The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-03
NO ACTION TO Be
TAKEN This session
Republicans Decide Against
Financial Legislation.
Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts op-
poses Any Action.
A plan to Rc.in the Next Congress
With a Monetary Measure LOT
Campaign Purposes.

With bare quorum of their membership
present. the Republicans of the House last
night voted almost unanimously not 10
take up any financial legislation at lhe
present session, but to turn the whole mat
Ter over TO a caucus committee which
should submit its recommendations to the
next Congress for its immediate acton
Only eighty-six members were present
when the caucus was called TO order IN
the chamber of the House of Representa-
tiyes last night The call was circulated
SO late that many members had engage
ments for the evening that were diincu l
10 break, and many were absent on that
account. Others who were not reelected
considered that the end of the session was
50 near at hand that il did not matter
very much what was done, and still others
STAYED away because they were opposed 10
what was understood would be the con-
illusions of the caucus.
The meeting was called to order by Cen
eral Grosyenor at SIS o'clock. On motion
of Mr. Bromweil, MIR. Bennett of New
York was chosen secretary of the caucus,
in place OF Mr. OdelI, who has resigned.
General Henderson read the following
resolution, in which he moved that he
caucus concur:
Resolved That a committee OF eleven members
OF the present House OF Representatives VINO are
also members-eleCt Of the fiity-siAth = "lisless
shall be appointed H. the chairman OF TINS caucus
for the purpose OF considering monetary legi>'
iatioR and submitting recommendations l" M
Republican caucus the first session OF The
Fiity-siNth Congress with auJhorlt! to confer Win
like committee appointed by the senate
a1rrfi, ion,
pointing out the futility of attempting any
legislation at this session, and the neces-
sity of the party keeping its pledges TO the
people by attempting TO make some reform
in the currency. He was followed by Rep
resentatiyes Tawney of Minnesota and
Payne of New York both of whom argued
along the same lines. Mr.. Walker OF
Massachusetts argued against the resoiu-
ton. He said that il was most inadyis-
able for the Republican party 10 go into
currency legislation on the verge Of the
next campaign, as it would do if it started
action next winter. He thought that the
Democrats would keep them on the defeG-
sive from the beginning 10 the end OF the
campaign if such a policy were adopted
and that defeat would stare them in the
face Mr.. Walker spoke very voluminous-
ly, consulting a number of documents that
he brought with him. He was followed by
REPRESENTATIVES, cannon anu titIDuI4it W uS
argued against the resolution.
Mr. Brosius read from the Republican
platform to prove that the Republicans
were not pledged 10 currency reform, but
merely to maintain the gold standard.
There was, he said, no reason why they
should act unless they so desired.
A rising vote was then taken, and the
resolution was adopted, So to i, Represen-
tatives Walker of Massachusetts, Connolly
of Illinois, and McIntire of Maryland, be-
ing among those who voted in the mega
tive. Had a full membership been pres
ent, it is conceded that the adverse vote
would have been u.
1t is understood that the resolution was
drawn with the idea of shutting out Rep
resentatives Walker and Mr.. johnson OF
Indiana, who are among the least amenda-
BILE members of the aBnking and Currency
Committee and whose opposition has pre-
vented action by the committee in the past
Neither Of them is a member of the next
House, and, therefore, neither is eligible
TO post on the caucus committee.
Among those present last night were
Representatives Walker, Prince, Connolly
Mitchell, Brosius, Payne, Cooper, of Wis
consin, Steele. Cannon, Grosyenor, Sher
man, McIntire, Hawley, Henderson, Hep
burn, Reeves, Burton. Dick, Fowler, Hill
Van Voorhis, Corliss, Bennett, Grout
Eddy, Mahany and Heatwole.
General Grosvenor will appoint the com
mittee within a few days