The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-03
THE INDIANAPOLIS COMMISSION.
Currency Reform, should Go o.
Though Times Have Improved.
New York Evening Post.

new YORK EVenlnS POST
A partial list of the commission selected
by the indianapolis committee to prepare
plan for currency reform was published
last week AS some of the persons chosen
had not yet accepted their appointments,
the official announcement has been with
held but enough is known to indicate the
general character of the commission and
the aims of the committee which appointed
it. The list, as published included the
names of ex-senator Edmunds, Hon.
Charles S. Fairchild, Mr.. George e. Leigh
ton OF st. Louis. and Mr.. Stuyvesant Fish,
president of the Illinois Central railroad.
The names were those of business men of
the best type, although persons not known
to the country as having any special ac-
quaintance with the subjects to be consid-
cred Mr.. Edmunds had not accepted his
appointment at the time when the list was
published. but 1t was thought altogether
probable that he would do so, and that he
would be the chairman of the commission
There were no professors of political econ
omy the commission, and no persons
who could be classed as sdoctrinaires >
Mr. Fairchild and Mr. Leighton are the
only members who can be considered ex-
perts, but it may be said of them that no.
body stands higher among theoretical and
practical fnanciers.
The aim of the Indianapolis committee
manifestly was to present to Congress a
list of names that could not be put aside
as lot of impracticables. boOkworms,
catalogues These phrases are in common
use among politicians when they want to
escape the performance of duty. They
have been much in vogue since the cur
rency question became acute. II Congress
desires to avoid all legislation on financial
questions, 1t could find no more convenient
dodge than to dub the Indianapolis people
doctrinairies. and to call the movement
itself impairment Such phrases cannot be
applied to the men selected for the COM
mission. They may not be the best trained
men in the country to deal with this class
of questions, but they cannot be waved
aside as men of no Importance in business
and politics. We should have been glad TO
see the names of Sumner and Dunbar on
the list, but We have TO acknowledge that
as Congress is now constituted they could
have been "whistled down the wind by
such statesmen as Quay and Chandler, and
even by Speaker Reed. whereas Mr.. Ed
fore Congress bearing his signature Will
command attention. Whether wise un-
wise per Sc it cannot he pigeon-holed and
left to the depredations of time. We may
add that anything which bears the sigma
lures of both Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Fair
child will take "A pretty high place in the
estimation of the business community. 1T
should be forced 10 consider and debate
these questions. What Congress wants to
do is to bury the whole subject till the next
panic comes. That is what Congress did
with the silver question. The panic came
and forced il to act. The politicians say
now that the panic may not come at all.
or may not come in their time. After us
the deuge.
1t is precisely because the seeds of panic
are sown in the present system that the
Indianapolis convention men and the doc
trinaires insist that Congress shall do some
thing now TO prevent II and TO minimize
its effects. a bountiful harvest here, ac-
companied by short crops elsewhere has
brought about comparatively prosperous