St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-14
FOR FREE COINAGE.
The Opinion OF the House Ex-
pressed Upon q Burning Ques-


That the ratio. or relative value between
standard gold and silver shall be 1895 parts
of silver 10 one of gold;
That the mint or coinage value Of standard
silver shall be rated at Sl10 All per ounce OF
That the dollar may be coined from stan
dard silver. and shall weigh 4i-i2 grains;
That silver coins IF tnis s1HnIltd, author
lied shall be legal tender: aid
Whereas These legal standards maze the
coin i'll the silver dollar of less value than the
gold or unit dollar oy 10 and ~ cents. Whlle
the ratio between them beng nearly 5j-iUJ
of pait more than ia the ratio Letween
them established by Other uatlons VINO are
under n gold and silver cuinage system;
which makes The mirt value ot silver higher
here than thee, thereby increasing me
discrepancy between the value OF the gOld
and silver dollar. while the lver must be
measured by The gold, the GOLD dollar being
the established unit and stand. ut value;
And whereas. Ii Is proposed that govern
ment shall enact law ath irIzlng the free
and unlimited coinage of sllrer, 50 that any
one having silver can deposit II III the mint
and have il coined, ami receive standard slI-
yer coin to the mint value of the silver de
full legal ten Ter money;
And Whereas The production of silver
metal by whatever process, Is the production
of commodity having market value IKE
any other marke.nb production, ana not
different: and the producers. or The holders
or owners of IL, have no higher, Getser or
o her claims tO recognition by government,
for any purpose than have other pro-
'u"er> holders or owners of marketable pro-
ductions;
...u .. nereas, the power to coin money and
regulate the value, is II power conferred on
| government 10 he exercised by government
| for governmental purposes only: TO be eXer-
| cised only in relation 10 metal owned by gov
! ernment, 10 be coined On government ac-
count to be used and circulated as money;
| and not for the benefit of individuals, nor Tor
cnmmOlItS
| class OF producers holders or owners 1uto
/ coin TO circulate as money on account Tor the
owner while other producers. holders ana
owners Of commodities are lett 10 ma
means of conversion i'll the marts of trade
and exchange as hest tnev can:
AND whereas. the free and unlimited coin
age of silver under the standard aud ratio OF
| values now eXlStlng by statute would oper-
ate First to throw a debaseu silver currency
| into he channels Of trade in Unlimited quan
tity: and second. To benefit one class of pro-
| ducers only; therefore
Be i'll resolved by the house of representa-
| tives of the state of Minnesota, the senate
| cOncurrng.
That such a use of the power to coin money
as is contemplated III the free and unlimited
| coinage of silver. would be- not only in vlo-
I lation of the principles Of law and justice,
| but destructive of the general welfare of the
| country TO Il serious extent. and we solemnly
protest against any such legislation by con
| gress.
Resolved, That our senators in congress
| are instructed and our representatives are re-
| Quested to oppose such legislation, and use
| all lawful means to prevent the enactment
| of IL law authorizing the free and unlimited
| coinage of silver
Resolved, hat copy of these resolutions,
| with the preamble, be certified by the officers
of the legislature, and that copies be for
warded by the chef clerk of the house to
| our senators and representatives in congress,
severally.
No Gag Law.
Mr.. Currier moved that the resolution
be laid upon the table, and proceeded
IL think that the resolution has been
drawn up to hoodwnk the people"
Mr.. Reeve-I call the gentleman to
order. The motion to lay OH the table
is not debatable.
Mr.. Furl0ng-The point is well taken,
The roll was called, and the motion
to lay on the table was swamped. mem
bers protesting against any attempt tc
shut off debate.
Mr.. Reeve moved the adoption of the
resolution.
Mr. Currier strenuously opposed. II
the government had doubled the debt
of the various states when they demoni
tized silver they could not have done
more hardship to the people.
Mr.. Kinney-Did | understand the
gentleman that free coinage of silver is
in the interests of the farmers OF Min
neSOta?
Mr.. Currier-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Kinney (sarcastically(-Thanh
you.
Mr.. Gildea argued that free coinage
would place more money on the market
Mr.. Reeve-I1Ow are you going to ge
more money in circulation?
Mr. Gidea-The more money y0u coir
the more money you get into circula
ton.
Mr.. Reeve-How are you going to ge
it into circulation?
Mr.. Gildea- Why, by coming it
Laughter.
Mr. Mcclure was of opinion that the
up such resolution.
Mr.. Searle delivered an exhaustive
argumen against the bill. He showed
how free coinage would result in silver
being dumped into this country and eX
changed for gold. Free coinage OF
silver at the present time would be the
most ruinOuS step this country could
possibly take. We would see such q
panic inside of six months, if our ma
tiOnal legislature passed free coinage
bill, as has never yet been witnessed.
Mr.. Diment regretted the resolution
had been brought up at this time. He
certainly was not prepared to vote
upon it.
MI Greer indorsed this view. He
considered the question a dangerou:
one. and believed his partY-the Repub
lican-went too far in this LEGISLATION The
past two years in congress.
. Mr.. Turrell said if the country a
large knew what was meant by fire,
coinage they would not want it.
Mr.. Currler offered substitute mo
ton:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of tn
members of the legislature of Minnesota tina
: | the coinage laws of the United States shoult
provide for the coinage of gold and silve
bullion on exactly equal terms and con
ditions. and so that the holder of gold or sill
| yer lllion may deposit the same in an
{ mint and receive in exchange gold or stand
! | ard silver dollars TO an amount equal witt
2 value OF that bullion, whether gold or silver
Political Effect.
! Mr.. Greer said the resolution had beel
introduced for political purposes. TIL
members who voted for Mr.. Reeve
: motion would place themselves OH rec
I ord as supporting Mr.. Cleveland's re
cent letter against free coinage. 1t wa
a motion to catch Straws.
MI Sheets did not know how the res
Olution was introduced for political puI
poses. He could vote against it an
: still be supporter of Grover Cleve
l land.
Mr. Mcclure proposed the movers @
L the original and substitute motions b
= requested TO temporarily Withdraw
=, them.
1 Several members seconded, and Nj
. 1urrell remarked that if the resolutIo
! was introduced Tor political effect II
did not want TO 90 on record. Laugh
:. Continued OBI SixtEa Page.