The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-29
oor. TESTERS LETTER.
r-,rsins His Views to His Con-
re stiruents-

h'1n oitizan is entitled TO an honest express
ever - tbe views held by one who represents
sloN ;,,terest on all important questions OF
nLs ~ 7 therefore, ask that you give US
the Jay, m as TO the best measures to be
y94 III m remedy the evils complained of by
auopS-sricnitl,ral classes. If you think the SUBJ
the o., man impracticable in accom- plish-
treasH a JrasIIlts intended, viz: The fur nish-
iIs he means to the planter to meet his
InIb77iTations when due, without sacrificing
Ion. then what means can you suggest
nis 80 sIead to make money more plentiful
~ ~ enable him to borrow money on his
an an or such security as he may have,
Hi.hont having exorbitant rates Of inter
est" -o.+,LA
to- NV views upon the subject you mention.
and | hasten to reply in the limited time |
have.
If mine to have my views upon any ques-
tion which concerns his or the public in
terest
believe that the present depressed con-
ditiou of agriculture in this country is
largely. if not entirely, due TO the scarcity
If money available for the purpose OF Guilt
vatiou and the selling of crops, as well as to
the burdens which the people have to bear
in having the high taxes on the necessary
articles of consumption, and am in full
10 obtain all the relief possible by legisla-
zion or otherwise. My votes and acts since
7 have been a member of congress have
been with view of assisting them in their
efforts. and l have made every effort
could make to bring about healthy condi-
ton of finances of the country. SO That the
farmer and every citizen Of this land may
have their full share OF the prosperity
which ought to prevail throughout the
country. firmly believing in the principle
which YOU have adopted as the motto of
your order, Equal rights to all and special
privileges to none"
One of the measures of relief proposed is
what is known as the sub-treasury bill. The
intention of that measure-vlz. relief and
assistance-is good and proper, and am in
sympathy with its purpose. The objections
to it in its present shape are serious, and
fear it would not serve its intended purposes
but. on the contrary, would be a positive
injury TO the country, and especially to the
farmer whose necessities would require him
TO avail himself of its provisions.
In the first place it would require $780,
900, 900 to 800, 600 to build the ware
houses required. This money must be
raised by taxation-taxation OF the farmer
more than any other class of citizens. Ten
thousand or more officials will be required
to attend to the business of the warehouses,
whose salaries would amount to a very
large sum, and for their good character,
efficiency and honesty, there is no
guarantee, except the official appointment
of the President, the United States courts,
or the heads of the department of govern
ment.
Would the conduct of the business be safe?
Ehe bill provides that the managers of the
warehouses shall be elected by the people,
but this cannot be constitutionally done.
and ] suppose the provisions OF the consti-
tuition GU this subject were not called to the
attention of the Trainer of the bill.
Who will be the appointees under this adj
ministration =!
need not tell you. 1t is, sufficient to say
the administration has the appointment
You can readily understand what sort of
persons they will be.
The bill provides for the erection of ware
houses in every county whose products and
sales for the year previous amount to $780,
900. do not believe there are two counties
in the First congressional district that
would BIZ entitled to warehouse. There
would be very little convenience to our
people in this. The rich counties would
have the advantage Of the poorer ones.
This would not be right.
If the warehouses are erected and the
business of conducting them is commenced,
who will avail themselves Of them? Why,
only the farmers whose necessities require
an advance of money. Those who do not
require it will not incur the expense of stor-
age, insurance and interest.
What does the poor farmer who thus
stores his cotton in those warehouses get?
Eighty per cent. advance of the market
price, and certificate that 80 much cotton
is IN store. This certificate is negotiable.
The man whose necessities require him to
get the 80 per cent. advance would not have
the money to release his produce, and his
certificate would be on the market for sale,
because he needs money. Who buys its
The speculator. Who then controls the
cottons The Spectator. Who gets the ad-
vantage of the advance of prices, if prices
advance! TIE Spectator. Who then NAV
control the market? The speculator. and
the people who combine their capital for
the purpose of creating monopolies and
trusts.
There are some other objections to this
bill which | need not mention, but there
may be a possibility of SO amending or
changing the bill as to make it available so
as to carry out the general idea.and purpose
OF 1t, and, should this be done, it has no
heartier supporter than 1 am.
What the people want and what they
nee1, as | have said, is relief from the
strlngency which often occurs in money
necessary for the conducting of business,
ana | think that the government, when 1t
undertakes, as it has done in the case of the
national banks, to take security for the
issue or It's money, may issue money on Sc
curlty Of land as well as on national bonds
II this were obtained the necessary volume
OF currency could be issued from time to
Tune as the requirements of the country de-
mand, and it would so increase the volume
OF currency as to prevent money strineen-
cies
think there are several measures which
would meet the case.
FIRST. There ought to be free coinage Of
silver as we'll as of gold. This would make
money plentiful and prevent speculatons
ID gold, which oftentimes create a scarcity
OF money. | think that the national bank
ing laws ought to be amended so as to per-
NIT the lending of money on land. This
would enable the farmer and land owner to
borrow money when he is Obliged to do SO
upon equal terms with other people and
other securities.
think that the tax of 10 per cent. im-
posed by the national banking law on the
Issue of money by state banks should be re-
pealed, SO that banking may be done by the
people at home upon security of land as well
as other securities, SO as to bring money
nome and within the reach of the citizen
mat requires 1t, and to be borrowed and
used by him at such times as necessity NAV
require
~ think that the expenses of the govern
. uiehU ought to be reduced, SO that no more