National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-27
THE SILVER DOLLAR.
woodburn's Resplu

Representative woodburu's Resblu-
tion on the Carson Mint Closints
Congressman William woodburn, Of Neyuda,
yesterday introduced the following resolutions
1t is intended through them to prcolpltatcl de-
bate on the silver question in the House
Whereas Congress in 1876 established mint
at Carson, In the state OF Nevada, for the tone.
~ OF the people, between the Rocky and terra
SGy@da ga, m4qnlains ts IN gqt on an s9nai i9lng
and san Francisco; made II n subtrcasuty OF
the United States, giving to It's suporlutcu Aent
authority TO purchase or exchange bullionHand
exchange coins and draw checks IN payment
us provided by section 1894 (Revised statiites),
and appropriated money to operate 1t during
the entire fiscal year ending 1886; aud
whereas the said mint was suspended In
April, 1875, and finally closed down in the fol.
lowing November, IT'S employees discharged
and It's officers suspended by order OF the Sec.
fetary of the Treasury, at which time there
were on deposit 2jS,Z4 ounces of refined silver
2i69l ounces of gold ready for coming 1853
ounces oiunparted gold and 4Oh0l7 ounces OF
impaired silver-a supply sufficient 10 Keep the
mint In operation six months, and when the
mines In It's immediate vicinity were yielding
about s7,0OO.OOO per annum, rs shown by the
records n the oillce Of the comptroller of the
Whereas during the years 1888, 1881, and
1885, u c coinings of the said mint were In ex-
cess OF the expenses SOS 2Si, and In 1885 tho
profits were S7,l47, though coinage was sus-
pended IN April; and
Whereas the coinage act OF Congress for the
government Of mints provides us follows: ANY
owner of gold bullion may deposit the same at
any mint TO be formed into coin or bars for his
benefit" (Reyised Statutes, section $780, "At
the option ofth owner gold OF silver bars may
be cast into fine metal, or of standard iineness
or impaired" &c. (Sec. 35lS) ANY ownerot
silver bullion may, deposit the same at any
mint TO be formed into bars" (sec.. 352))
"For the purpose of enabling the mints to
make returns TO depostors with ns little delay
as possible II shall be the duty Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury to keep in such mints, whom
such an amount of public money or bullion
procured Tor the purpose as he shall Judge con-
yenient and necessary, out OF which
mny be paid the value thereof in coin or bars,
as soon as practicable after the value has been
asceTtained." (Scc. 35i5) "Unparted bul.
mn IL no oHSSaanSea SSTs on such 81 es Di anS hi
conditions as may be prescribed" (Sec 35i6.)
THE mlnts at Carson, Denver, and Boise
moneys as the Secretary OF the Treasury may
direct" (sec. 1922 1.-The superintendent Of
the mint At Carson shall be assistant treasurer
Of the United states" Csee. 350il "Ihe assist.
and shall there perform the duties required OF
them, relating to the transfer and disbursement
Of The public, r1oneys;" lsec. S59i) THE
= all bullion brought TO the mint for
assay or coinage" (Sec 35OG.) "Sllver coins
other than the trade dollar, shall be paid out
gold coins at par In sums not less than one
hundred dollars" (Sec. 3527)
Whereas coinage was suspended at the said
Carson mint In 1885, according to the report of
the director of the mint; the purchase OF silver
was discontinued by order of the Secretary of
the Treasury In May, 1885, and the purchase of
| gold bullion rendered lmpractlcable In June,
| 1855, by an order from Treasurer Jordan for
| bidding the payment of current prices, the
| superintendent being specially required TO de-
| duct from the price the cost of transportation
| TO the nearest mint in operation, thereby de-
| priving every citizen of the right TO have his
| gold and silver bullion treated according TO
the great gold and silver industry OF the coun-
| try: therefore be II
| RCsOircd, That the Secretary Of the Treasury
be, and is hereby, directed to report to the
| House his reasons and authority for closing
| down the Carson mint, discharging its en-
| ployes, and suspending its corps OF officers.