The state herald., 1898-01-21
WOLCOTT EXPLAINS
WHAT HIS COMMISSION DID.
stlli Believes In Bime,nllism but Thinks
u Change of Ratio Necessary-Criticisc
Some Members of His Party.

mnue III the Senate yesterday, Ill par''
as follows:
Mr.. Wolcott introduced his subject
by saying lie was glad To make n state
ment respecting certain phases of the
work of the recent bimctallic commits
sion, hut in so doing he spoke unoili-
cially, mot 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
the subject OF silver, and it will prob
ably be acrid and bitter enough In
his remarks yesterday, he continued,
he must avoid, ms far as possible. any
thing which might give rise to contro-
yersy.
Taking up the subject of his remarks,
he said that when Congress met Il year
ago, soon after the national election,
there was an universal expression by
the Republican membership In the Sen
ate that the pledge of the party IN It's
st. Louis platform to promote interna-
tional bimetallsm by every means i'll
It's power was an undertaking to he
faithfully carried out, without evasion
or delay.
He then gave an account of the ap-
pOintment of the committee, Saying
that all three of It's members were bi-
metallists.
"Our views were" he said known
to the President before our appoint
mcnt. There was no one of lis who did
not, and does not now. believe the
financial question ovcrshadows all 9th
crs. and that continued adhesion to the
single gold standard means only dlsas-
ter to our agricultural and commercial
interests"
The commission had, he said, in its
six months stay abroad. visited only
London and Paris. and he added that
whatever measure of success or fail
ure had been metcd out to the commits
sion. "it had been hampered by no lack
of authority or sanction Or administra-
tive support"
The language of the law had been the
commissions guide, and there Were
never nj any time" he said, "instruc-
tlons given us thar sought In the slight
est degree TO change or hamper or limit
the full powers conferred upon MS by
law. We have been" he continued, 'of
one mind and in entire agreement dur
ing all of our negotiations. and our cf-
forts have been loyalty furthcred by
our representatives abroad. who We're
fortified by strenuous instructions. In
England, especially. the able ana Intel
llgcnt and cordial cooperation of our
ambassador was Of great advantage In
our delhcrtOns.'
Summing up the favorable conditions
under which the commission operated.
Mr.. Wolcoti said
I'VE have had then, n law broad and
full in It's powers: we have been free
10 act under It's provisions; our views
have been Identical and earnestly fav-
oring an International agreement, and
we have had the hearty support of our
ambassador nj the Court of ST. James.
Further than this. from the day OF first
entering upon the fuliillment of our du-
ties until now. the Prcsidcn, of the
United States has extended To the COM
mission his unSwcrving support in all
It's efforts TO bring about nm inicrna-
iional 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 It's Integrity the provisions OF the
platform Of the Republican party
pledglng II 10 every effort 10 bring
about an International blmctallic agree
ment."
THE failure Of former international
conferences" he said. made II evident
that unless some prior understanding
was arrived nj with some Of the COM
mercinl nations, another failure would
lie the result Of mn International con
ference Mt this time. and as France.
Germany and Great Britain had with.
IN the year made declarations favor
able to silver. II was decided Ia bring
the subject to the attention OF these
various countries, and, naturally. the
first turn was made to France. for
many reasons, hut. above all. because
Of Premier Mcllnc's belief In bimetnl.
lism.
In France" he said. "thc question
Of himotallism was regarded as strict
ly nm international question, and II was
agreed that France aud the United
States should unite In presenting the
/ question to Great Britain. lie contend.
ed FOR the importance of the prcllm.
mary understanding with France. he.
ciuse of the large per capita cirrnln-
'ion of tlrt country,
| ltuu iHEiiii 'N'h Nhhfl'l III ll'I
assurances Of the i1ih Of March. 1896.
| countries representing more than half
Of the total money of Europe aud the
United States would have agreed prior
to conference that upon terms To h.
settled nj such conference. they would
reopen their mlnts To the unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver"
Mr.. Wolcott detailed at some length
the joint negotiations on the part OF
the American commissioners and the
French ambassadors In England At
first. he said, there seemed hut few
difficulties IN tile way. and he quoted
the resolutions Of the House of Com.
mons and the uitcrnnccs of Mr.. bal.
four aud Sir Michael llicks,licnch of
March IL, isDG. we were not. there.
fore" he continued. "intrudcrs. We
could present ourselves with the GER
! tniniy of that reception which must
| follow direct aud open invitation. Aud
the welcome We Ind the right To cx.
pcct we received. From the day we
reached England until the day we
left finally. IN October, our official
treatment wnr everything that coIid
bc desired. The English ministry, In
terms. nssri the French Ambassador
mud ourselves Ia suggest wherein. In
our opinion, England could materially
contribute to u solution Of The uuoS.
iion nnd NJ tile sam" time retain fut
her own people the gold standard nnd
what nr" termed the proposals wrr
not volunteered. hut were mndo los
wny Of suggestion NJ tile explicit ~.
quest of the English ministry When
they were received they wcr" treated
with full consideration. nS were tbs