The record-union., 1898-01-18
{. 0. WoIcott Delivers a Lengthy
Address in the Senate.
What the Commission Sought to Accomplish
in European Countries.
Hopeful That Success in the End
Will be Attained-The Com
mission Loyalty Supported by
the President-Pays His Re-
spects to Secretary of the
Treasury Gage.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-senator
70. o. Wolcott of Colorado, to-day ad-
dressed the Senate for more than an
hour on the work of the Bimetallic
Commission.
Wolcott introduced his subject by
saying he was glad to make state
ment respecting certain phases of the
work Of the recent bimetallic commits
Sion, but in so doing he spoke unofficial
ly, not committing his associates in the
slightest degree either to his opinions
or deductions.
Later in the session." he said, 1--WE
are certain to have ample discussion on
Hhe subject Of silver, and it will prob
ably be acrid and bitter enough" In
nus remarks to-day, he continued, he
must avoid, as far as possible, anything
which might give rise to controversy.
Taking up the subject of his remarks,
he said that when Congress met a year
ago, soon after the national election,
there was an universal expression by
HhetRepublican membership in the Sem
ate that the pledge of the party in its
st. Louis platform to promote interna-
1ional bimetallism by every means in
ats power was an undertaking to be
OilliCQ Out NllIOul 6NdSlOIl
or delay. He then gave an account of
the appointment of the commission,
saying that all three of it's members
were bimetallists.
Our views WERE" he said, t'known to
the President before our appointment
There was no one of us who did not
and does not now believe the financial
question overshadows all others. and
That continued a6I 10 s,f,, rIa
gold standard means only disaster to
our agricultural and commercial inter-
eStS"
The commission had, he said, in its
six months stay abroad, visited only
London and Paris, and he added that
whatever measures Of success or fail
ure had been meted out to the commits
sion, ''it had been hampered by no
lack of authority or sanction or admin
1strative support The language of
The law had been the commissions
guide, and there were never at any
time, he said, instructions given us that
sought in the slightest degree to change
or hamper or limit the full powers con-
1erred upon US by law.
I'VE have been" he continued ssof
one mind. and in entire agreement dur
ing all of our negotiations and our ef-
forts have Loyalty been furthered by our
representatives abroad, who were for
Titled by strenuous Instructions. In
England especially the able and intelli-
gent and cordial cooperation of our
ambassador was of great advantage in
our deliberations
Summing up the favorable conditions
under which the commission operated.
Wolcott said:
"We have then had a law broad and
1uH in its powers; we have been free
TO act under its provisions; our c:ews
have been identical and earnestly favor
ing an International agreement: and we
have had the hearty support of our EN-
bassador at the Court of ST. James.
Further than this, from the day of first
entering upon the fulillment of our du-
ties until now, the President of the
United States has extended to the COM
mission his answering support in all
its efforts to bring about an interna-
fional agreement. There has been no
moment that we have not known that
back Of our efforts was the earnest de-
Sire of the Chief Executive TO carry
out in its integrity the provisions of the
platform of the Republican party,
pledging it to every effort TO bring
about an international bfmetallic agree
ment'
The failure of former international
conferences, he said, made it evident
that unless some prior understanding
was arrived at with some of the com
mereial nations. another failure would
he the result of an international con-
ference at this time, and as France.
Germany and Great Britain had with
In the year made declaration favorable
10 silver, it was decided to bring the
subject to the attention OF those va
gious countries, and naturally the first
turn was made to France, for many
reasons, but above all, because of Pre-
mier Meline's belief in bimetallfsm
In France, he said, the question of BIZ
metallism was regarded as strictly an
international question. and it was
agreed that France and the United
States should unite in presenting the
question to the attention of Great Brit
Gin. He contended for the importance
of the preliminary understandings with
France, because of the large per capita
circulation of that country.
Had England even adhered to her
assurances of the 18th of March. 1896
countries representing more than half
of the total money of Europe and the
United States would have agreed prior
to a conference that upon terms to be
settled at such conference that they
would reopen their mints to the unlim-
ited coinage of both gold and silver"
Walcott detailed at some length on
the part of the American Commissioners
and the French ambassador in Eng.
land AT first, he said, there seemed
but few difficulties in the way, and he
quoted the resolutions Of the House oil
Commons and the utteranees of Mr.
Balfour and Sir Michael Hicks Beach
of March IL, 1896.
I'VE were not, therefore he contin-
0ed. ''intruders. We could present our
selves withsthe certainty of that recep-
fion which must follow direct and oper
invitation. and the welcome we had the
right to expect We received. From the
day we reached England until we left
finally In October our treatment was
everything that could be desired The
English Minister in terms asked the
French ambassador and ourselves tC
suggest wherein, in our opinion, Eng
land could materially contribute to a
solution of the question, and at the
same time retain for her own people
the gold standard; and what are termed
the proposals We're not volunteered, but
were made by way Of suggestions al
the explicit request of the English Min
listers. When they were received they
were treated with full consideration, as