Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-22
THE SILVER COMMISSION.

HE SILv En- MkSSlUN.
A reporter OF the Alta has been in
terviewing Alexander Delmar, statis-
tician of the Congressional Monetary
Commission, Of which Senator Jones,
of Nevada, is Chairman. The state
ment of MIR. Delmar is lengthy but in
teresting: Among the first business
done was to prepare a circular to all
our representatives abroad, which was
approved by Secretary of State Fish,
requiring them TO obtain the amount
of the circulation of precious metals in
the various countries, the expectation
and importation, wear, tear and con-
sumption of metals, legislative meas.
ures, past and present, in relation to
precious metals and upon mining
laws and regulations. Reports have
already been received from Germany,
France. Sweden, Norway, Mexico and
other countries.
A circular was then addressed to
prominent merchants, bankers, bull
ION dealers, dealers in stocks, financial
editors, political economists, and writ
ers on money matters, requesting an
swers to interrogatories On the subject
intrusted to the Commission.
A circular vas also addressed to the
consumers Of the precious metals in
the arts to ascertain the consumption
of the precious metals of this country.
This circular was addressed to gilders,
gold heaters, manufacturing jewellers,
manufacturing dentists, manufactur-
ers of buttons, manufacturers of re
gala, manufacturers of fire. arms, man.
ufacturers of military ornaments, etc.,
manufacturers of church service,
watch-case makers, gold-pen makers,
manufacturers of solid silver ware,
manufacturers of plated silver ware,
manufacturers of electro plated ware,
looking-glass makers, manufacturers
of nitrate of silver, manufacturers of
silver foil, manufacturers of gold (sil-
ver) lace and military ornaments and
accoutrements, and manufacturers OF
photographers materials.
The witnesses examined in New
York included Henry &. Carey, the
leading writer on political economy in
this county, General Dix, Thurlow
Weed, JOHN Sherman, the New York
banker, Edward Atkinson, the financial
writer of Boston. The examinations
were mainly conducted by Senator
Jones, who, with Mr.. Delmar, exhib.
tied marked ability in the OF
his examinations and the questions in
volyed. The Commission then ad-
journed to Washington, where Mr..
Delmar was intrusted with the prepa-
ration O three special reports on lead
ing topics.
These were: first, in regard 10 the
monetary legislation Of Germany; sec
ond, in regard to the movement OF
precious metals to India; and third, in
relation to the precious metals in the
United States, and particularly the
Comstock lode.
The investigation relating to Ger
many was with reference to the amount
of precious metals existing in Ger
many at the time when that country
prepared to change the long-existing
standard from silver to gold. Those
preparations commenced in 1871, at
the close OF the French war, when
Germany, gaining possession OF the
precious metals obtained from France
as indemnity for expenses incurred in
that war, deemed the moment propi-
tious for utilizing the coins Of the
countries composing the Empire, and
for introducing gold into circulation.
The first movement made was the
law passed in 1871, when Germany an
nounced her intention to retire her cir
culating metal and to change from a
single silver to a single gold standard,
with silver subsidiary coins.
The next law was passed in 1873, pro-
visionally establishing a double stan
dard of gold and silver, at the rate of
I5X to /, or 3 German thalers to 10
r~eichsmarke gold.
Her intention, as announced, was TO