The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1890-05-17
FREE COINAGE.
Rspresentive Bartine Explains ant
aud Defends His Position.

Rsprssentive Bartine Explains and
aud Defends His Position.
The following letter, bearing date
of April 7th, was written by Repre-
sentative Bartiue TO Judge Wells:
NV Dear Judge: Yours OF 2lst ult.
reached me i'll due time and l thank
you very much for the kind express
ions contained therein. | fully ap-
preciate the force OF your sugges-
tons in favor of free coinage, and our
people may rest assured that their
entire delegation will leave nothing
undone which Is calculated to procure
the passage of such a measure. Free
coinage, in my judgement, is the only
logical solution of the problem. The
only way To determine the effect of
any legislative measure is TO try it,
and say it very frankly that moth
ing less will be satisfactory To me.
But we may not be able 10 obtain so
broad a measure. There are many
people in the East who are inclined
to be friendly to silver, but still
shrink from free coinage. They have
inbibed the notion that il is danger
Gus, and that something in the way
of limitation is necessary. Many of
them incline TO the view that the issn-
ance Of notes upon bullion Is prefer
able TO actual coiuage, and "a result
we may be- driven into compromise.
In Nevada, where everybody Is in
favor OF coinage without limit, it is
hnt ~
can be honestly opposed to it. But
there are many honest people who
have no knowledge OF the philosophy
OF the question, and who are too
deeply Immersed in their own affairs
to study it. When say to them that
free coinage is "A sound financial pro-
position, they will look suspicious,
smile incredulously and reply:
"Why, of course, you want free coin
age; you are looking for market for
your silver" and frequently that is
the extent of their knowledge of the
question. That is a prejudice which
we have to meet and combat at every
stage of the contest. There was such
a diversity of sentiment among the
members of the Coinage Committee
that clean cut satisfactory bill! could
never have been reported. We have
amended the "Windom billo in such
a manner as to make it very much
better than the original draft, and in
fact, quite step in favor of silver.
But the whole committee feel that
there was general demand for legis-
lation on the subject, and that some
l. ha ff, ka ~ in lAr hat
the matter might be fairly brought
before the House. Therefore the bill
has been reported pro lorna with
leave to each member to propose any
amendment or substitute which he
may desire to offer in the House.
Bland and Williams made a minority
report in favor of free coinage. There
were special reasons why | should
not sign that report. But there are
no fewer than five straight free coin
age men on the committee, and II the
sentiments of the House is in favor of
free coinage that is the kind Of bill
we will pass. We hope to get the
matter before the House one week
FROM to-day, and after careful sur
vey of the situation feel very much
encouraged. We can get nothing
worse than bill which will absorb
our entire product of silver, and we
may get something better. Anything
less than free coinage will be a great
disappointment To me; but neverthe-
less | want legisation-and l propose
TO take all can get. 1t would be the
hight of absurdity for us to refuse a
substantial advantage, because we
cannot get all we want.
Your illustrations from the none
tary situation in France are clear and
strong. The experience of France
furnishes an unanswerable argument
in favor of free coinage, and shall
use 1t with all the ability possess.
Very sincerely your friend,
II. +. BARTINE.