The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-03-07

UNITED STATES SENATE,
WAsmSGloN trh o, lssl-
Messr, Buckley. C. j. Coleman and L..
l. Cox Committee
Gents-Your letter was received
some days ago. Aly duties here are
such that have not the time to
answer by auy elaborate argument
the questions YOU PROFOUND | write
new TO State as briefly as | can the
answers to your questions.
1. | believe that the sub-treasuFy
plan, as it is called, is Unconstitutional.
IL proposes 10 lend money TO persons
who furnish a certain Kind of security.
The government Of the United States
is one of limited powers. Ii has only
such powers as are expressly delegated
by the constitution and such as are
necessary and proper to execute the
powers which are expressly delegated.
The power to lend money is not ex-
pressly delegated, and there is no
power expressly delegated in which
the power to lend money is necessary
and proper for its full execution. If
you will read over carefully the first
article Of the constitution you will see
that am correct in this. Congress
may, where it has the right TO make
an appropriation out of the treasury
for public purpose, make it on con-
dition that the locality to be benefited
by the money will return the whole or
part of it, but it has no power to
make an appropriation ofmoney to be
used in private business. The power
to borrow money is expressly delega-
ted, and il would seem clear that ii
the power to lend had been intended
to be given il would have been ex-
pressed in connection with the power
to borrow.
2. do not believe that the propos-
ed scheme, sub-treasury, would prove
a benefit to the farmers Of the country.
think il would provo rather a curse.
II would be a very costly scheme,
necessitating the employment of many
thousands OF new officials, and tins
cost would in the main be paid as
taxes ARE now paid by the farmers and
laborers of the country. All the Off
cials connected with the management
of the warehouses would, under the
constitution, be necessarily appointed
by the President, a head of depart
ment or federal court. They would,
therefore, be selected without proper
knowledge of their qualifications,
morals or mental capacity, and would
soon. become, as other offices are, tho
means ofrewarding the political work
ers Of the party In power Corn and
other products would be graded by
these officials, not according to merit
and value, but to reward the friends of
the officials or to punish their enemies
3. The government Is not organized
nor is il fit instrument for the
transaction of private business. All
that the government does IN the way
of busness-such as erecting public
buildings, improving harbors, rivers,
etc.,--cOsts about twice as much more
| than the same work would cost if done
by private parties. There are many
other reasons which, in my judgment,
go to show that the scheme, even If IL
was constitutional, is not good one
for the farmers and country, but
have not the time 10 mention them. |
have no scheme for the relief of the
farmers other than such as comes from
good, honest, fair, impartial govern
ment the lcssening of taxation re.
moving the obstacles TO free markets
all over the world the free coinage
of both gold and silver, and the issue
Of United States treasury notes so rs
TO give of them, the treasury notes, an
amount equal to $40 per head of our
population. With this free coinage
and the issue of treasury notes or
greenbacks the currency would soon
amount to $50 per head OF our popu-
lation.
This note is hastily prepared, with
the view of meeting your questions
without unnecessary delay | shall
take occasion in the future to discuss
these matters more freely.
I