The National tribune., 1891-02-26
AGAINST FREE COINAGE.
The House Committee on Coinage Con-
cIudes Its Consideration or the Senate Bill
with Adverse Action.

The House Committee on Coinage Con-
cIudes Its Consideration or the Senate Bill
with Adverse Action.
Last Friday the House Committee on Coin
age concluded its prOtracted consideration OF
the Senate bill for free coinage Of silver.
During the weeks that 1t had the bill Hnder
consideration the committee listened patiently
TO number Of persons who appeared before IL
both In behalf of and against the bill. and
among these were some OF the ablest advocates
and opponents of bi-metalism in the country.
Among the former was Hon. Jerry Simpson, OF
Kansas, who is a radical champion Of silver.
He said he did not care If free coinage did
bring TO this country all the silver in the rest
of the world. That was what the farmers
wanted. They wanted more mOney-very
much more money-and they could not have
too much silver.
Hon. John J. Knox. Of New York, formerly
Comptroller of the Currency, was one Of the op.
ponents Of the bill. He denied that there were
any conspiracy or secrecy about the demOneti.
cation Of silver in 1873. He was an officer OF
the Treasury at the time, and beforethe bill
was passed copies Of il were sent 10 every man
known TO be interested in monetary questions,
with the request that be make notes OF his
opinions on the margin. Every step was As
open as daylight. The Act Of 1873 simply
registered in n statute what had been the I'M
written law of the country for 30 years. The
silver dollar had ceased to bSc coined and circu-
lated because there was no demand Cor IL.
Senator Stewart replied TO Mr.. Knox, and
closed for the free coinage advocates. lie de-
nounced the Act Of 1873 as the great crime OF
the nineteenth century, and insisted that IL
had been pushed through secretly. il had
never been discussed in the Senate, and tho
amendments had not been printed in the Con-
gressio1al Globe, as was customary. He denied
that there wonld be n flood of silver from other
countries-they needed all they had at home,
and would keep it there II the United States
maintained free coinage for six months there
would be a general struggle for all the surplus
silver there was in the market.
After the hearing closed the committee pro-
ceeded 20 vote. The first vote was on the Sem
ate bill for the free and unlimited coinage Of
silver. -Four members-Carter Of Montana,
aud Bartine. of Nevada, Republicans; and
Bland, Of Missouri, and Will = OF Illinois,
DemOorats-voted in favor OF tho bill, and
eight members-Wickbam, Of Ohio; Walker,
OF Massachusetts; Comstock, of Minnesota I;
Knapp, Of New York, and Taylor. Of New
York, Republicans; and Tracey, Of New York I;
Wilcox, of Connecticut, and Vaux. Of Penn
sylvanis, DemOcrats-yoted against the bill.
Carter, OF Montana, then moved an amend
ment for free coinage of American silver. This
received but three yOtes-Csrter's, BaTtines
ana blandS.
Mr.. Carter then moved 10 amend by a substI-
tute 10 the effect that each month for the first
three months after the passage Of the bill the
Secretary OF the Treasury shonld purchase in
open market 100000 ounces OF silver,
and thereafter 100000 ounces month, in
stead Of 100000 ounces a month, as provided
for by the present law. This only received two
vOtes-CArter's and Bartine's.
The committee then instructed the Chairman
OF the committee-COl. c. p. WickhAm, Of Ohio
to prepare and present to the House q report
adverse TO the Senate bill. The minority were
permitted TO prepare q report setting forth
their views.
This is regarded as disposing Of tho free coin
age question for this session, as the Senate bill
goes on 10 the foot of the House calendar, with
an adverse report blocking It's way TO consid-
Grafton. At this late date in the session this
can hardly help being fatal.