The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-17
Senator WOIeOtt of Colorado,
Tells the Senate
That the Bimetallic Commits
sion Has Not Quit.
1T CAN'T REPORT YET.
Must Wait Until Pending NegO-
tiatiOns End.
Will Have Something to Say
After the Holidays.

washington, Dec. 17.-Mr. WOlcott OF
colorado. chairman of the commission
appoiuted by President Mckinley to
secure if possible the cooperation OF
foreign countries in an international
conference upon the silver question,
said in the senate yesterday that the
committee had not made report to the
president and it was uncertain When
report would be made. Negotiations
for a bimetallic conference ne sald are
still pending but Mr.. Wolcott assured
the senate that the committee had no
intention of prOlonging its efforts be
yOnd the point where reasonable nope
of success should exist. Mr.. WOlcOtt
promised to explain fully the work OF
the commission in a speech to be dellX-
cred after the holiday recess. A reSo-
luton directing the secretary of war
TO send supplies to Americans and 9TH
er sufferers in the Klondihe region was
passed. Mr.. Pritchard IN. c., chair
man of the civil service investigating
committee, delivered a brief speech
upon the execution of the civil service
law as developed by his committee
Mr.. Hanna (O) after an illness of
week. appeared in the senate and was
cordially greeted by his colleagues.
Mr- Frye of the commerce committee,
favOrably reported, and the senate
passed a bill directing the secretary of
the treasury to purchase or construct
a suitable vessel for revenue cutter ser
cost not exceeding $4,000.
Mr.. Allison of the appropriation COM
mittee reported favOrably the house joint
resolution providing for a recess of
congress from December IS, 1897, to
January 10, 1898. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Pettigrew secured the adoption of
a resolution directing the secretary OF
the interior to furnish the senate an
itemized statement of the receipts and
expenditures of the Central Pacific
the statement also to show the subsi-
dies paid to steamboat companies.
Mr.. Aliens resolution calling upon
the president for information about the
instructions given to the international
monetary commission, and the report
made to him by the commission then
came up.
Mr. Wolcott of Colorado, chairman of
the commission said that the commits
sion had not made a report to the pres
sdent.
I hope soon" said Mr.. Wolcott, ''to
make a statement concerning the work
of the monetary commission. Quite
naturally the statement 1 shall make
viii be unofficial, but it will contain
some information that may be of in
terest and value to the senate.
As 1 have been absent from the
country about nine months. I have not.
since my return, on account of an ac-
emulation of business been able to
prepare such a statement as I should
like to make to the senate. If the SEN
atOr from Nebraska (Allen) will per
init, the question might go over until
atter the recess, when, about the mid
die of next month. I will be able to
discuss the subject"
Mr. WOlcott asked, and the senate or
dered printed, a speech delivered by
NJ Meline, in the French cabinet Of
deputies on the 20th of November last
IN which he dealt at considerabIe length
with all subjects bearing upon bimetalI-
ism. NJ. Meline shows" said Mr.
WOlcOtt, that the steady depreciation
of prices qc-iorT1frg7-1T
due solely to competition between gold
and silver countries"
Mr. Stewart, (Nev.), said that he had
Deen satisfied from the first that the
enorus of the commission would fail
He had always advocated independent
action by the United States to secure
bimetallism and he thought that the eff
tort 70 secure the cooperation of for
eign nations would not be only unnec-
essary, but dangerous He said that the
cooperation of France with our com
missioners was more than he had had
reason to hope for, but he was perfect
~ satisfied that England could not be
brought to agree to the free coinage of
SllNeT- IN the course of his remarks,
Mr. Stewart said that the utterance of
the president and the secretary of the
treasury proved that this was a gold
standard administration. This state
ment brought Mr. Chandler IN. H to
his feet. He said that Secretary Gage
mad never announced that the present
administration was in favor of a gold
standard and he did not believe that
the senator from Nevada desired to
1nisrepresent the administration Mr.
Stewart disclaimed any intention to
1nisrepresent President Mckinley or
Secretary Gage, but he insisted that
the words and the actions of the secre-
tary establish the truthfulness of his
statement
Mr.. Allen. CNeb). the author of the
resolution said he was not disposed to
press it at this time if the senator
from Colorado, (Mr. Wolcott) desired
70 speak upon it at a later date but
he thought that the matter ought to be
cleared away.
In response to an inquiry, Mr. VOL
colt said that he did not think the
commission had any intention of max
ing report at this time. and as a mat
ter of fact he did not know when the
report would be made
There is no desire upon the part of
anybody said Mr.. Wolcott TO pro-
long negotiations after all hope of sue
cess has disappeared. No member of
the commission would delay for an
hour the announcement of its decision.
after its decision one way or the other
shall have been reached
Mr.. Allen said he had always been
satisfied that interne+ +iOnal bimetallism
was a dream-an ideality that would
never be attained, but he was willing