The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-07-26
SENATOR GEO. G. VESTS VIEWS
WRITTEN TO A COMMITTEE OF
SALINE COUNTY GEN.
TLEMEN.
Many Planks Of the Farmers and
Laborers' Platform
Endorsed.
He Opposes the Sub.Trensury
Plan as Vicious Leg
isisti0n.
His Views Plainly Expressed on Many
Important Subjects.

| power 10 eXphnu OF cOutfact the cur
rency of the country by issuing their
notes based upon government bonds
believe all money should be issued by
the government itself and every vote
have given upon financial questions
during my public lite has been in the
direction indicated. | have no doubt
that notes, made legal tender tor al
debts public and private and Day able
in coin, should be- issued by the govern
ment iu such quantity as will meet all
the necessities vi business.
"As to the second clause In the piat =
iorm l have no hesitation in stating
that shall cake great pleasure In sup
porting all legislation looking to the
prevention OF dealing In futures as tu
agricultural and mechanical produc.
tiOns. L assume that, of course, 1 au
not requested or expected to support
any measure outside Of the cOusiItu-
tional jurisdiction OF congress. Within
that limit shall be glad to do every.
thing possible against this great evil.
IN FAVOR OF FREE COINAGE.
"In regard to the third clause OF the
platform 1 will simply reply by saying
that l have always supported the free
L
expect TO do SO in the future.
1.-THE fourth clause refers 10 the
ownership of land by aliens, and have
no hesitation in reply ing that in every
instance when the opportunity present
hibiting the alien ownership Of land in
the United States. One Of the objec-
tions l urged 10 the bill admitting
1 N,,o int h.a mi sot,
passed few days ago, was that the
constitution of the new state expressly
permitted the ownership aud inheri.
tance OF lands by aliens. have always
perslstently urged that the public do
main should be held for actual settlers
only.
ain regard to the fifth clause of the
platform, l assume that no declaration
ON my part is necessary to conyince
you that am In hearty accord with
the principles therein declared. l am
opposed to the legislation which IL In
tended to put the government IN part
nershp with any class or individual,
aDd believe with Mr.. Jefferson that q
free government must he based Oh the
fundamental idea of equal rights TO all
and exclusive privileges 10 none.'
believe that all revenues, national, state
and county, should be limited to the
necessary expenses of government
economically and honestly admins.
tered.
"As to the sixth clause,I have no hes
itation in saying that favor q sufficient
amount of fractional paper currency TO
facilitate exchange through the medium
of the United States mail.
OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS..
"The seventh and last clause of the
platform is not 30 clear in its enuncia.
lion as to put the meaning beyond
doubt. If it is meant that the railroad
systems of the United States shall be
owned and controlled by the govern-
ment must be permitted to enter my
respectful dissent from the opinion
therein expressed. have no doubt
that the placing OF all the railroads of
the United States under the control OF
the national government would bring
about q state of corruption anu disinte.
grafton which would appall every
honest man in the country.
| The great danger to our free ingti.
tutiOns now is in the tendency towards
Capitalization of power and patronage
at Washington City, and il the vast
transportation system OF the United
States with Its enormous patronage
should be placed under the control Of
the national government it would nj
once become the objective point Of
corrupt politicians. We have seen in
the Immediate past " hat can be done
in a national election by the use OF
money and Il seems to me that no intel.
ligent man can hesitate as to the prop.
er conclusion with that experience be-
fore him. /
THE sUR-TREAsURY BILL.
"Having stated this much as to the
platform OF the Farmers and LabOrers'
Union, copy of which you send me.
it only remains TO answer that portion
OF vour letter which asks my approval
and help TO get through congress the
sub treasury bill now pending before
that Lody.
"It has always been my custom TO
answer my constituents without reser-
vation as 10 public matters, sud It ID
not my purpose 10 vary from my GUS
tom now. The main features of the
sub treasury bill which you ask me to
support are as follows: WarehOuses
are TO he built by the government in
all counties producing aud selling an-
nually more than $500 900 worth OF oats,
corn, wheat, cotton aud tobacco, and
the owner of the commodities, no mat
ter what his aVOcation, can deposit
them and receive 80 per cent. OF the
market price in treasury notes, on
which he pays per cent. annual inter-
est. The sum OF $50, coo 900 is TO be
appropriated at once Tor the purpose OF
erecting these warehouses;, and besides
this amount there must be paid subse-
QuentIy the salaries of many thousand
employees, who cannot be elected but
must be appointed by federal authority
and whose services will be necessary
in storing, selling, accounting and &c
forth.
DANGEROUS SCHEME.
| alt seems to me that the whole
scheme il dangerous and wrong. Ir
replying to your letter as to that clause
of the platform you send which refers
to national banks, ] stated that had
always opposed especially that feature
of the national banking law whist
permitted the banks TO deposit bonds
with the treasury and issue upon them
80 per cent. of the amount In bank
notes; and II at any time afterwards
the banks desired TO retire their circu-
latlon to bring back the notes and
receive the bonds deposited. Thu,
gives the banks power to expand OF
diminish the currency circulation OI
the country at their pleasure, and IN
my opinion Ii is the most pernicious
feature of the system. The volume OF
the money should be stable aud not
fluctuating, and | would give neither
TO corporations nor individuals the
power TO expand or contract.
Under The sub. b.treasury plan there
can be no permanent vOlum ,of curren.
lcy. When there are large crops and
large deposits of corn, wheat, etc, the
currency will be greatly inflated, as
each depositor will take out OF the
treasury so per cent. OF the market
value of his deposit, and when the
treasury notes received are brought
hack and commodities deposited taken
ont there must be contraction. Under
such d system all values will be de.
ranged. No conservative man will be
willing to invest in Any direction, and