Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-27
Chamber of Commerce.

Annual meeting messrs. George A
Butler and Ex-Judgs Sheldon SPEAK
ON the silver Coinage Question -
Election OF Omcerss
The annual meeting of the Chamber OF
Commerce was held last evening in the Alder.
manic chamber in City Hall. large mum.
Der were present, Mayor Lewis presiding.
B. Rogowsk was nominated for member.
ship.
The report of the treasurer, Wilbur F.
Day, was read and accepted.
T. Attwater Barnes presented the report
of the committee on bonded transportation
lines. He stated that the committee had
succeeded in arranging to transport merohan-
disc unappraised from New York.
A report from the delegation to the Ma.
tional Board of Trade, which met in Wash
ington recently, was made by Hon. N. D.
Sperry. He said that the matters discussed
at the meeting were: The establishment Of q
national board of railroad commissioners by
Congress as an executive body to study the
transportation problem and see that the laws
relating to internal commerce be complied
with; the improvement Of the Columbian
river; the Illinois, Michigan and Hennepin
canal; the matter of our pork products;
bankruptcy legislation; the postal telegraph
and telephone; the department of commerce
and industries; the pilotage laws and other
questions.
The report of the committee on distribut-
ing the funds collected for the rescuers of
the sailors on the wrecked schooner Jane
was submitted and accepted and ordered on
fle The committee was empowered to de-
post the funds in any savings bank they
chose.
The memorial from the Chamber of Cons
sion of the coinage of silver dollars was
read by the secretary, as well as other COM
munications on the same subject On mo-
ton of Mr.. Sperry the matter was tabled
until Mr.. George A. Butler, one of the
delegates to the National Board of Trade, had
made his report. Mr.. Butler then gave a
detailed account of the discussion in the
Board of Trade on the compulsory coinage
question.
Mr. NJ Frank Tyler moved that the presi-
dent be authorized to af1x the seal of the
Chamber of Commerce to memorial similar
to the one sent from New York, and also to
appoint three delegates to meet with the
other delegates in Washington in order to
press this matter before the attention of
Congress. r.Butler spoke on the question
before the Chamber. He sharply criticised
the legislation on the coinage question.
Congress had increased the amount of debas-
ed coinage. If Congress passes the bill
redeeming the trade dollar the amount
will be greatly increased. We must under
stand the probable future of silver in order
to understand the question. The past GEN.
fury contains every phenomena in the huc-
tuation of metallic or paper money. Gold
ana silver have no absolute values. Gold
and silver have huctuated up and down
during the past one hundred years. From
1873 until the present time silver has depre-
ciated and gold has rather assembled in the
scale The marked divergence of the two
metals is remarkable. The history of the
two metals in France and Holland was men
toned briefly to show how the cheaper will
drive out the dearer money for the time
being until 1873 the general consent of the
world was given to silver as q medium
of exchange. But since that time that
universal consent has been withdrawn.
1t was an outrage upon the world when Ger
many demonetized silver. The evil has con-
tinued. Other nations have been obliged to
protect themselves by closing their mints to
silver, and they probably viii not be opened.
Ex-Judge Sheldon said the problem was
great one, considered especially in its inter-
national relations. The real trouble is the
attitude of England. Judge Sheldon gave
forcible exposition of his views ON the ques-
tIon. He wanted such settlement of the
question as would secure perfect equity be.
tween debtor and creditor and government
and people.
Mr.. Builder spoke in reply to some of
Judge Sheldon's assertions, and made an
Ii n. II
some remarks. It was moved and voted that
another meeting be held Monday night,
and the silver coinage question win be fur
Their discussed.
The names of George ST. John Sheffield
and Eli Whitney, jr., were proposed for
Officers were elected as fol-
lows: President, a. G. Lewis; first vice
president. II. B. Bigelow; second vice presi-
dent, j. D. Qewell; corresponding
T. Attwater Barnes; record
ing secretary. Ches. w. Scranton;
treasurer, Wilbur f. Day; directors,
Charles Peterson, Edwin s. Wheeler, s. e.
Merwin, ir., Charles Fl. Townshend,
George 81. Ford. Mr.. Harry Prescott
resigned his position of recording Sec
retarY and the chamber passed resolu-
lion recognizing his long and valued service.
The folloWin committee on the annual ban
quet was appointed: Charles Peterson, J.
D. Dewell, E. s. Wheeler, e. 4. Barnes, n.
G. Osborn, George 81. Ford, Charles g.
Mersick, B. r. English, A. a. Kellam, f. A.
Gilbert, George s. Barnum, Enos s. Kimber-
~, John B. Adriance.