Evening star., 1897-03-05
Will Not Cause the Departments
Much Inconvenience.
ALLHOUSE COMMITTEES NOW ASSURED
This May Open the Door for
General Legislation.
4 CURRENCY COMMISSION

The failure of the conference commit
tees to agree on the general deficiency bill
before the expiration of the Fifty-fourth
Congress and President Clevelands "pock-
ct veto" of the sundry civil, the Indian and
the agricultural appropriation bills will not
necessarily involve Inconvenience to the
executive departments. The bills except
the deficiency are for appropriations which
would not be available before the LIST of
July, and there is ample time for their
adoption during the special session before
the money is needed. The failure of the
bills. however, practically insures the ap-
pointment of the committees of the House
at the special session. and will probably
lead to efforts at general legislation.
The appropriations committee. the COM
mittee on agriculture and that on Indian
affairs will have to be appointed i'm order
TO pass the four appropriation bills and
this will give an opportunity to compel the
appointment of the other committees If
the disposition is to do this the members
OF the House have it in their power TO
throw obstacles in the way Of the appro-
priation bills if their desires are not re-
spected. The desire for general legislation
in certain quarters, and the only question
is how far members are willing to 40 TO
fcrce the hand of the Speaker.
Expectation as to the Bills.
The expectation is that the committees
In charge OF the delinquent appropriation
bills will endeavor to pass the measures
in the exact form in which they were
agreed on in conference. If this can lie
done 1t will save all difference between the
two houses and avoid the diffic ulties of
conference. There is danger however that
those senators and members of the House
who We're not satisfied with these bills as
they We're finally adopted by the Fifty
fourth Congress will INSIST on changes. and
the presence of large number of new
men in this Congress may strengthen the
opposition TO the present form of the meas
ures. One thing that may add an embar-
rassment is that the present Congress VIII
not necessarily be influenced by argu-
ments in favor of economy for the sale Of
the record of the Congress
These bills, when passed, will be charged
not to the present Congress, but to the one
just expired, and the new men may not
care greatly about economizing in the
name of a defunct Congress.
Currency Commission.
Taken in connection with information Of
an authoritative character which a Star
reporter had shortly after Mr.. Mckinley's
election. the suggestion to Congress made
by the new President in his inaugural ad-
dress that the entire currency question
should be referred to a commission is sig
rificant of prompt action this subject.
1t was decided by Mr. Mckinley and some
of his advisers shortly after his election,
as has been before stated, that two things.
and but two ought to be done the spe-
cial session. One was the passage OF a
tariff bill and the ether was the appoint
ment of commission to make scientific
investigation Of the currency question and
TO report plan of currency reform to
be considered by Congress at the iirs; reg
ular session. This had no reference to the
proposed international conference on bi-
metallism.
There was and is considerable opposition
to this policy the grounds that the coun-
try should not be disturbed by any attempt
at currency legislation until after the new
tariff had been enacted and given abundant
time - have its influence on business.
The suggestions made in the inaugural
show that President Mckinley still holds 10
his original idea, and the belief is that an
earnest effort will be made to secure au-
thority during the special session for the
appointment of a currency commission
which can sit during the recess Intervening
before the first reg llar session. The chances
are that measure giving this authority
will be passed