The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-16
House Of Representatives.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is, 1853.

WASHINGTON Feb Is, 1853.
PASSAGE COINAGE BILL.
The House resumed the consideration Of the Senate bill
amendaory of existing laws relative to the half dollar
the quarter dollar the dime, and the half dime.
Mr.. SHELTON concluded his remarks heretofore com
menced in favor of the bill The want of small change
was he said pressing in sections that unless
such this should be passed. the people
there would be compelled to to printed tickets for
the ordinary transactions of business BY passing the
BILL the House would receive the thanks of the people
throughout the country the main object of being sim
ply to supply small silver change. Of public
duty mpelled him to move the previous question
Mr. FREEMAN, (dem Of Miss, moved that the bill be
Mr.. BROOKS. (whig) of N. Y, hoped the gentleman
would withdraw the motion. 1t was too important bill
to be disposed Of in summary way The question
taken, and the bill not tabled Yeas, Sd; nays 109
The demand for the previous question vas seconded
OF the Whole on the state of the Union
The House proceeded to vote on the amendments, and
rejected all those proposed by the Committee of Ways and
The bill read third time and the question stated
on its passage, when
Mr. HARr moved t, lay it upon the table, Negatived-
The bill was passed Yeas, el; noes not counted.
The following the provisions Of the bill
firs-1hat from and after the LIST day of june 1s53
the weight of the hafdoar, piece of fifty cents, shall
be 1872 grains, and the quarter dollar dime and half
lime shall be respectively one half, h and one
tenth of the weight of said half dollar.
second-That the silver coin issued in conformity to the
above section shall be legal tenders in payment of debts
for all sums not exceeding five dollars.
Thrd-1hat in order to procure bullion for the requ
site coinage of the sub division of the dollar authorized
by this act the Treasurer of the Mint SHALL with the
approval of the DIRECTOR purchase such bullion with the
bullion fund of the mint He shall charge himself with
the gain arising from the coinage of such bullion into
coins of nominal value exceeding the intrinsic value
thereof and he shall be credited with the difference be-
tween such intrinsic value and the price paid for said
bullion and with the expense of distributing said coins
hereinafter provided. The balances to his credit
the profit Of said coinage, shall be from time to me
warrant Of the director Of the mint transferred to the
account Of the treasury Of the United States
FourthThat such coins shall be paid out at the mint
in exchange for gold coins at par in not less than
sloo and II shall be lawful also to transmit parcels Of
depostarics and other officers of the United States
general regulations proposed by the director Of the
mint and approved by the Secretary OF the Treasury
provided however that the amount coined into quarter
dollars dimes, and half dimes shall be regulated BY the
! Secretary of the Treasury
lar quarter dollar dime and half dime shall be received
other than those made by the treasurer Of the mint as
| herein authorized, and upon account OF the Onited
| States.
sixth--That, at the option Of the depostor gold or
silver may be cast into bars ngots OF either pure
metal Of STANDARD fneness the may prefer,
with stamp upon the same designating its weight and
fncness but piece, Of either gold silver shall be
east into bars or ingots Of a less weight than han
| ten ounces. except pieces Of one ounce, ef two
oynces, of three ounces, and of five ounces
all of the pieces Of less weight than ten ounces
and 6neness stamped upon them But, in caso.
whether the gold and silver deposited be coined cast
into bars or ngos there shall bc charge to the depos
tor in addition to the charge made for refining
parting the metals, of onehslf Of per cent. The
money arising from this charge Of half per cent shall
be charged to the Treasurer OF the Mint and from time II
tme warrant of the Treasurer Of the Mint, shall b
ar serred into the Treasury of the United States Pro
vided however that nothing contained in this section
quarter dollar the dime, and the half dime.
SevcnthThat from time to tinio there ehall be struc