Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-16
OPINIONS oFTIIE PRESS.
FINANCIAL LEGISLATION.
(Fr0m PittsburG Post.l

Supplementary to the conference Of
Republican congressman at Atlantic
city to frame financial legislation 10 BIO
presented TO the next Congress comes
me Injecting Ut the Senate Finance
Committee in New YORK, on Friday of
this week. having the same purpose in
view. Senator Allison, of Iowa, who Is
chairman of the Finance Committee, in
an Interview. is very conservative and
holds the Senate Comnitiee VIII at
tempt no radical departure from the
present system OF greenbdcks. national
bank notes. gold and silver currency.
The zcalots who are demanding the
green backs shall be retired, gold de-
clarcd the standard for all time and
monopoly OF the paper money supply
given the national banks do not meet
with much favor from the sagacious
Senator Allison. He says. for Instance:
There may be some legislation advised
regarding silver certificates which will
remove them from the least degree of
uncertainty. There are now about $780,.
100000 OF silver notes in circulation.
and while they are good as gold. and
while there is not the slightest doubt
of the ability of the country TO sustain
them whether we lcgisiate or not. there
have been some suggestions that We
ought 20 make their status certain"
what's the need IL they are as good
as gold" 1t 3 as foolish as to with
draw the greenbacks and substitute nn
Interest bearing debt for non-inter-
cat-bearinS debt.
We do not look for financial iesisla.
ton of any Importance from the next
Congress least OF all the gold standard
and greenbhck retirement measures
That are talked of. President Mcliin.
ley is not likely 10 rush OH course OF
dangerous experiment III a presidential
year.
\ scathing criticism OF President Nc,
kinley comes from the National Civil
Service League. which puts the number
of places surrendered to the spoils sys-
TEN a over 10000. instead OF less than
5000. the original press figures. OF
these exemptions from the merit sys-
TEN classification over 6.400 in the War
Department have been withdraWn from
the Jurisdiction of the Civil Service
Commission and turned over 10 Secrc-
tary AlSer under Il system to be devised
by him. The Presidents order also per-
miis the permanent employment of
thousands of persons appointed tempo
rarily under the war emergency. 1t
permits transfers TO competitive posi-.
tons of persons appointed to non-com-
pctitive positions; il permits the rein
statement, without any limitation as to
time, of persons DISCHARGED from the
the doors 20 wholesale change of Of
hcals at the incoming of each new al.
ministration. The Philadelphia "Ledg-
er" sketches President Mckinleys ire
mendous stride backward:
President Mckinley has reputiated
his pledge TO maintain the principle OF
civil Service Reform: 10 heartily. hon
es;ly and thoroughly enforce it. and to
extend the system wherever practical
BILE, He has made thu cODSu1or Jcport
mcnt clearing house for the payment
of political debts. He has permitted
his Secretary of the Interior to undo
the good work accomplished under
Presidents Harrison and Cleveland in
the Indian bureau He has failed 10
exert mis- influence to secure a census
taken under Civil Service Reform
methods. He has taken not merely a
step. but n tremendous stride. back
ward. and among his most earnest we'll
wishers has reused painful doubts as
to his sincerity.