The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-22
GEN. WARNER WON'T ACT.
He and Mr.. Towne Tell the Walk
Committee What TheY Think of It.

Washington, Jan. %. - Chairman
TOwne of the silver Republican commit
tee and A. J. Warner OF the bimetallic
league have sent a reply to the banking
and currency committee, relative to the
application of MeSSrS. Warner and
Towne for hearing before the commit
tee. The committee said it would hear
the gentlemen in support of any bill for
which they might assume the author
ship and responsibility. The reply
1--WE think it proper to advise you
and the committee under which the ap-
phcation was made on our behalf for
hearing. At a meeting of the eXecu-
tive committee of the American Bime-
tallic union held in this city on the 18th
instant, some informal discussion was
had respecting certain propositions Of
currency legislation now pending be-
fore your committee viz:
'"Thatof the administration, commonly
referred to as the Gage plan and that
of the sO-called monetary commission
constituted by the Indianapolis sound
money convention of a year ago and
recommended in advance by the presi-
dent in his special message of July "A
last. The opinion prevailed that the
wide publication of an expert exposition
of these measures by their supporters,
such as results from the policy govern
ing the hearings thus far was calculat-
ed to create a. wrong impression and
from our standpoint to do harm by Civ
ing circulation to views on banking
and currency both unscientific in theory
a resolution was passed providing that
an application be made to your honor
able committee for hearing in behalf of
representatives of the American Bime-
tallic union and we were designated as
such representatives. Having for many
years been somewhat familiar with the
procedure of committees of congress
in similar cases, we could not anticipate
the refusal of such a request.
So far as we are aware this is the
first time that in a matter of so much
Importance a great congressional COM
mittee engaged in giving hearings on
proposition before it has refused to ac-
cord a full and fair hearing to both
sides. At all events the important
committees of ways and means and
coinage, weights and measures have
uniformly under such circumstances
opened their hearings to representa-
tives of every shade of opinion. Not to
our knowledge has it ever before been
required as a condition precedent to be-
ing heard that each witness should have
had his own individual bill introduced
and referred to the committee.
1T seems clear to US that such a re-
quirement is wholly illogical and I'M
reasonable. Under it the affirmative
would always have a monopoly of the
testimony and no person satisfied with
existing law on any subject could be
heard against any proposition to change
it unless he should first have gravely
introduced a bill to keep the law as it
is.
In conclusion we beg to assure your
honorable committee that it was not
the intention of the American Bimetal-
lie union to cause them any embarrass-
ment. The sole purpose of the appli-
cation was to furnish a way whereby
the country at large might learn in
their appropriate connection the views
held by that numerous body of citizens
who oppose any and all plans to sub
stitute bank paper for government cur
rency, to commit the country more
thoroughly to the gold standard. -