The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-08

country, it is entirely within the reach Of
possibility that the amendment would go
through and the first addition be made TO
the Constitution of the United States, ex-
cept as war measure. for nearly CEN
tury. 1t is the commonly expressed opinion
of the large manufacturers who come here
that either the labor laws of the large in
dustrial States of the East will have to be
relaxed somewhat, or in the close compe-
tition of hard times. business viii go to To-
calities where employers are less hampered
OF course, the number of hours of labor is
the great point, and they now vary from
ffty-eight in some States TO seventy-two
per week in others. Mr. Lowering is quite
enthusiastic over the reception his amend
ment is receiving, and is far from believing
that he, at the age of sixty, is too old to
see it adopted. If the labor men once awake
to its Importance and as these interests are
always looking for something to agitate, it
is quite likely that this issue viii sometime
be heartily taken up.
1t is quite possible that the short session of
Congress beginning next December will do
something for currency reform, at least
will go so far as to commit the Republican
party squarely to that issue. The trouble
now with currency reform is that Congress
and the public are not fully awake to its
needs, and so on one side of the House
there is Indifference and timidity and on
the other side clamorous opposition, de-
fiant and aggressive, and united for silver
rlonometallism. When inquiry is made as
to why the Republican party does not push
vigorously for currency reform the answer
is that the Senate is so desperate as to
make such an effort useless. Perhaps it is
desperate, but the Indifference of the House
leaders is the first and greater obstacle.
They do not as yet appear to believe that
reforms in our currency system are abso-
lutely necessary to the proper maintenance
of the existing gold standard, although the
party has made great advance in that par
ticular in the last year. On the other hand,
the enthusiastic currency reformers declare
that the present is the last throw of the
dice; that unless the only sound-money par
ty in its period of power will take up the
subject and prepare such a system as will
give adequate banking facilities for all
parts of the country and prevent the recur-
renee of such distressing experiences as
those of 1885, the sound-noney cause is lost
and the country certainly doomed to go to
free silver.
The Republican members of the House
committee on banking and currency were in
private session to day to consider the bill
Of Representative Fowler for a revision OF
the currency. Mr.. Fowler's hearing closed
to-day, and Chairman Walker will follow
with two days exposition of the measure
bearing his name. This will close the hear
ings, and the Republican members of the
committee will take up the question of
formulating a bill expressive of the views
of the committee and embodying such prop
ositions as a majority of the Republican
members may agree on. The purpose being,
first, to secure agreement among the Re
publican members, and then have united
action before the full committee. BY this
means it is hoped to command the nine
votes which are requisite in the full COM
mittee in order to report bill. The strong
tendency among the members is to report
the proposition embodied in the Presidents
message to Congress with some enlargement
on the lines of general currency revision,
but not to the extent of securing distinct
expression on the gold standard or for the
retirement Of the greenbacks.
George r. Fuhrer, a suspended Evans
Vile Qnd) letter carrier. writes Mr.. Perry
s. Heath to inquire: Cd If the postmaster
has right to suspend him pending charges,
and (2) if he is not entitled to pay while un-
der suspension. Mr.. Heath answers the
first question in the affirmative and the
second iii the negative. He used to edit
query column.
Representative lands and his associates
on the Indian committee left this afternoon
on a trip down the Potomac and Chesa-
peake bay to inspect the Indian schools at
Fortress Monroe. The party will return
Wednesday night
Representatives Hemenway and Over
street leave tomorrow night to inspect the
harbor defenses at New York and the forti-
fications at Sandy Hook.
Representatives Steele and Overstreet are
among those who are to dine with the Pres
ident tomorrow evening.
Representative Faris has gone to Indiana
to attend to some business matters and in
cidentally to look after a few fences.