The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-04-17
Tho Silver Question.
PhlIaaelphia Press.

Correspondence Philadelphia Press.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE caucus
committees appointed by the Republican
members of the Senate and House We're
both in session for several hours to-day
considering the silverquestion. So far
they have held separate sessions and
each committee has reached an agree
ment Tomorrow they will meet in
joint session and compare notes. For
that reason the House caucus called for
tonight has been postponed.
As the matter now stands, the Senate
committee proposes to 90 further in the
direction of free coinage of silver than
does the House, have practically agreed
to recommend a bill providing for the
purchase of 4 $685. 900 ounces of silver a
month or 100000 ounces a year,
against which. are to be issued certif-
Gates redeemable in lawful money.
Another step will be taken by the Sen
ate caucus committee towards providing
more money, by recommending that the
| 500, 800, 200 now held for the redemption
of Treasury notes shall be no longer re-
tanned for that purpose, but be put in
circulation by the purchase of bonds, or
in some other way. 1t has also agreed
to recommend that national banks be
allowed to issue notes equal to the par
value of the bonds now deposited to Sc
cure circulation, instead OF 80 per cent.
which they are now allowed to issue by
law This would provide for. all increase
of 10 per cent. in the national bank cir
culation.
The three propositions would add very
materially to the money for use in the
business purposes in the United States.
/ WHAT THE HOUSE, COMMITTEE IS DOING.
The House Committee is not SO radi-
cal in its propositions as the Senate. 1t
listened again to-dayt to Secretary Win
dom's views on the subject. and agreed
| to adopt his bill in its modified form now
before the House as the basis of it's
| agreement. The chief amendment to
the bill provides that the Treasury notes
be redeemable in bullion or coin at the
option of the holder.
| Both House and Senate committees
are aiming at the same general end,
which is to provide for the coinage or
purchase of all the silver produced or
smelted in this country. 1t is probable
that the House proposition perhaps
changed in some respects, will be agreed
upon by the two committees in joint
! session. But 1T is certain that some
measure providing for the purchase by
.the Government of the silver produced
and smelted in the country will be the
result of the deliberations, and that
measure will be adopted by the Senate
and House caucuses and passed within
a comparatively short time.
THE QUESTION TO BE SETTLED SOON.
Leaders in the party regard it as i'm
perative that the silver question should
be settled with as little delay as possible.
The business interests of the country
demand that it should not be allowed to
hang and add uncertainty to the bust
ness transactions. 1t is thought that if
the silver bill is promptly passed it will
be of great benefit to the West, and that
beneficial result is needed at once.
1t is probable now that Il silver bill
will be in the hands of the President
within the next six weeks. 1t is the
intention to pass that bill and the tariff
bill afterwards f. J. G..