The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-18
FINANCE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED.
Committee Were Hard at it Until
Very Late.

Oyster Bay, y. Y, August 1S.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt's conference with the
members of the subcommittee Of the
senate finance committee was not con-
Guided until the small hours of the
morning. The whole subject of financial
legislation at the approaching session
Of congress was discussed ~thoroughly.
The committee did not present even
d tentative draft of d currency bill to
the president, although some PROPOSE
tons which subsequently may be en-
bodied in the measure. were reduced TO
concrete form. No definite conclusions
as to the shape of the proposed legisla-
ton were reached. The conference re-
lated rather TO methods of procedure in
the work at hand than 20 the form of
the legislation.
One fact of distinct Importance was
developed at the conference. While an
extraordinary session of congress next
1ali is assured it has not been deter
mined definitely whether it will be call
ed TO meet in October or in November.
1t has been supposed that the extraor-
binary session would convene IN Mon-
day, November 9, but the Indications
now are that it will be called for an
earlier date, perhaps several weeks
earlier. -.
/ The primary purpose of the extraor-
binary session will be to enact legisla-
ton making operative the Cuban reci-
p10clty treaty, but financial legislation
also will be pressed upon the attention
/ or congress soon after it cOnVeneS.
Three of the senators present at last
nights conference are members of the
senate committee on relations with
Cuba. Plat, the chairman: Aldrich
and Spooner. All of them. particular
ly Mr.. Plat, who has made a profound
study of the situation in Cuba. regard
the necessity for the enactment of the
Cuban treaty legislation as very ur-
gent. President Roosevelt entertainS
the same views. 1t is understood hat
the suggestion of an extraordinary SeS-
sion of congress at q date earlier than
November 9 was made by these sena-
tors because of the urgency of the
Cuban legislation.
1t was pointed out too, hat if CON
gresS We're convened at an early date.
the entire work of the extraordinary
and regular session could be cleared
by the time the national conventions
are to be held next year. On many
; accounts that is regarded as desirable
and it would be a great Convenience
amy Do( cioo
to members of both the senate and the
house.
1t can be said that the senate finance
committee will draft no measure FORM
ally and cOnclusively until consultations
have been held with other members of
the senate, democrats as we'll as repub-
licdnS, with MEMBERS of the house and
with the best authorities on finance in
the country. 1t is the desire of the
committee to be constantly in touch
with the president, with other senator's,
with members of the house, with bank
ers of the west as we'll as those of the
east and with country bankers as we'll
ds city bankers, so that some plan of
legislation may be formulated by the
opening of the extraordinary session of
congress-.
1t is the hlpe of thecommittee to de-
wise a genuinely elastic currency sys-
tenn, a system that will expand when
the necessity arises and contract when
the necessity shall have ceased to ex-
ist.