Evening star., 1899-04-17
Interest in the House Caucus Com
mittee Meeting Today.
UNDER ADMINISTRATION DIRECTION
The Presidents Greenbacks Rec
ommendation to Be Acted On.
EVIL TO BE REMEDIED

Great interest is manifested here in tho
work of the House caucus committee on
the currency, which commenced at Atlantic
City today. In well-infoImed official and
political circles theHimportance of the eau
Gus committees labor is correctly apprais-
ed and valued accordingly
The fact of the case is that the under
taking of the caucus COMMITTEES. is fraught
with political significance to the republican
party OF no small degree of Importance
distinct step in advance is to he taken in
the direction of the party's financial policy.
Guidons are TO be set. with which the rank
and file of the party will align in the next
battle at the polls upon the financial ques-
ton.
Under rAdministration's Direction.
significant feature Of the conference
which is now under way is that the commit
tee is working in accord with and to a GER
tain degree Inder The direction of the ad-
minstration. Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Dalzeu Mr.
OVcrstreet and Mr.. Babcock of the commit
tee have all seen the President within the
past ten days, and the probable scope of
the work has been discussed II can be
stated author1tativcly now ;hat whatever
the committee accomplishes Will not he at
the behest of the indianapolis monetary
commission or along the lines of financial
recommendation from other sources The
work will be for the republican party. and
in strict accord with the platform doclara-
uons heretofore made. Some disappoint-
ment is likely to come. it is said. to tho
men who have been busy for some time
past laying out schemes of financial reform
Tor The dominant party in Congress to faith
er Word to this effect has already been
carried. and il is said that the currency re-
formers will studiously refrain from offer
ing suggestions TO the caucus committee.
although they have ideas and plans iu
abundance.
The GreenbucLs Recommendation.
1t is considered very doubtful if the ga l.
Gus committee goes much further than TO
put into shape for enactment into law the
Presidents greenbacks recommendation. IL
nothing else is don5, however, that ,,tll ba
a step in advance. inasmuch as it Will re-
suit in throwing down a gage Of battle To
the fiat money men. The enactment of a
bill carrying out the Presidents plan would
give the lie to the charge that the repub-
hcans have suborGinated the money ques-
ton as a political issue. 1t would afford
d tangible issue for the next fight, and that
is what the republican leaders are after
In discussing the proposed action upon
the greenbacks. prominent republicans have
not underestimated the seriousness Of at
tempting to curtail the power and influence
Of the greenhack. Full credit has been
given to the extent Of the pro-greenback
sentiment throughout the country. but
these men have held that the Presid nt's
plan is wise, will ultimately be acknowl-
edged SO, and the republican party is JUS
titiablC in adopting it.
To Correct an Evil.
The greenback system. it is claimed, Is
the result of republican legislation. and tho
republicans have no intention to abolish IT.
But there is one feature of the system
which has been used illegiumately to de-
plete the treasury of gold, and the republic
cans intend to correct that evil without
seriously impairing the usefulness of tho