Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22
Vice President Hobart Expects Cur
renoy Reform Legislation.
DECLARATIONS DEEMED SIGNIFICANT
Senate Regarded :. as the Block in
. J. sothe Way.
ANALYZING THAT BODY

among well-informed politicians to the
recent declarations Of Vice President Ho-
bart regarding the prospect of currency
legislation this winter. While some of the
politicians who are not In the confidence
OF the administration are declaring that
nothing is likely to be done with the cur
rency,' MI. Hobart seems to be of a de-
cidedly contrary opinion. The fact that
the President will discuss currency reform
In his annual message, that Secretary Gage
has perfected plan Of his own, and that
the friends of Speaker Reed declare that
he is ready to put measure through the
House are regarded as significant symp
toms that there will be a getting together
of leading republicans as soon as the
port of the monetary commission has been
made public, which will have important
results The declarations of Vice Presi-
dent Hobart were made at the recent din
ner of the Paterson board of trade, and in
dictate that he is not only in favor Of cur
rency reform himself. but that he is pre-
pared to aid in putting it through the Sen
ate. Mr.. Hobart said on this occasion:
The people demand currency reform i'll
this country and that at once. l believe
that the representatives will pass a cur
rency law that will meet the temper, the
tone. the requirements of the people of the
United States. l know not how it will be
1
passed to harmenize the existing finan-
cial difficulties.
Tho ScRate's Attitude.
Those who know Mr. Hobart do not be-
lieve that he would have made this en-
phatic statement Rad he not been familiar
with the purposes of the President and
the disposition of Speaker Reed. The CO.
operation of these gentlemen is vitality
necessary to the Of the
Without their cooperation it would be
impossible to pass any measure of relief,
however simple. The difficulty, however.
IS not in the House. and those who feel
that no legislation will be enacted are
frequently quoted as saying that such
bill may pass that body. but that further
progress will be blocked in the Senate. On
this point the Vice President also had
something to say. 1t was this:
When l was indicted into office 1 said
few words which are just as true now as
they were then. On March last said to
the Senate that legislative expedition was
the hope OF. the country. All the interests of
/ good government and the advancement OF
better sand higher condition of Things
call for prompt and positive legislation at
your hands. To obstruct the regular
course of visa. and provident legislative
action. after the fullest and freest discus
sion: Is neither, consistent with true sen
atorial courtesy, conducive to the welfare
Of the people nor in compliance with their
just expectations -
This is regarded here as showing how the
of the Senate lena feels with
how far he might use his personal influence
to bring the currency measure to vote If
an effort were made by it's opponents to
talk it TO death. The supporters of the
! monetary commission believe that they will
be able to secure a vote in the Senate. and
that the vote will show majority for
Intelligent measure Of currency reform.
This Is contrary to the Impression which
has been sought to. be created by some of
| those who We're afraid to act upon the sub
ject. but 1t is based upon mature considera-
ton.
The supporters of the monetary commits
sion intend to crystalline the business SEN
!iment of Che country IN support of Their
plan through the boards of trade. which
appointed the delegates to the Indianapolis
convention. They do not believe that SEN
ators and members will care to fly in the
face of the expressed wish of the business,
men of their states and districts when the
situation Is understood.
Analysis of the Senate.
The impression that the Senate is over
whelmingly against currency reform Is also
declared to be misleading There are forty
three republican senator's, who supported
Mr.. Mckinley for President. Among them
are seven men who have generally been re-
garded as favorable to the free coinage of
silver. These are Carter of Montana,
Chandler of New Hampshire. Clark of Wy
oming, Hansbrough Of North Dakota
Shoup of Idaho, Warren of Wyoming and
Wolcott Of Colorado
There IS reason to believe that several of
these senators will support a scientific
banking currency. because there is no con-
ffict in principle between such system and
any particular metallic basis for the CIR
rency. Even without their votes however
there will be thirty-six republicans who
kI,-
of currency reform when they find that it
is the wish of the business community
There are three gold democrats-Caffery Of
Louisiana. Gray of Delaware and Lindsay
for cure ncy reform. They raise the LIST
of friendly senators to thirty-nine and
leave only six more votes to be obtained
1t is expected. that they will come from
the gold democratic senators who support
ed Mr.. Bryan because he was the regular
candidate of the party Some of these SEN
ators feel that campaign upon q purely
silver basis is mistake, and that it would
be for the advantage of the party as well
as the country to have the currency aues-
ton settled in manner satisfactory at
once to sound money men and to the south
ern communities who are now deprived of
an adequate circulating medium. These
computations do not include any southern
silver senators, but an effort will be made
to convince them that an elastic banking
currency, based in part upon business as
sets, would be of great advantage to their
sections and that they cannot afford to OBJ
pose it, irrespective of their position toward
silver.
The supporters of currency reform be-
lieve that in view of these considerations
and the cordial attitude of the President
Vice President and leaders of both parties
currency reform bill can be put upon the
statute books.
KASsAsTPACIFIC's VALUE.
roa5O