New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE MONETARY CONFERENCE AT WORK.

GOLD sTANDARD-THE SUPREME COURT
AND THE BEHMYG SEA CASE
INDIAN CRUELTY-sENATOR
wOLCoTTs VOTE.
Washington. Jan. 5.-The members of the None
tary Conference have held a meeting for pre-
liminary organization. The object of this con-
ference is to see if il is not possible to extend
the use of silver in the southern countries OIL
this Continent. Ex-senator Hill. of Colorado,
represents the Western silver people in the confer
ence lie has always been an advocate OF the
double-standard. In conversation this morning
lie said that he was never in favor Of any eX-
treme measures. He was willing to go ahead in
financial matters on conservative lines lie thought
that the extension of the Treasury purchases. so
as to buy all Of the product Of American mines.
would be satisfactory for the present When he
was in the Senate he advocated the buying of
1000, 900 ounces month outlined in the Bland
Silver bill. II was then said as now. that this
bill would send gold to a premium, and that its
passage would soon drive this country TO the
silver standard None of these predictions had
come true. Said the Senator
WHO is going TO hoard gold tomorrow, even
if we should have unlimited free coinage? There
are 5000, 900, 600 of gold in this country Who
can afford to lock that up and lose interest on it
By withdrawing it from the channels of busi-
ness? The real fact is, there is not enough gold
to-day for the transaction of the business of the
world II is more and more being used in the
arts More last year was consumed than was
produced The inevitable result of this is 10
force the use Of silver. 1t can be used on par
with gold That is a matter which would soon
regulate itself. if proper legislation were had upon
the subject France maintained the double
standard for seventy years with unlimited coinage
of silver. She opened her mints TO the silver
Of the world, giving in exchange for 1t her
fve-franc pieces. She gave this up only in 1915.
when Germany went from silver standard 10
u gold standard. This she was practically oDIl9cd
TO 10 to meet this unexpected contingency
The ex-senator said that there could he no
possible harm in purchasing the product OF the
American mines Foreign silver could be Kept
out by a customs duty. There would he no other
way of Identifying it. An extra mint charge
against foreign silver would be no protection
Tie decision of the Supreme Court in the
Rehring Sea case affects only one technical point.
IL crosses only ore 0f the contentious OF the
Attorney General. The Attorncy-Gcneral held
that the District Court Of Alaska was Terri
torial court, and therefore a writ OF prohlb-
tion could not run from the Supreme Court TO
restrain its judgments The Supreme Court de-
cided that as this court had jurisdiction In ad-
miralty cases. it was properly q District Court,
and therefore the question whether wnt oi
prohibition could be issued or not could be heard
in the Supreme Court. This question touches none
Of the issues in the controversy between the
state Department and Lord Salisbury None oi
he facts relating 10 that issue have thus far ap-
reared in the casF and in all probability VIII not
The Opposition critics who have cried out win
grcat rlec. Mr. Blaine Knocked out again
should moderate their Transports for a time nj
least. until something really bearing upon the ease
has been decided Neither is the statement true
that diplomatic negotiations have been suspended
Thcy are going on ~ they were before, with the
probability that the demands Of the United States
for arbitration Will lie conceded.
Senator Wolcott. of Colorado has attracted some
attention to himself through the :act that he was
the Ggnrclead used in the Senate 10 carry ont Inc
trade between the silver Senators and the Demo
Gratis. H. now appears that he occupie. NEST
natural position. II is not the inst tiiGc that he
has acted with the Democrats | an informed
by perfectly Trustworthy authority that he voted
the Democratic Presidential ticket in Colorado
when Grover Cleveland was elected. The reason
that he gave at the time was his personal dislike
Of General Logan. Mr. Wolco;t, who has, II np
pears natural affiliations with the Democratic
party. has high personal ambitions. II Is said
Of him that he has Daniel Webster rs his model
and asprcs 10 occupy the position that the latter
did in craftsmanship.
\ prominent officer Of the War Department.
in discussing Indian characteristics ;0-d'y. snd
that there was nothing new in any Of the views
prrssr,cd to-day concerning the civz { on o. the
Indian He said that the Pll9rim Fathers had
schools similar to the one established al tar
lfsr. Missionaries have worked for all these
wears in 'co-opcration with schools, and yet the
Indian is today much as hc was when tie country
was first discovered Out Of tie thousands that
civilization his sought 10 Influence, it is only an
occasional Indian VINO he ONES aSsimila'cd 10 lhc
lif,. Of the white man. The plan Of the supcrin-
,cndent Of tie Carlisle school published in re-
cent issue Of The Red Man iavors the breaking
MP of tribal relations and moving the Indians
Fast The superintendent fayors the separation
Of the Indians and would force them - work Tor
their living among white people lie would 90
away with the reservations The Army Officer
said
What has been tie effect Of surrounding the
Indians with white people, and placing Withih
their reach means Of education and civilization.
The indians that have been in the East for m1hy
generations are as much Indians to-day as those
ont West. On Marthas Vineyard there Is
colony Of Indians which has been there ever since
the earliest history OF this country. These Indians
have had every advantage possible 10 advance
themselves. They have sufficient property to enable
them TO live, ana the various church and ednca-
tional organizations in Massachusetts, have from
time TO time offered their young people every
facility for improvement To-day this tribe Is IN
a low condition. All Of it, members are nfoIent'
sluggish and content.
This officer said that one Of the advantages ol
surrounding the Indians with the settled civlllza-
ton of Eastern communities was that they were
kept from going on the worIaih. The inna'eH
crnel natmre Of the Indian bad thcn no opportunly