Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-16

Especial Washington Correspondence.)
WASHINGTON, December 10
whether the Republican leaders in the
House have not m~isjudged public senti-
ment is one OF the most interesting
questions connected with the new cur
rency bill, now under debate in that
body. Democrats assert that they have,
and this is a frequent theme of their
speeches. wait until next Novem-
ber," they say, and you will hear the
mighty voice of the people in condem-
nation Of this iniquitous measure"
None the less it is the opinion of the
Republicans, from Mckinley down,
that they have caught popular feeling
at the food tide of sentiment in favor
of a gold currency, and they are going
to make the best of it. This view stands
out clearly enough in the speeches of
those who were once ardent bimetal-
lists, but who now confess, like Dolli-
yer, of Iowa, that they have had their
last whirl with silver, and do not pro-
DDbS " D0 AulnDu65CQ any iOASSA,
Are men of this way of thinking in the
majority in this country? The next
campaign will very largely be a test
OF this question.
OF the bill itself it may be said that
il Is one of the most important finan-
cial measures ever discussed in Congress
npJ xyof hr,f n xr;oo1- ir o11rttnd tn lie
discussion. Luckily the public forum
is not so limited by time. The hust-
ings are not regulated by a committee
or rules. What is said in the House
will assuredly' be said before the peo-
pie. The bill has also the unique quail
ity of not having been the product of
directly
From the Republican Caucus
to the floor of the House, and there
placed on the calendar for debate,
without reference to a committee, or
the smallest attempt at the formal
courtesy of allowing the minority an
opportunity to examine and report up
on it. This remarkable haste seems
to be due to a fear that delay might
be fatal. A financial crash of any sort
would seriously damage the prospects
of the bill, and there are evidences in
Wall street daily that the game of pros
uDperity is being somewhat oVerplayed.
NT>11 ~oJd rtonJonr hofara Nh nj 81 M c -
Is the wal cry of the Republican
side.
OF the currency bill, as Of all other
legislative measures, it is impossible to
say what will be its full effect and con-
sequence. 1t is intended to definitely
establish the gold standard and as a
consequence to make all our currency
gold currency. 1t abandons the use
of silver as a money metal, reducing it
altogether to a subsidiary coinage. 1t
furthermore frankly accepts the ma
tional banking system as a permanent
institution and provides means for its
extension and perpetuation as a step
ping store to a future bank note
Currency Based on Assets.
Beyond this, however, everything is
conjecture. 1t is uncertain whether
the bill will contract the money SUP
ply, whether it will increase the price
Of silver. whether it will bring about
a raid upon the treasury and a fresh
Issue of geld bonds, or whethed 1t will
adversely or favorably affect the pros
perity of the country. Partisans, of
course, have made confident predictions
on all these matters, but it is difficult
10 see how they justify themselves.
Time will be required to settle these
questions. Some OF them are quite
likely to be determined before the next
Presidential election, thus giving the
voters a surer basis Of judgment than
exists now. and in this view Of the
case it Is well that the Republicans are