Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-19
The Probable Settlement of the Sill
yer Question.

fNA tlF-1tAFAAs
Senator Allison. Of Iowa, who repre-
sents pretty fairly the sentiments Of the
West on economic questions, says tnai
he does not believe that Congress VIII re
peal the silver coinage act. or that it will
do anything that VIII bring abou' the in
definite suspension OF silver. He thinks,
however. that there viii be no great diff
/ Guilty in securing the passage OF a resolu-
ton that Will authorize a temporary sus-
pension % silver coinage.
II is not probable that year ago sena-
tor Allison would have made so much OF
a concession as this. IT is apparent, how
ever. that the discussions Of the silver ques-
tion in the newspapers, and a conventions,
since the adjournment OF the last Con-
gress, have not been without their effect.
There are several Southern Congressman
who last winter refused to vote for sus-
pension OF the silver coinage act, but VINO
are now reported to be in favor of its tenn
porsry suspension.
There is a great deal OF speculation with
regard to the recommendations which
the President win make with regard to
silver. II is generally believed, however,
that his views have undergone no change.
He was opposed TO the further coinage OF
silver last winter, and it is pretty safe to
assume that he is opposed to 1t now. or
course he will not advocate repeal of
the silver coinage act. He will recon-
mend doubtless a suspension Of it until
it can be determined what is best under
the circumstances to be done. The ad-
ministration is not hostile to silver TO the
extent OF wanting 10 keep it out OF circu-
lation. Indeed it has done all that it
could to put silver into circulation. 1t
has pushed silver out OF the Treasury by
all possible means, even TO the extent OF
calling In the one and two dollar bills to
create demand for coin. What the ad-
ministration is afraid Of is that silver
will drive gold out Of circulation. That
is certainly what it will do if the coinage
Of it Is continued at the present rate.
During the past summer Mr.. Manton
Marble, Of New York, and Mr.. Walker.
our Consul General at Paris. represented
this country in Europe with respect to
silver coinage, and exerted themselves to
discover if there was any probability Of
an international agreement being reached
as TO the coinage Of gold and silver. Nj.
Marble is regarded as a mono-metalist.
and Mr.. Walker is known to be a bi-met-
alist. They have made their reports,
which will not be given to the public be-
fore the meeting Of Congress.
The fact that the European Silver Con-
ference adjourned a week or so ago, after
into a convention that the coun-
tries represented at the conference should
not coin silver during the next
five years, is pretty good evidence
that in Europe the impression prevails
that to establish ratio of silver TO gold
that will be permanent is not possible
that the established ratio will change
with the real ratio.
1t is not improbable that the settlement
of the silver question that will be reached
next winter, will be the suspension of the
coinage of silver for a certain period with
the understanding that to continue the sus-
pension beyond that period will require
additional legislation. Before any settle
ment is reached, however, there is certain
to be a contest of considerable magni-
ft1do