Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-01-24
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
As Seen Through an Interview With
Congressman Wilson.
The Silver Question and the Iarlff
Issue.
The Administration and the 1em0-
cratic Party.
Special 10 the Sunday Register.

WASHINGTON, January 23.-The REGIS
TER correspondent had quite long con-
versation with Congressman Wilson, this
morning, on public questions, the sub
stance OF which may be found below.
What, in your judgment, will be done
as to suspending the coinage Of silver
asked the REGISTER man.
Nothing whatever; in fact, it is scarce
ly possible for ore who has not Mingled
with members of both Houses, since Con-
gress opened, TO understand how strong
and defiant is the opposition 10 the recon-
mcndaticns Of the President and Secretary
OF the Treasury. And this opposition
seems to be growing. In both Houses
continued Mr.. Wilson, strong and aggres
siye speeches have been made, although
the subject has not come up, at all, in the
House in any order Of business and only
upon
SENATOR BECk $ RESOLUTION
in the Senate
What is your own position on this
question:
i voted against suspension last FcL-
ruary, when the matter was brought 10 by
the Appropriations Committee. | cid 50
because the matter was brought before
Congress irregularly and without oppcrtun.
iIy for discussion, and also because, despite
the letter of Mr.. CIeycloud and the almost
frantic appeals OF the Eastern press, | saw
no necessity Tor different vote. But !
determined 10 give the matter my beet iG-
yestigaUon during the recess, and vote a.
this session as public interests seemed TO
require That investigation, which has
necessarily carried me through the whole
coinage History Of our country, convincing
me that there is no present necessity for
interfering with the coinage OF SILVER.
Untortuuatcly Tor the silver dollar II
came back into ouc legal currency
over Presidential veto, and has always
found an enemy in the White ll"u5e ard
in the Treasury Department. From 1915,
when it's coinage begga, 20 ;his date, there
has been q cona,aLI cry Ct volt, wolf,
from both quarters. Itls has alarmed
some, but It has simply eXaspsra'ed the
minds ct our people, and ! thiukthe Treat
ury Department ought, by tLis t!ms, 10
have learned that there is bUt ore way III
which i; cGn teach the people that tb"
Bland law is vicious and dangerous !aT
as it claims) aud tha. is by carrying Il
cut faithfully and honestly. II there Is
danger in it, let be declared in that way
and the people will be quick to remedy IT,
but they will never respcnd to the outcries
Of those whom they zee doiDg ali in their
power TO defeat and evace the law
Then you believe No change w.iL be
made
As | Faid, DO not b,ljeve any change
whntever will be made in the law a. this
Congress. uor DO gee any necessity or
justification 70. charge so tar as the
amount Of silver coined is con erGed. Bat
| do think the Bland law erss in requiring
The entire coinage 10 be in stsJd6rd dol
Iars Of lI2f grains. The dollar of ia"
daddies was never q very common coin
in our currency Upto 1873 the entire
coinage had been less than ten millions
Since then we have coined over two hun
dred and fifteen millions would change
The law so as to mint at least one.half Of
of the monthly issue in halves and quar-
ters, Of proportionste weight and iineness.
They are more convenient for circulation
and there would be greater demand for
them. would also forbid the issue OF
greenbacks or bank notes less than So
and supply their place with silver, or II
notes are wanted with silver certiica'eO.
b. these changes mere silver would pass
into circulation