass the
measure.
First, to commit the country more
thoroughly to the gold standard; remove.
so far as possible, doubs and fears on
that point, and thus strengthen the
credit Of the United States both at home
and abroad.
second, to strengthen the Treasury
iu relation to its demand liabilities, In
which are included greenbacks, Treasury
notes and the incidental obligation to
maintain on q parity, through inter-
chsngesbility with gold, so far as may
be necessary, the present large volume
Of silver certificates and silver dollars.
"rhird, to do this In such way as
tion In the hands Of the people.
Fourth, TO take an initial step toward
q system OF bank note issues without
the conditional deposit Of public bonds
as security therefor. II we prosper as
people the revenue OF the Government
ought to be somewhat In advance OF Its
expenditures, and the public debt OF the
United States gradually reduced and
finally extinguished. Looking at the
question widely, from my best point OF
kno wledge and experience, feel that II
these could be secured the condition Of
the Government, Ia Its relation to the
currency would be much safer and
stronger than now, and that through the
operation OF national bank note cur
rency the commercial and industrial In
terests OF the United States would be
greatly sdvsntsged."
The Republican members seem very
well satisfied with the bill, and Chair
man Walker, Of the committee, intro
duced it Immediately In the House with
practically no amendments. The section
that provides for the retirement Of Gov
ernment demand notes and the substitu-
tion OF national bank notes in their place
iiuds second in nearly every Republi-
can interviewed. Another section pro-
vides for the calling In OF all bonds Is
sued prior TO the Cleveland adminlstrA-
ton, and the issue In their place OF
similar amount, the interest and princi-
pal Of which shall be payable specifically
Ia gold. Secretary Gage estimates that
the Government will save ten million
annually by this change.
Preparations are already under way 10
establish q bureau 10 take the twelfth
census Of the United States. The advo.
Gates OF civil service are In favor OF put
ting Il 10 the classified service, and Sc
lect persons by means OF an examina-
ton. The opponents OF this view be-
lieve that Congress should appoint .
director OF the census, who should have
full power to choose the employees under
him. Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright
Of the Bureau Of Labor, is an advocate
OF the first idea, and claims that the
eleventh census cost the country two
million dollars more than Il would had
the bureau been under the control Of the
Civil Service Commission. Senator
Lodge has taken issue with the Com
missioner on this statement. and In
recent speech In the Senate he demand
ed the proof. The last census bureau ut
one time employed over three thousand
people. and Il Is supposed that the TAX
ing OF the twelfth census will require
more employees than any heretofore.
Congressman will undoubtedly work
hard to save this patronage from the
civil service fire. II would mean eight
or ten appointments from each Con-
gressional district, and In the present
barren condition OF the official pantry
this Is ''pie" worth lighting for.
The Banking and Currency Committee
Is composed OF some picturesque and
virile gentlemen. Take johnson, Of Iu-
diana, for instance. He IL tall and
slim. supple as an acrobat. and when he
gets under way 10 debate ne can reel OF
aOO words q minute as easily as Q coun-
try boy can husk corn. A stenogrspher
gets steady work with no breathing
spells when johnson starts In on an
hours speech. Another fiery member
Is Chairman Walker, OF Massachusetts,.
He looks like n picture Of some New
England jurist, although the most of
his life has been spent In the shoe busi-
ness. They call him the gray eagle"
10 his district, and In debate he Il ss
brave and daring as that bird Is sup
posed TO be. Among the Democratic
members Col. Cox, OF Tennessee, Is
prominent. In manners he Is of the old
school Of gentlemen, as gentle as Ches-
terfield In his treatment Of his associates.
He can draw a keen blade In debate,
however, and his Republican friends ad-
init that he Is worthy foe on the money
question. He WAS colonel In the Con-
federste service, serving under Forrest,
and he Is to-day seeking the Identity OF
an individual who did him q good turn
during the war.
at was while we were along the Ten
nessee, and Grant was approaching Chat
tanooga," nsrrates the Colonel, "that /
WAS ordered 70 take my men, cross the
river and raid Henderson Station for cot
ton that the United States Government
had there under guard. The place was
defended by body of Illinois troops.
but We did our work quietly, took them
by surprise, and captured everything In
sight, with but the loss of one man.
We were getting ready to leave when
one Of the captured men, q captain. came
to me and said that one Of my men had
robbed him OF all his personal belong
ings, including some pictures Of his
family. told him II he could point the
man out 10 me would be glad to make
him give them up. He did so, and saw
to il that the property went TO the right
full owner. Some time afterward fell
down on my military figuring and was
captured and carried of to prison at
Cairo, III. l was tired and hungry after
l arrived, and having little good money
on my person l asked permission to 60
to store aud purchase something to
eat. Ii was gr anted, and under guard
started down the street. On the way We
met an officer. He looked at me closely
for moment, aud then gruflly ordered
the man to leave, saying that he wanted
the prisoner. tried to explain that
was hungry and tired, but he would
listen to no talk, and taking the little
basket I was carrying away from me
briskly set of down the street, and an
grily followed. He stopped at pro-
vision store, and, much to my surprise,