The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-14
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.

The Chamber Of Commerce meets
again tO-lay 10 consider this subject
Since its adjournment some Of it,
members have been actively engaged
In trying TO arrange with Ministers
some method by which relief can be
given to those traders who are ham
pered with silver in excess of what
they can use. We are happy In be-
lieving that out of these patriotic eff
forts valuable result will come ans
desire ta do all honor to the gentle
men who have taken this task upon
their shoulders. One result of these
negotiations is that, with their own
. consent, Ministers have been invited
TO be present at the meeting tO-da!
so that they may both hear what Ou,
business men have to say on the sub
iect, aud IL they choose, make known
their own views. We are glad this
step has been taken. It il wise and
sound one. The Honolulu Chamber
OF similar bodies elsewhere, has the
habit. Of shroudipg its proceedings
in secrecy, and sometimes in mys
terry. The reaso rs for this idiosyn
eracy we have never been able t.
discover, and if there are any we fee
sure that they are very unsound. Il
what had pass d in the Chamber Oh
this slugle subject of currency had
been reported by the press, we be-
lieve that those proceedings wOulc
have been far more useful than they
have hitherto proved. A public dis
eussinn would have been aroused tina
= would have been Instructive both tC
the Government and to the member
of the Chamber themselves. The lat
ter are very far being the only mel
who have studied the present crisis
or who are competent to discuss i
with intelligence. However, the
Chamber has its own ideas about tn,
value to the public of its discussions
and we are not going to ask it t.
change them. In course of time, NJ
doubt, neaM and more enlightened
views will develope themselves with
In the Chamber itself.
its natter for regret that the stat
Of Mr.. Clibson,s health will not per
anti him to be present at the meetin.
to-day. We believed that Their
would be distinct advantage to boil
sides IL there were more interchang
Of views between the leader Of tn
ADMINISTRATION and our business mel
uDnn All topics In which both are in
4vresied.
Que thing seems plain---the bust
ness community will have to stan'
by the Government in this emergen
cy. aud assist it. to bring the currenc.
intO such condition that the SINAI
trader whose receipts arg necessaril.
mostly in silver, will have no diffi
Guilty In dispOsing OF it for all tin
purposes OF his business. Whateve
may be the amount by which tn
quantity of silver. now current need
to I've diminished, means ought To b
found TO Withdraw that much frOu
circulation. After that is once don
the tendency viii. be always toward
expansion, and it is impossible 1
foretell how soon all the silver col
that Is In the counl ry will be wanted
We sincerely hope that the delibera
lions of our business men to-day ma
result in the adoption of a feasibl
plan for accomplishing all that
necessary. Meanwhile the fact tina
the Government is accepting silve
coin for any payments that may b
due to 1t is. We should think, enOug
to restore confidence amongst thos
with whom silver must needs accu
mulate. They have not all of ther
o3casion to pay duties or taxes
: licences or rents to the Government
but those who have not this outle
have business relations with thos
who have, aud know that they wi
share in the relief that the measur
IL calculated TO give.