The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-06
Message
is Viewed.
MOSTLY FAVORABLE.
What Representative Wal
ker Has to Say.

Washington, Dec. 5.-Following are
some of the opinions expressed by |
members of congress upon the presi-
dents message:
Representative Hit, chairman of the
House committee on foreign affairs,
said:
The president has summarized and
solved in an able and felicitous man
ner many of the questions in mems
minds everywhere touching the I'M
mense and rapidly succeeding recent
events and the situation in which the
nation finds itself. His simple propo-
sition to let the new possessions alone
under just and firm governments by
the military arm which conquered them,
gives us time for plenty of discussion
of all the propositions for their per
manent government. The problem OF
governing the Cubans, he deals with
gently and hopefully and, everybody
will wish that his forecast of stable
government there viii be realized soon
err than ever yet has happened to
Spanish American population.
Representative Walker. chairman of
the committee on banking and cur
rency:
I am asked what 1 think of the
currency and banking features of the
presidents message. 1 do not see that
it has any such features. l have not
been able to detect any. 1t contains
only one recommendation as to the
currency, repeating that of a former
message to change the United States
| legal tender notes into gold certificates,
| which would have no effect on the
| banking and currency situation, but to
add to the burden of taxation without
/ amy degree faVCrably affecting the gen
eral banking ana currency situation"
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio:
The message is not along beaten
paths. 1t is written in a very at
| tractive style The contribution to
history in the elaborate recitation of
! the events of the war, are in good taste
and devoid of Boosting or vanity The
| comment upon the Incidents of the war
and the valor of our men-naYal and
! military, and the fine work Of all our
seamen and artificers, will be found
| fully justified by the facts. The views
of the president upon the question of
currency reform will meet the inteui-
gent sanction of sound money men of
all parties. The message. on the
whole, is able and eminently satisfac-
tory. and / believe will be generally en-
dorsed at home and abroad
Gen. Wheeler, dem. of Asabama:
1T is a clear and comprehensive re-
sumo of events which transpired dur
ing an eventful period Of our country's
history. 1t will be referred to as one
of noted state papers. "
Representative McMillin, dem, of
Tennessee:
"On the most important question
confronting The nation-What shall we
do with our newly-acquired posses
sions ?-the presidents message re-
Il
chapter of Johnson's Rasselas the
conclusion in which nothing rs con
cluded. s."
Representative Bland of Missouri:
The message, so far as the currency
question is concerned is very brief and
contains nothing new and nothing be-
yond former recommendations. | might
remark that on the great leading issue
which is and will be the paramount
questionable free coinage of silver, the
message is ominously silent, but no
proposition of the money question can
be considered without, at the same time
considering this.
Representative Cummings. democrat
Of New York: TT is a clear, concise
statement of facts without speculation.
suggestion or recommendation | have
an idea that the real message will be
sent in hereafter"
Chairman Dlngley Of the ways and
means committee: The message is an
excellent resume of the independent
events of last year, with a clear pres
entation of the existing situation and
valuable suggestions that will aid ma
terially at the proper time hereafter
in solving the different problems be-
fore us. 1t is to be noted that the pres
ident states that our revenue laws are
working well, with no suggestion of
any needed modification. The message,
although lengthy is so valuable re-
cital of the history making events of
the last year, that it will be read with
unusual interest"
Mr.. Richardson, democrat of Ten
nessee; The president makes a most
interesting and satisfactory review of
the Spanish war, but it is disappOinu-
ing that he failed to tell us what we
are to do with the new possessions. 1t
is just as appropriate now rs it will
be after the treaty of peace for him
to tell us what is to be the future of
the new territory. 1t might help to set
the treaty ratified if he had solved that
problem. 1T is interesting to note he
fact that three-fourths of the message
relates to foreign affairs and less than
one fourth to home matters banking
and currency and all official reform leg
islation so properly promised in 1886 get
no mention, and our condition in re-
SptNI " litSG HIATUS 10 " ne leII klll-
changed"
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania: "A
brave, clear and comprehensive mes
sage strong as the president is in the
confidence and esteem of the people
his message will insure greater conf
dence if possible and strengthen his
recommendations to congress in carry
ing out wise and Christian policy in
connection with the many obligations
the war has forced upon us.
Representative Bailey of Texas: The
democratic floor leader was called from
the house by the illness of his son and
asked to be excused from expressing
his views on the message.
Many senators excused themselves /
from expressing an opinion at length
upon the message on the ground t5at
they had not been able to give careful
attention to all the details. Republican
senators were, however, willing to eX-
press themselves in a few general
words of commentator. Senator Cul-
lem regarded it as "a painstaking, en-
pertaining and accurate historical re-
view.
Senator Plat of New York commend