The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-01-22
.D|METAlHg COMMISSION.
SPEECH By SENATOR woIcorr.


The week In congress opened with =
discussion Of the silver question by SEN
atOr W0lcoft Of Colorado. The features
Of Mondays proceedings in the senate
were the speech delivered by Senator VOL
eott Of Colorado, chairman Of the bimetai-
lie commission, upon the negotiations Of
the commission with European countries
relative TO international bimetallisn. and
the passage Of the Lodge bill restricting
immigration in this country. Senator
Foraker, the senior senator from Ohio,
presented Senator Hanna's credentials for
the remainder 81 Mr.. Eherman's term.
which viii expire on March =, 1899, and
asked that the oath Of Office be admins
tered TO him. Senator Foraker escorted
his colleague 20 the desk, where Viee
President Hobart administered the oath Of
Office.
Taking up the silver question, Senator
WoicOtt sAid that when congress met a
year ago, soon after the national election.
there was universal expression by the re
publican membership in the senate that
the pledge Of the party in its St Louis
platform, TO promote international bimet.
sllism by every means In It's power, was
an undertaking to be faithfully carried
out without evasion or delay. He then
gave an account Of the appointment Of the
commission, saying that all three Of ia
members we're bimetalIists.
~0ur views WERE" he said, known "a
the president before our appointment
There was no one Of us who did not and
does not now believe the financial ques
ton orerShadows all others and that con
tinued adhesion TO the single gold stand.
ard means only disaster to our agricul
tnral and commercial interests
The commission had, he said, in its sis
months stay abroad, visited only London
and Paris, and, he added, that whatevcl
measures Of success or failure had beeu
melted out to the commission, @it had beer
hampered by no lack Of authority or sane
ton, or administrative support"
The language Of the law had been ths
commissioners guide. and there was ney
CT at any time, he said, instructions given
ms that sought in the slightest degree e
change or hamper or limit the full power
conferred upon us by law.
ave have BEEN" he continued, s'of ons
mind and in entire agreement during al
Of our negotiations and our efforts have
loyalty been furthered by our representa-
tives abroad. who were fortified BY strenu
Gus instractions. In England, especially
the able and intelligent and cordial co
operation of our ambassador Was Of great
advantage in our deliberations"
Summing up the favorable conditions
under which the commission operated
Senator WOlcott said: 1--WE have had
then law broad and full in its powers;
we have been free TO act under its pro
visions: our views have been identical and
earnestly fayoTing an international agree
mentand We have had the hearty sup
port Of cur ambassador al the court of st
JameA Further than tins, from the daJ
Of flrrt entering upon the fulfllment q
our duties until now the president Of IN.
United States has extended to the com
mission his answering support in all O
its efforts TO bring about an international
agreement. There has been no moment
that we have not known that back OF ouI
efforts was the earnest desire Of the chic
executive to carry out in its integrity tn,
provisions Of the platform Of the repuhli
can party pledging it TO every effort I,
bring about an international bimetalli,
agreement"
The newspapers Of London, like III,
newspapers Of many Of the capitals OF tn,
world he went on, ~are dominated By
and allied with the banking element. ans
reflect their views and often their ex
pressions. The business Of money loan
ing IL an engrOssing pursuit not Away
tending TO the cultivation Of the ameni
ties Of life, and it is not to be wondereS
al that the London newspapers, voiciR;
that industry, should, in their hostility I,
policy of which they disapproved, for
get for the moment that courtesy which
is due the stranger within their gates, e.
pecially when he comes upon invitation
and that they should be led to character
iEe officials as impertinent which the.
themselves invited.
''lt was realized from the beginning
that bimetallizm for England was out o
the question. India was the vital pOin
Of all the negotiations with England. al
other proposals were insignificant in CON
Parison with that respecting the reopeninI
\ OF the mlnts OF India TO the nnilm'te'
coinage Of silver and the repeal OF tn
order permitting gold TO be paid Tor gov
. eminent dues and to be exchanged TO
government rupees
Senator Wolcott spoke at length on til
. conditions in India, explaining the value