The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-08
General Measure for Revision of Cur
rency and National Bank Laws to
Be Considered Later.
DEMOCRATS In A DILEMMA
CANNOT WELL OPPOSE CERTAIN
FEATURES OF MR. CAGES PLAN.
Bills Introduced by senator Fairbanks
Henry u. johnson StilI I'm the Ora
tOricaI Ring Despite Ill Health.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Republicane
who are influential on the banking and cur
rency committee of the House have de-
ter 'ned to give an assurance to the coun-
try at once that they are behind the Pres
ident IN his recommendations for the re-
form of the currency. They will do this by
taking the simplest of his propositions and
reporting it favorably to the House. A
meeting of the committee has been called
by Chairman Walker for tomorrow, and
consultations are going on late tonight re-
garding the best means of giving boom to
currency reform. The proposition is to re.
port favorably to the House a bill providing
that when greenbacks are redeemed in gold
they shall not be reissued except on the
presentation of gold. The exact details OF
the measure may require some discussion
and may be referred to a subcommittee,
but it Is known that substantially every Re-
publican member will vote for a bill of this
character.
John Murray Mitchell, who has twice
carried one of the old Tammany districts
of New York city, introduced such bill
near the close of the last session and in
troduced new draft on Monday. His propo-
sition was that the secretary of the treas
ury set aside 500 900 900 in gold and $5O00001O
in legal-tender notes for the purpose OF
providing gold for the redemption of the
notes and their issue for the purchase OK
gold. Gold coin or bullion is to be paid into
the fund whenever the cash balance ex-
ceeds SIS 100000 in excess of the gold hold
ings Mr.. Mitchell is very much in earnest
in the matter. and SO are Chairman Walker,
Mr. Johnson of Indiana, Mr.. Fowler of New
Jersey and Mr.. Hill Of Connecticut. They
believe no opposition will be encountered
from any one of the twelve Republicans
members.
This action will be taken not as a final
settlement of the currency problem but
simply as demonstration that the bankina
committee has got over its divisions, that It
recognizes the leadership of a Republican
President and proposes to act as unit 1or
reform Of the national finances. Members
of the committee are very emphatic in the
declaration that the reporting Of this bill
will not be made an excuse for shelving the
general proposition of currency reform.
They intend their action tomorrow, If they
are able to complete their work, simply as
an EXPRESSION of their interest in the sub
iect and their purpose to act together. They
nropose to postpone consideration OF the
general legislation until the monetary COM
mission which meets next week to complete
It's work has submitted its report to the
public That report will then be taken un-
der consideration along with other meas
ures of banking reform, and considered de-
liberately and carefully. 1t is doubtfm
whether any action is attempted In the
House until after the subject of general leg-
islation has been considered. This fact alone
will prevent any employment of the bill 70
be reported tomorrow as subterfuge ior
refusing other legislation.
Tbe situation in the senate is growing
daily more favorable to action upon the
currency. and there are indications that
many senator's who have heretofore been
for silver recognize the necessity OF an
elastic banking system in their States.
The Democrats who had been preparing
IN lean upon Secretary Cages report and
recommendations and tear them to pieces
find themselves in the embarrassing posi-
ton of attacking the interests OF their locat
communities when they do So Their clamor
has been the necessity for providing In
creased banking facilities and an increased
volume Of currency for the sparsely settled
districts of the South and Southwest. Loud
has teen their outcry because their people
have been deprived of the advantages OF q
local currency and have been obliged to
borrow money at the financial centers of
the East Secretary Gage shows them how
this demand can be met. 1t is embarrassing
to these Democratic leaders and to the free
silver agitators that this scheme for pro-
viding a currency to take the place OF
greenbacks and treasury notes as they are
being retired is so interviewer with and
made a part of the broader plans for di- !
yorcing the government from banking and
putting our national finances upon a gold
basis that there appears to be no way Of
separating them. When they attempt to
tear Mr. Cages financial scheme to pieces
they discover that they cannot attack 1t in
part without direct injury to their friends.
Senator Fairbanks to-day laid before the
Senate the resolutions OF the governing
committee of the Indianapolis Board OF
Trade asking for liberal approx iation
for the International exposition at Paris
in 1900. He introduced the following bills:
Removing the charge of desertion from
the name of Samuel Brown, of Dunlaps-
vile, Union county Indiana, who served
as a private in Company A, Thirty-tifth
Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
To increase the pension of John q. Wash-
burn. Fifth district. Indiana.
Referring to the Court of Claims the
claims of o. p. Cobb and Others of Au-
rora, Ind
For the relief OF Alice Utz, of New AL
bany, Ind. heir and legatee of Joshua Wi.
ley. and to give the Court of Claims juris-
diction, and to remove the bar OF statute
of limitations.
For a man who has been advertised al
being in the last stages of consumption,
with one lung entirely gone and the other
badly impaired, Henry u. Johnson, of In
diana, did a remarkable piece of hide-llft-
Ing to-day when he tackled that grizzled
warrior. General Grosvenor on civil serv-
Ice. Injured as the general is TO the hateT