The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-22
All Men Interested Anxious for
1T to Begin.
INTEREST EXTENDS TO WEST
People Want to Better Under
stand Banking Methods.
Committee VIII Be Told About
Business, Holland Says.

mittee of the house of representatives
in undertaking an investigation of
money and banking conditions in the
United States. This committee, ac-
cording to the report received here,
has no idea of investigating money
and banking conditions for purely par
tlsan political purposes. The mem
bers of the committee know that If
an investigation were not sincere the
people would speedily discover that
1act and would, therefore, in time pay
no attention to anything brought out
ny the committee.
The members of this house commit
tee have learned that all over the
United States thinking people, and es-
pecially business men, are very anx-
lous to get full and accurate informa-
ton which will enlighten them re-
specting banking and money condi-
lions. Meetings which are being held
IN the west under the auspices of the
National Citizens league show how
great is this popular interest in these
questions. In many parts of the coun-
try men of authority are now giving
much time to public discussion, and
they find that the people listen most
attentively to their lectures and adj
dresses. Mr.. H. d. Money of Missis-
sippi, formerly United States senator
from that state, and, in the admins
tration of President Arthur, chairman
of the poStoffice and post roads COM
mittee of the house of representative
has begun campaign of education in
Mississippi. He will not confine his
lectures to the people of that state.
He is to speak during the summer and
early fall in various placeS-in Ala
bama, Louisiana and probably in Ten
nessee. 1t is a Singularly appropriate
name which the former senator bears
in view of the agitation he is making
for banking and monetary reform. His
name, however, is the least of his
qualifications for this work. In his
long service in both houses of congress
Mr. cd hi So1 n
nomic and fiscal questions and gained
a high repute for his ability to discuss
them.
In the state Of Iowa many meetings
have been held, the people displaying
the utmost interest in these questions
and eagerness to obtain accurate in
formation. 1t has been learned that
the people of Oklahoma are anxious
tiers and welcome, especially, men not
identified with banking, but who have
gained their regulations as thinkers
upon economic subjects.
Agitation in the West.
Here in the east there is hardly any
appreciation of the extent of the
campaign of education which is in
progress in many parts of the west.
One of the most popular of the speak
ers is Jacob Gould Schurman, presi-
dent of Cornell university, and there
have been no more instructive ad-
dresses than those which have been de-
livered by the president of the uni
versity of North Dakota, Frank L.
HuIey of the Stetson university of
Florida.
one effect of these meetings has
been a better understanding on the
part of the people of the fact that agi-
tation in favor o. banking and money
reform does not represent the exclu-
sive purposes of the American Bank
ers' association or of the individual
bankers of the United States. For
a long time the impression prevailed
in many parts of the country that the
agitation in favor of banking and
money reform represented nothing
but the purpose of the money power
still further to master the money re-
sources of the United States. The agi-
tation which has been carried on for
the past year and a half by business
men and by university scholars has
made it clear to the people that this
agitation does really reflect a pro-
found and earnest desire on the part
of reputable and able men to make
the American banking and currency
system what it should be and to do
that in furtherance of national pros
perity
These facts have come to the atten-
ton of the house banking and cur
rency committee. The members of the
committee realize that they will be
doing a great public service If they
obtain abundant information. sufficient
to serve as the base for a, satisfactory
and wholly adequate banking and cur
rency reform system.
The committee is now preparing a
list of questions which will be submit
ted to bankers throughout the Unlted
states. The officers of state banks Will
have opportunity to answer these ques-
tions, although the banking and cur
rency committee oe the house of rep
resentatives cannot compel officers of
the state banks to furnish fnforma-
ton.
These questions are elaborate, some
what detailed, and technical Bank
ers will be asked to answer questions
which will serve to show the relations
of their own banks with other banking
institutions. and particularly their re-
lations with the great induStrials and
with all of the railway corporations
Apparently the house committee does
not look upon the statistical reports
made by the comptroller of the cur
rency as containing all the informa-
ton which the committee desires to
receive.
The Story of Credit.
One feature of our present banking
and currency conditions about which
the house committee will endeavor to
gain complete information is the part
credit plays in the financial operations
of the country and the manner in
which credit is concentrated in the
chief financial centerS of the United
States The committee feels that it is
essential that the whole story of credit
and it's relations to our banking and
money systems and to the financial
affairs of the nation must be learned
before there can be any decision as
to whether or not the concentration
of credit seriously menaces the public
welfare. If the committee should
learn that there is such danger, then
it will be in position to recommend
legislation which will put an end to
the evil.
If this committee occupies itself
with the work it has undertaken as