Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-20
WILL DRAFT
new CURRENCY BILL
financial Grab Bag Now Bear.
ing His Name Has No
Chance of Passing.
EloHT-HoUR LEalsLATIoN
Opponents of the Bill Will Try to Pres
vent a Vote on It-ConsuIar Re-
form - Ex-Speaker Grow
Makes Last Speech.

washington, Dec. 13.-The republican
members of the house committee on bank
Ing and currency lave helS a meeting to
! consider the question of currency legis-
lation at this session of congress. Chair
man Fowler was told some unpleasant
truths by his republican colleagues. They
informed him that the curious financial
grab bag known as the Fowler bill coulo
not possibly pass the house at this session
or any other session, because 1t contains
half a dozen different banking and cur
rency schemes, any one OF which would
be sufficient to arouse serious opposiuon'
The proposition for branch banks, the
asset banking scheme, and one or TWO otn-
er ideas were opposed at the bankers
| convention at New Orleans, and the mem
bers of the committee at their meeting an
nounced that 1t would be necessary to
| withdraw from the committee bill all OF
those features which were calculated to
arouse ~antagonism.
Chairman Fowler was notified that he
would be expected to draft an entirely new
measure containing only such necessary
amendments to the existing law as could
| readily be passed by the house at the pres
ent session.
Eight Hour Law Causes Worry.
A matter tina is giving grave concern
to the republican leaders In congress-, par
ticularly In the senate, is the bill making
an ei~ght-hour-a-day labor law. 1t has
passed the house and Is now being con-
sidered by the senate m on labor,
which evidently proposes to report IT Ia
vorably to the senate
The same influences that favor the en-
actment of antitrust legislation and that
are i'm sympathy with the cause OF the
striking anthracite coal miners are at
work I'm behalf of the eight-hour bill.
The opponents of the measure are be-
ginning to think that the only way TO
kill II will be, as in the case of the state
hood bill, to prevent 1t from being brought
to q vote. Some of the more conservative
among the leaders of the senate regard the
bill as more dangerous than any which
has come before the III and are pre-
pared to put parliamentary obstacles In
the way of Its consideration so that 1t
cannot be brought to a vote at this session.
Reform in Consular Service.
1t has been agreed by the senate foreign
relations committe to make a favorable
report upon the bill providing for the re-
organization of the consular service OF the
United States. This measure was offered
by Senator Lodge as an amendment to the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill.
AS a rider to the appropriation bill the
consular reform measure has excellent
prospects of becoming a aw at this ses-
sion. II IL should take it's hances as q
separate measure 1t probably would not
be considered his winter. But inasmuch
as 1t is absolutely necessary to pass the
appropriation bill the consular reform
proposition will, in all probability, be
placed upon the statute books.
The measure abolishes the fee system
and provides for the payment of salaries
to all consular officers. 1t divides these
officials into several classes and provides
for their promotion. II the measure is
adopted those who enter the consular
service in the future will be required &c
pass what might be termed a civil service
examination.
IT Is believed there will be a great i'm
provement I'm the consular service when
the reform proposition becomes effective
as under it's operations those who enter
the service will remain there Indefinitely
and the government will, Of course, real
the benefit Of their experience.
Grows Valedictory in House.
At the end Of the present session Ga
lusha A. Grow Of Pennsylvania will re-
tire at the age of 70, after a career II
public life extending over half a century
His first speech in the house was OF
MANS Right to the Soil" He was thu
author Of the free homestead law.
What is regarded as his valedictory wa'
upon the subject Of Labor and Capital
and was listened to with close attention
by his colleagues. His conclusion wa
that some sort of cooperation betweei
labor and capital was the only solution o
the impending problem. Mr.. Grow II
conclusion said:
A labor strike is an unequal contest a
best. 1t is a contest of endurance be
tween hunger and thirst of the huma,
stomach and the income Of capital. Capt.
tai in such contests loses none of its &C
emulation of wealth, unless an industrI
Itself should be destroyed; and In sue
case labor would be the greatest sufferer
The income of capital would be temporar
ily lessened. That would be all.
The existence Of labor itself Is dependen
upon constant employment, and Its cor
dition cannot be improved by idleness Q
by lawless violence, or a disregard or tn
rights of any law abiding citizens.
The obligations of both capitalists an
laborers, like that of all citizens, Is to pro
mote the general welfare, or at least
do nothing to its injury. Some method c
profit sharing between employers and en-
ployes that would secure a harmoniou
cooperation Of both so as to proven
strikes and improve the condition OF labo
S of vital importance to the general we
fare, for the pillars of the republic res
lpon the comfort of the home and the haI
49,