Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-06
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
President May Recommend Crea-
ton of Currency Commission.
MATTER STILL UNDER AMUSEMENT.
The Senate Adopts the RetnIintor,
and Reciprocity Clauses of the
Tariff Bill-No Time Fixed
for the Vote.

sion will be definitely decided next
week. The president is strongly in
clined at this time to send special
currency message to congress, regard
ing himself us in considerable meas
ure pledged to this course. In fact, it
was semi-otiicially announced at the
white house late Friday afternoon that
such a message would be sent to con-
gress next week, but some of the presi-
dents most influential advisers on
financial questions are opposed to a
message as impoltic at this time owing
to hostility to a commission on the part
of congress and the final determine
ton, as stated, will not be reached un-
til Mr. Mclinlcy's return from Canton.
The executive committee of the In
dianapolis sound money convention
have been actively advocating the COM
mission scheme ever since the advent of
the present administration. 1t had also
the sympathy of the president who
committed himself to it in his inaug-
ural. President Mckinley, however,
did not care to recommend it to con-
gress while the tariff bill was pending
lest it might complicate and delay ac
ton upon the measure. But all along
the chief difficulty which presented
itself to those who favored commits
sion for the investigation of the cur.
rency system has been the opposition
it would encounter in congress.
Afraid of the Senate.
While bill for the creation of COM
mission could easily be passed in the
house where factious opposition would
be unavailing against the operation of
u clotllre order that would bring it to
a vote, such opposition in the senate
might be almost interminable. Several
of the silver senator's have openly
avowed their unalterable hostility to
the creation of commission and Sen
ator Teller has declared that he would
remain here until December to defeat
it. This being the situation it is under.
stood that some of the members of the
executive committee of the Indian
npolis convention are now inclined to
believe that it would perhaps be mis-
take to press their request for the
creation of commission by congress.
The better and wiser thing to do, some
of them now think, would be to with
draw their requests for q commission
and to use the provisional power vested
in the committee by the Indianapolis
convention, and themselves select a
commission to investigate the currency
question and present their conclusion
through the public press. If those con-
illusions We're such as the administra-
ton could subscribe to, they could be
made the basis of an administration
measure, modified us Secretary Gage,
conducting an independent investiga-
ton, might suggest.
The secretary has been at work for
some time on comprehensive cur
rehey reform scheme, and some suggcs-
ton has been made as to the wisdom
of not having further agitation of the
question, but of permitting Mr.. Gage,
who has the full confidence of business
men generally, to frame measure, after
such consultation as he may. desire
| with financiers, business men, members
of the house and senate and others.
Discussed by the Cabinet.
l. The matter was under discussion at
the cabinet meeting Friday, but not
| in manner to lead to definite conclu-
sion or policy, and the matter went over
until the presidents return to the city
next week, when it is probable that
| Mr.. II. II. Hanna, who is chairman of
| the executive committee of the Indian
| apolis convention, and perhaps other
members of the committee, will come
to Washington to discuss the situation
with the president and Mr.. Gage. Upon
| the result of the conference will prob
| ably depend President McKinley's ac-
ton as to special message to con-
gress.
| Senate Proceedings.
Washington, July 3-Reciprocity and
retaliation were the two phases of the
tariff bill to occupy the attention of the
| senate Friday to the exclusion of all
other subjects. Both provisions were
| agreed to, although the debate on the
reciprocity clause was protracted to
six p. m. Shortly before adjournment,
Senator Allison endeavored to secure
| an agreement on the time for final
vote, but Senator Teller would not con.
sent to fixing the time until all pro.
posed amendments had been submitted
to the senate. AS Senator Allison was
not prepared to submit these amend.
ments, he withdrew his request, and
the time for the final vote was left open
although there is still hope that 1t will
be reached to-day.
The Retnliatory Clause.
The retaliatory clause provides that
whenever any country bestows an ex.
port bounty on any article there shall
be levied, in addition to the duties pro
vided by the net, an additional duty
equal to the amount of the bounty. The
clause was agreed to by SO to 10, the
two democratic senators from Louisi
ana (Caffery and McEncry) voting with
the republicans In the affirmative.
The Reciprocity Clause.
The reciprocity clause empowers tn,
pi csideut. with the advice and consent
Of the senate, to make reciprocity
treaties giving 20 per cent. reduction in
duties on designated articles, or plac'
ing articles on the free list. The
amendment brought out much opposi.
ton, Senators Mills, Vest, Pettus, Tel
Ter and White saying that it evaded the
constitutional right of the house OIL
representatives to participate in meas.
ures affecting revenue, while Senators
Aforgaif, Gray and Chandler defended
its legality and propriety It was
agreed to, 80 to 1s, two democrats
(Gray and Morgan) voting with the
republicans in the affirmative.
Early in the day Senator Wellington
| (rep Md \ rising to n uuestfon of Der