New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-27
THE e USE COMMITTEES.
CONTINUED COINAGE OF SILVER EX-
PECTED.
HOW TUE BLAND AND BUcKNER COMMITTEES
sTAND-MR. BELFoRD's SCHEME.

sTAND-MR. BELFoRDs SCHEME.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 26-Speaker Carlisle seems to
he making n serious effort to show that his Com
nittees on Banking and Currency and Coinage
Weights and Measures ought not to q" alarm the
country. He talked with the chairmen oil these
committees before they were appointed. and knows
chow they feel on financial subjects; they will do
nothing hostile to the financial interests of the
country" The Speaker is also quoted as saying:
aMr. Bland's appointment does not necessarily
mean the continued coinage of silver" which would
seem to imply doubt in the Speakers mind as to the
wisdom of the continuance Of that coinage The
Coinage Committee is composed of eleven members
who can vote-seven Democrats and four Repubb-
cans. OF the former not more than two-Messrs.
Dowd, of North Carolina and Hardy, of New-York,
can be reasonably expected to favor the repeal OF
the compulsory provisions of the Coinage Act.
Messrs. Bland, Nichols Pusey. Lanham and Tully
will sturdly oppose it, as they also win any propo-
siton to restrain the issue of silver certificates.
With them will act Nh. Belford, who stands at the
head of the Republican minority on the committee.
Six members are majority.
Mr.. BELFORDs SILVER SCHEME.
Not long ago Mr.. Belford, in letter to TRIBUNE
correspondent, wrote as follows: II shall certainly
resis, any legislation looking to the suspension of
the Coinage act. think it is as important to pro-
tect the silver interest of Colorado as it is the iron
interests of Pennsylvania. the copper interests OF
Michigan the cutlery interests OF Connecticut, the
silk interests of NewJersey the salt interests OF
New-York" Since then he has taken still more ad-
yanced ground. bill offered 10y him December 10
provides that holders of silver bullion may deposit
The same with the Treasurer any Assistant Treas
urer of tho United States and receive the market
value thereof in certificates which "shall be pay
able on demand In coin or United States notes. and
shall be receivable for customs taxes and pubic
dues, and when received may be reissned." The
bill requires all silver bullion so deposited to be
coined at the several mints of the United States as
rapidly as can be done consistent with economy,
and without interfering with the coinage OF gold"
Section two of the bill provides for the issue upon
deposits of silver certificates to the amount OF
$4,000 900 in denominations of one and two
dollars If Mr.. Bclford would now offer bill to
provide for the issue of certificates equal in amount
to the market value of all pigs of iron and copper
and of all cutlery and silk goods produced in the
States named by him and, deposited with the Treas
urer any Assistant Treasurer of the United States
the certificates TO be payable on demand in coin or
United States notes, and receivable for customs,
taxes and public Dues he would be living mp to his
own platform. He favors unlimited coinage of
Gbuzzardn silver dollars and the issue of certif-
Gates in small denominations.
Chairman Bland and majority of the Democratic
members of the committee would support the first
proposition but they might object to the other One
They prefer the retirement of the one-dollar and
two-dolar greenbacks so as to force the silver into
circulation.
VIEWS OF o. D. POTTER AND JONATHAN CHACE.
III Speaker Carlisle had placed Orlando B. Potter
at the head of the Coinage Committee his hope or
expectation of the soppage of the 0eage of buz-
xardD dollars might have been justified Mr. Potter
thinks silver useful for small coin, and that it
should be coined only to such extent as the con-
venience of the country requires; and that the
amount should be left to the discretion of the Secre
tary of the Treasury. In his Judgment silver should
not be made legal tender beyond the amount
necessary for convenience in business in making
change. He does not believe that silver certificates
are needed or will prove beneficial, aud lie thinks
that their issue should be stopped and the com
Speaker Carlisle has given Mr. Potter place on the
Banking and Currency Committee, but the Coinage
Committee succeeded five years ago III obtaining the
jurisdiction of the subject of silver certificates and
will probably be able to retain control OF II. As
member of the Banking and Currency Committee,
however, Mr.. Potter will be able 10 exert con
scrvative influence in regard to the National bank
ing system. with the value and usefulness OF which
Mr.. Jonathan Chace, of Rhode Island. who is a
member of the Coinage Committee, tayors repeal
of the compulsory provisions OF the Silver Coinage
act of the suspension of silver coinage, and OF
stopping the issue OF silver certificates, but IL Is
doubtful whether more than two of the other mein-
bers would agree with him. There seems to be no
good reason to expect any recommendations from
the Coinage Committee which the advocates OF an
honest currency can approve. The most that can
be hoped for Is that the committee will do nothing
more hostile to the financial interests of the coun
fryo than permitting the coinage OF dishonest
dollars to continue.