The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-17
THE CURRENCY REFORM BILLS.
Neither tho Commission's Nor Secretary Cages
Will he Reported to the House.

Nettnor THO OommtnntOn'n NOR beCretnry GoKo'o
Will Be Reported TO the House.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 18.-The hearing accorded
to representatives of tho indianapolis Monetary
Commission by tho Banking and Currency Com
mittee Of tho House. last week, was not an un.
qualified success, despite the interesting and
lucid statement made by former Senator Ed
munds, Chairman of tho commission. and tho
diplomatic presentation OF the details of the bill
made by former Secretary Fairchild. The efforts
of these gent cmen were supplemented by those
of Messrs. Bush of Georgia and Taylor of In.
diana. Mr.. Bush was especially unfortunate
in his opening remarks, which, however.
was characteristic of the attitude Of men,
bers of tho convention ut Indianapolis last
January toward representatives OF Congress
who attended it's sessions. Among these was
Mr.. Walker. Chairman Of the on
Banking and Currency, who was in the conven-
tion by double right; first, as q delegate from
the Worcester, Mass. Board OF Trade, elected
under the call for the convention. and, second,
by invitation of the Executive Committee.
When the programme was made up the COM
mittee, as u great favor. allowed MIR.
Walker ton or fifteen minutes in which
to speak for his committee and the House
of Representatives on tho subject which
tho convention had TO consider. The
spirit of hostility to tho Congress pcrmeating
inc convention IOunu expression III uucSllohS
propounded to Mr.. Walker by delegates and
many criticisms because OF the lack of Congress
sional action. They seemed to think that If the
sentiment of business men, as represented in
that convention. could DO brought TO bear upon
Congress directly something would BIO done at
once; hence the favor which the commission
idea found.
Discussing the time that must elapse before
anything could DO accomplished, Mr.. H.. II.
Hanna, the Chairman OF the Executive Com
mittee of the convention. Is reported to have
said rather impaticntly that he couldn't spend
moro than a week in Washington looking after
a bill. That was n year ago. and the conven-
tons hill has just been introduced.
Mr.. Bush expressed to the committee his con-
viction that the business men OF tho country
would prefer TO see the members of Congress
doing something to remedy financial conditions
rather than making political speeches referring
to the civil service debated, and distributing free
seeds to the farmers: AS the House was just
thusiasm and practical unanimity-155 to 10
to continue distributing seeds. the remark could
scarcely be commended as u judicious one.
A leading member of the committee Is author
ity tor the statement that the Indianapolis Com.
mission bill will not receive more than 3 or 4
votes in the committee, and that Of Secretary
Gage not moro than J.. Unless present condi-
tions change radically. the only measure that
will get out Of the committee this session Is the
bill already agreed upon by q subcommittee. to
authorize the issue of national bank notes up to
par of the bonds deposited to secure their pay
ment; to reduce the tax on the circulation, and
to authorize the organization OF banks in small
cities and towns with $4,000 capital.