The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-18
BIMETAILIC COMMISSION
SENATOR WOLCOTI,S SPEECH RE- FORE THE SENATE YESTERDAY.

The Vicissitudes Encountered-surpri
 by the Indian Governments Attitude Replies to Criticism-The Attitude of Secretary Gage-Mr. wolcott to Retire From the Commission.
 Washington, Jan. 17.-Senator Vol colt (Rep., Col.) to-day delivered in the senate his previously announced speech in explanation of the work of the Bi- metallic commission, of which he is chairman. There was a large attend ance, both on the floor and in the gal leries. Tn the course of his speech he announced that he was about to retire : from the commission.
 MT. Wolcott introduced his subject by saying that he was glad to make a statement respecting certain phases of the work of the recent bimetallic com- mission but that in doing so he spoke unofficially, mot committing his asso- : ciates in the slightest degree either to his opinions or deductions. Later in the session." he said, i've are certain to have ample discussion on the subject of sSllttT, duu IL Will pIOUtply pC aSl iu and bitter enough In his remarks he meant to avoid as far as possible, any, thing which might give rise to contro- versy.
 The commission had in it's six months stay abroad, visited only Lon den and Paris, and he added that what ever measure of success or failure had been meted out to the commission, Tit had been hampered by no, lack of au- thority or sanction or administrative support" The language of the law had been the commissions guide, and there 3'were never at any time" he said, "in- structions given us that sought in the slightest degree to change or hamper or limit the full powers conferred upon us by law. We have been." he said, lone of mind and in entire agreement during all our negotiations, and our ef- forts have been loyalty furthered by our representatives abroad, who were forti- fled by strenuous instructions. In Eng land, especially, the able and intelligent and cordial cooperation of our ambas- sador was of great advantage in our de- liberations.'
 Summing up the favorable conditions under which the commission operated MT. Wolcott said: We have had, then law broad and full in its power; we have been free to act under it's provi- sions; our views have been identical and earnestly favoring an international agreement, and we have had the hearty support of our ambassador at the court of St. James. Further than this, from the day of our first entering upon the fulfilment of our duties until now, the president of the United States has ex- tended to the mission his answering support in all it's efforts to bring about an international agreement There has been no moment that we have not known that back of our efforts was the earnest desire of the chief executive to carry out in it's integrity the provisions of the platform of the republican party pledging it to every effort to bring about an international bimetallic agree ment.
 In France, he said, the question of bimetallism was regarded as strictly an international question, and it was agreed that France and the United States should unite in presenting the question to Great Britain. He contend ed for the importance of the prelimina- ry understanding with France because of the large per-capita circulation of that country. He said: Had England ever adhered to her assurances of the 17th of March, 1896, countries represent ing more than one-haf of the total of Europe and the United States would have agreed, prior to a conference, that upon terms to be settled at such con ference they would reopen their hints to the unlimited coinage of both gold and silver
 MT. Wolcott then detailed at some length the joint negotiations on the part of the American commissioners and the French ambassador in England. At first, he said, there seemed but few diff faculties in the way, and he quoted the resolutions of the House of Commons and the utterances of MT. Balfour and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach of March IT, 1S96
 We were not, therefore" he contin- ued, "intruders. We could present our selves with the certainty of that recep- tion which must follow direct on open invitation, and the welcome we had the right to expect we received. From the day we reached England until we left it finally in October, our official treatment was everything that could be desired.
 "The English ministry, in terms, ask ed the French ambassador and our. selves to suggest wherein, in our opin- ion, England could materially contrib. ute 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 were not volun- teered, and were made only by sugges- tion at the explicit request of the Eng fish ministry. When they were receiv- ed they were treated with full consid- eration, as were the representatives oi the two governments conducting the ne. gotiations."
 2 It was perfectly realized from the be- ginning. he said, that bimetallism fol England was out of the question. In dia was the vital point of all negotia. tions with England, and all other pro. posals were insignificant in comparison with, that respecting the reopening ot the hints of India to the unlimited coinage of silver and the repeal of the order permitting gold to be paid fol government dues, and to be exchanged for government rupees.
 ! Mr. Wolcott spoke at some lengtf upon the conditions in India, explaining the value of the rupee since the closing of the hints to silver in 1893. The clos ing of the hints, he said, had created r,-i5a disco tiSfacfiop and tharo |,