The New York herald., 1878-12-18
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

wAsHIsGToS. Dec. II, 1875
SILVER COIN IN PAYMENT OF INTEREST on
UNITED STATES BoSDs-sEcRETAnY SHERMAN
IN REPLY TO SENATOR BEcK's RESOLUTION OF
INQUIRY.
communication from tho Secretary Of the Treas
ury Laid before the Senate to-day in response to
a resolution Of Mr. Beck. adopted by that body on
the Sd inst, calling for Information to the amount
Of silver coin received for customs dues the be-
ginning Of the current fiscal year. and whether it has
been applied To any extent to the payment OF in
terest the United States bonds, and If not ap-
piled to state the Why Secretary sherman
transmits report made TO him the subject by the
Treasurer. and adds
Under existing law either gold coin standard sill
dollars may be used in payment OF interest Of tho
public debt. The Law docs not direct which shall be
paid but leaves this 10 the discretion Of ts depart
ment 10 be exercised upon considcratiols Of public
policy and the practice. stated by the Treasurer
OF allowing the public creditor the option Of the
form and denomination of the money III which he
shall be paid has thus far been observed.
The manifest object OF the act to authorize the
coinage of the silver dollar end restore its legal ten
ner character, when construed In connection with
tic Resumption act is that gold coins and standard
silver dollars shall be maintained par with each
other and this object best be attained by paying
ont sIch con 70 may sulserve the convenience CO OF the
person be paid. and not to force upon him either
form Of money. Any other course would discr ni
against the standard silver dollar and tend TO it's
uspItcidNDH.
The following is the report Of Treasurer 0ilnIlsn
which Secretary sherman transmits and refers 70
furnishing the desired informaton:''-
Treasury oF THE UNITED 5rATEs l
WAsHiSoros, Dee, 8, 1870.
SfI--1 have the honor 10 return herewith IN COM
plisnce with your request senate resolution Of the
3I i1st referred to this Office by you under date OF
the 4th inst for information The scope OF the
luton seems to lie comprehcndcd IN the following
f1rst--What are the amount and denomination of
silver coins received Ia pa! nent oi customs dues
since July !. 1882
lsecond-- neither the silver coins received have
applied 10 the payment Ot interest on the bonds
notes of the United states. and II not the reason
why.
Thlrd-what amount Of coin interest has been paid
since the above date in gold and silver coins respec-
lively
In answer 70 the nrst inquiry IL may be said that
distinction has been made between gold and
silver money in the Treasurcrs general coin account
to when account all coin receipts ~ the government
carried by warrant of the Secretary Oh tHe
Treasury under section 3OJ of the Revised Statutes
No record IL kept OF the denoninations OF
either the gold or silver coins receiver
tor customs aud information can be given
from the records Of this Office, showing what amount
Of the general receipts from customs tor the current
fiscal year was In silver coins The receipts OF SUB
sidiary silver of customs necessarily
small for tho that such coins are not receiv-
able except for fractions OF dollar, when the pay
ncnt TO be- made exceeds 50. Ihs total receipts OF
standard silver dollars at this office aud ut the sub
Treasury Offices for the period from July 4, 1873, 10
November 30 1878, &JITs.3s5 from al sources,
except coinage including customs, the -four per cent
loan and silver certificates DeductinR from this
sum receipts of silver dollars from other sources
than customs and J00O OoO IL very liberal estimate
for the amount Of silver dollars received on account
Of customs for the period above mentioned.
The above figures do not. however cover silver cor
tncates received ON account OF customs, principally
at the New York Office, which amounted during the
current fiscal year " su 1000. This