The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-05

Trail"
WASHINGTON, January 81 1891
To MtlwGldtee, VISIT is claimed here
That the West Is all for the free coinage of silver.
Some such action is needed s that taken on the
Imitation Bill, which brought out Grants veto.
Send. day by day, protest against free coinage
signed by few leading men, addressed to the
Coinage Committee OF the House OF Representa-
ives. EDWARD ATKINSON.
Senator COckrell observed that this Ed
ward Atkinson was the identical man who,
while at the Centennial at Philadelphia,
noticed piece of silver which had ppar-
emily been melted. He inquired of
the attendant in charge where it came
from. and received a reply that it
came from Mexico; that noun
tain had been discovered in that coun-
try which was pure silver. and that the
piece of silver on exhibition had been pro-
duced by building fire against the side of
the mountain and melting it off; that any
quantity of silver which might be desired
could be obtained by piling dry wood against
the mountain and lighting it, which would
cause the silver to flow down the mountain
in large quantities.
In an argument some time afterward
against the use of silver as money Atkinson
cited the fact that there was a mountain of
silver in Mexico and that the quantity that
could be obtained there was unlimited, and
that all that was necessary to be done was
to pile wood against il, set it atire and melt
it!Off..
Senator Stewart inquired if this was the
same Atkinson who had been testifying be-
lore the House Committee on Coinage,
Weights and Measures. ana was informed
that he was. Other Senators said he was the
same one who was sent to Europe by Pres
ident Cleveland. on money appropriated by
the Government, to promote the cause of BIZ
metallsm, and afterward wrote as strong
an article as he was capable of in favor of
mono-metallism as the result of his investi-
cation.
Dawes defended his Massachusetts
friend. Cockrell replied in very lively
style. The excitement in the Senate over
the controversy was intense for fully half
an hour. COckrell answered Dawes eulogy
on Atkinson, and his contention that Tie
latter had been sandered, by reaffirming
what he had already stated. and declaring
mat every word oil 1t was substantiated by
the records. as the story with regard 10 the
mountain of silver was taken from the
sworn testimony of Atkinson himself.
Among the silver men tonight there Is in
tense Indignation against Atkinson and the
gOld-bugs generally for circulating petitions
purporting TO emanate from the people de-
clarlng against the free coinage of silver.
Representative Bartiue said tonight that
the policy of the silver men OH the Commit
tee or Coinage. Weights and Measures
would be to allow the anti-siver members
10 consume enough time to show plainly to
the House and the people that they propose
to smother the bill in committee. He
thought by Wednesday next, if the anti
silver men continued their present policy.
their position would be clearly seen by all,
when the silver men in the House would dis
charge the committee and bring the bill up
Tor consideration without any report. 1t is
believed this will create another exciting
scene in the House. The anti-silver men
are aware of the scheme and will be or
ganiZed. They will characterize the move
ment as revolutionary and will fight i. bit
tCriV.