Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-16
BILLS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS-
Bill Prepared by the fionse Caucus
VIII be Passed Next Week Poll
ticians Argue Late q. 5.
Minister to Siam
Heard From

Washington. Dec. 8. 1899 BoEh
the Senate and Hose currency
bills have been introduced IN Congress
and their provisions can easily be COM
pared. Both bills provide for the gold
standard; provide reserve funds to n1air-
tain all forms Of money issued or coined
bv the United States at parity with
gold; provide for the destruction Of the
endless chain, and for the greater use
OF silver certificates.
The bill prepared by the House caucus
via be taken up in the House on Monday
and will be passed before the end Of the
week. It viii then 60 to the Senate,
where il will slumber until after the holi-
days. There is no doubt at all about the
passage OF the bill BY the House and little
as 10 us fase-in the Senate, although there
will, OF course, be more OF less delay in
the latter body A few short sighted
members are urging that party advantage
may be gained by the failure Of the bill.
but these are not influential enough to do
more than cause a short delay. They ar
que that when once the bit is passed, it
cannot be repealed until the Democrats
shall have captured all three branches Of
the government The Senate now has
a Republican majority OF n, and by no
conceivable possibility can the Democrats
get control Of il before 1908, and then
only il the most extraordinary luck should
favor them. Hence the gold standard
cannot, humanity speaking, be repealed
before that date.
Ii is on this account that some politi-
clans argue that once the bill is passed
the gold Democrats, feeling themselves
protected by it from any possibility Of
free silver, will feel free to 90 back totheir
old party. thereby imperIIing the Repub-
lican supremacy ii the White House and
in the House Of Representatives On the
other hand il is argued that if the ques-
ton can be held open, the fear OF free sill
yer viii bold the gold Democrats fast to.
the Republican party.
1t is not believed, however, that any
Republican Senator will vote against the
bill for any such reason, and in the House
il does not much matter whether some
members should do SO or not. The places
Of any such will be taken by numbers Of
Democrats who will unquestionably sup
port the bill. if necessary; rot because
they favor it, but for the purpose of get
ting Silver out Of the way New York,
for instance, has Is Democrats members
in the House All hope for success in the
Presidential year, lies in getting rid Of sill
ver. Fourteen of them, it is said, have
pledged themselves to vote for the bill.
And there are other individual members
scattered throughout the country, who
will undoubtedly follow suit. In the Sem
ate there is unlikely to be any tilibuster-
ing, although the bill will be thoroughly
debated. A vote is likely 10 be reached
some time in April.
Hon John Barrett, late y. S. Minister
to Siam, said, in lecture on THE Phil
ippnes and the Far East" delivered under
the auspices of the National Geographic
Society: IF were asked to state the
necessary immediate influences that will
assist in making America forever the par
amount power OF thePacihc, i would enum-
crate in order of Importance; First, per-
manent sovereignty over the Philippines;
second, construction Of the Trans-Isth-
milan Canal third, preservation according
to the treaty Of our trade rights through.
out all China; fourth, laying of the Pacific
Gable; fifth, upholding or reasonable sub
sdizing of our merchant marine; sixth,
new but important proposition, the extern
ton OF parcel post system OF mail to the
Far East to compete with similar Euro
pean systems. and seventh, the early
sendine-- If Commission to fully investl-
gate ana report on Asiatic markets, as
recommended in the Presidents Mes
sage. With the exception OF the sixth,
the President anticipated every one Of
Mr.. Barrett's suggestions, in his annual
message TO Congress.
Speaker Henderson purposes to stick
closely to business during the session of
Congress. He has declined an imitation
to attend the banquet to the Middlesex
Club. Of Boston, on April 27, next, Grant s.
birthday, and says he will decline all sim
liar invitations while Congress is in ses-
S on.
In order that there may be no ground
for charge Of partisanship in the action
OF the Senate Committee on privileges
and elections, on the cases involving the
seats Of Senator Sect. of West Va, Sen
ator Clark, OF Montgomery, and the right
Of Mr. Quay to be seated on the appoint
ment OF Gov. Stone, of Pa, that commit
tee is not incluce among III ose upon which
Republican representation will be increas-
ed 10 correspond with the Republican ma
iority in the Senae. That Senator Scott
viii retain his .seat, and that Mr.. Qua,
will be seated, is regarded as reasonably
certain, and those who have looked close
~ into the evidence to support the charges
against Senator Clark, express The opin-
ion that it is not strong enough to unseat
him.