The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-05
CURRENCY REFORM TO WAIT.
,,zs1DENT WILL HARDLY CALL AN
Extra SESSION FoR IT.

al
md Republican Politicians on the
otber-BrOsius of Pennsylvania
,u..,v to Get the Committee Chair
orship Because His Views Coin
oile with Speaker reeds,
v,sbtngton, Dec. at is the opinion of
~. politicians of both parties, who are
hocinning TO come in by droves, that there
:. very Httle chance, indeed Of the enact
1,anr Of the currency bill, before the reg
,,lar session of the new Congress this fall.
n o+ber words, it has come to be taken
Gov Granted by the men who are best post
u about congressional methods that there
rril he no extra session of the new Con-
gress
Mr. H. H. Hanna of Indianapolis, who
e tbe head of the currency movement as
renresented by the indianapolis monetary
conference and who has been unceasing
IN his efforts TO secure currency reform
an the lines mapped out by the Conference
is quoted as having said in New York
thai he had the Presidents promise that
the pledges of the Republican platform
sboulJ be redeemed. II is noticeable, how
ever. that Mr.. Hanna does not say when
tbis action can be looked for; and his
nresence in New York, where he went 10
urge upon business men and financiers
the necessity for continued agitation, is
taken here as meaning that he is pretty
well satisfied in his own mind it win take
great deal of agitation to bring the
President to the point of calling an extra
session
There is. however, to be no let up on
the part of the reformers. 1t is their pur-
pose to bring to bear upon the President
every possible influence in behalf of an
extra session of the new Congress, and to
this end commercial bodies and business
men generally have been urged to prepare
petitions 10 be presented at the White
Hou@e
There is a disposition on the part of
some of the men, who have been most
prominently identified with these move
ments for currency reform, to crticise the
President fer his apparent hesitation.
They claim that they have had his specific
promise that the necessary legislation shall
be enacted at the earliest possible mo-
ment and they contend very properly that,
if he is in earnest i'm his promise, he can
create such an opportunity by calling the
new Congress together at the conclusion
Of the short session of the present Con-
gress, which expires by limitation on the
Sd of March
The President is, however, between two
fires On the one side he is beset by these
very earnest business men, who urge him
to action in behalf of currency reform,
while on the other side he finds the Re-
publican politicians in almost solid array.
The first thing which Republican con-
gressmen arriving in the city have almost
invariably done is to submit themselves to
the interviewing process, and declare that
they see no need of the proposed extra
session. They have gone to the White
House with the same kind of talk, deciar-
ing that for the sake of the party the best
thing to do is to delay action just as long
as possible
They point out that the Republicans
themselves are not at all agreed upon the
character of legislation which should be
enacted and that the people are less so.
They fear the political effect of having to
60 before the country in defense of any
specific currency measure, and they de-
sire to postpone the fateful day just as
long as possible.
Gen. Henderson of Iowa, who is mem
Der of the House committee on rules and
as such is very close to Speaker Reed, eX-
presses the opinion of the average Re-
publican when he said that there is no
use having an extra session unless the
Republicans and the gold Democrats are
first agreed upon what kind of a currency
bin should be passed. He said II would
be worse than folly to call an extra ses-
sion if it is to degenerate into a debating
society.
It is understood that Speaker Reed has
all the time been inclined in favor of no
action whatever upon the currency ques-
ton and because of this belief there is a
good deal of speculation as to who he
will appoint as chairman of the House
committee on banking and cur
rency of the new Congress.
Col. Walker of Massachusetts, who
Is the present chairman of the
committee, was defeated for reelection,
and there are, I understand, four other
vacancies upon the committee In the
past two Congresses this committee has
been VIGOROUSLY useless, because of the
fact that each of the Republican members
had pet bill up his sleeve, which pre-
vented his seeing any virtues in the bills
introduced and supported by the other
members. In thesclosing hours of the
last session they were able to agree only
SO far as to report what is generally
known as the McCieary-Gage bill TO the
House without any recommendations.
They were unable to get majority of
the committee to agree to support that bill
although it was drawn by the Secretary
OF the Treasury and was understood 10
represent the ideas of the President.
Now thai Col Walker is to leave Con-
gress, the ranking man on the committee
Is Mr. Brosius, of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Bro
slus is understood to be in favor of doing
nothing. II this is true, and if Speaker
Reeds views have been correctly stated,
1t seems very probable that Mr.. Brosius
VIII be given the craftsmanship. A very
vigorous campaign is, however, being
made in favor Of Mr.. Fowler, of New
Jersey, who is one of the most active men
on the committee. If Mr.. Fowler is
chosen, there win be some chance Of
prompt action, but if the Craftsmanship
goes to Mr.. Brosius, there is a good deal
Of doubt as what viii be the outcome.
Events may develop rapidly during the
next three months and force an extra ses-
sion, but il is very evident that the out