The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-21
BANKS And BIMETALISM.
Ex-Postmaster Gen. James and Ed
ward Atkinson Spoke.
THE BANK CLERKS BANQUET,
A Largo Gathering of Prominent People
st the Trocsdero-Gov. Ladd and Sem
ator Aldrich also Talked tn the Bank
Cierks-A Very Important Meeting.


Accounts were thing of the past: the
legal rate Of interest vanished In smoke.
the daily routine of the banking-clerks'
labors were cast one side. and in place OF
the harsh, rough grind Of business" the
members Of the fraternity INDUCED for a
brief time in respite from their duties.
The occasion was the twenty-second an
nual meeting OF the Bank Clerks Mutual
Benefit Association, and was observed
with due pomp and ceremony at the Troc-
adero, At an early hour the magnificent
parlors were crowded with the members
OF the association and the invited guests,
and as the time passed the number was
continually augmented by new arrivals.
In the reception rooms could DC recoR.
nized the familiar features or scores OF
the solid men of Providence, while at
everv turn the visitor was confronted with
future bank presidents and others VINO,
in all probability, will have much TO DO
with regulating the affairs OF the nation.
All seemed bent on having an enjoyable
time, and laughter and quick jest was to
be heard on every side.
Tne time between q and was devoted
to general reception, and at 7l5 O'CLOCK
the party adjourned to the banquet hall
where an elaborate feast was in readi-
ness. Each one took his place and at
given signal all heads were bowed as the
rev. MIR. Holyoke OF the Friendship
Street Baptist Church asked divine grace.
The banquet was then served and was In
Tillinghast's most elaborate style. At the
end of the hall was the table at which the
invited guests were seated, prominent
among them being the following:
United States Marshal Kendrick, Col
lector Pomroy,i State Treasurer Clark,
City Treasurer Granger, President Wat
son of the common council, ex-Lieut. Gov:
Wardwell, president of the First National
Bank of Bristol: ex-Gov. Taft, president
of the Merchants National Bank Robert
knight, of the National Bank OF Com
merce Nicholas Sheldon, president OF the
Exchange National Bank; James IL.
Chace, president OF the Mechanics Ma
tional Bank; 5. S. Sprague, president OF
the Rhode Island National Bank Fran :
els w. Carpenter, president OF the Ameri-
can National Bank; j. NJ, kimbaii,
Bank Benjamin A. jackson, president
of the Globe National Bank; Samuel
p. Colt. president of the Industrial Trust
Co.; ex- Lieut.. Gov. Darling, president OF
Pacific National Bank of Pawtucket; Geo.
l.. Littlefield, president of the First Ma
tional Bank of Pawtucket; DIR. A. A.
Mann, president of the Providence County
Savings Bank; G. Is. Calder, president of
the Weybosset National Bank; c: q. Bur,
rows, president of the Atlantic National
Bank; John Austin, president OF the High
Street Bank and City Savings Bank; II;
J.. Crandall of the Ashaway National
Bank: the Hon. T. Mumford Seabury.
president Of the First National Bank of
Newport; C. L. Keith, vice president of
the Fourth National Bank; A. +. Sher-
man, vice president OF the National Bank
of Rhode Island Of Newport; William
Co.; g. w. r. Metteson Of the
Providence National Bank; G. Z. Thomas,
president of the Producers National
81 az. MDwry
president of the Globe National Bank OF
Woonsocket; the Hon. Stephen "A. Jencks
of Pawtucket; John Waterman OF the
First National Bank of Warren; John w
Ellis. president of the Woonsocket Ma
tional Bank; l.. l.. Chilson. vice-presiden'
of the First National Bank of Woon
socket; B. w. Persons of the Mercantile
Trust Company; jeffrey Hazard OF the
Manufacturers National Bank; the Hon
T. A Perrin OF Pawtucket: q. NJ Thorn
ton of Pawtucket; G.. L. knight of Paw
tucket: John McA Auslan, Hiram Howard
and Senator-elect Easton Of Pawtucket.
Gov. Ladd Introduced.
The wants OF the inner man were soor
satisfied and at S:45 O'Clock the president
George C.. Noyes, arose and called th
assembly to order. His remarks wer
confined to a general review of the bank
Ing system in America, its origin and th
conditions under which the institution
were called into existence. At the clos
of his address he introduced the frs
speaker of the evening, Gov. Ladd, VIII
extended a cordial welcome TO the visitor
and referred in a few brief words to tn
prosperity of the banks OF this State
The speaker commended the action of tn
association in the getting the distiu
guished speakers of the evening TO com
TO this city and then pleading another en-
Ragement was excused.
Mr. Atkinson's Speech.
The Hon. Edward Atkinson, Of Boston
was the next speaker, aud spoke as fol
lows:
"If there had been no silver mines /
this country we may be very sure tina
there would be no peuding question G
free coinage. There would have been
discussion of bimetallism, so called, wit
n view to q possible international treat
of legal tender; under which contracts i
each and all countries joining in such
treaty might be liquidated by The offer {
pay in "a certain weight either of gold or {
silver, but no measure like the act latel
defeated. / call upon YOU TO mark thi
distinction with very great care; bimeta
lsm does not consist only or mainly
the coinage of two kinds OF metal fo
money purposes. In point of fact ''qu;
dri-metallism" exists In almost ever
country: not only two but four kinds
metal are used by US in the manufactur
of coins which serve he purpose {
money. lnts Is dVuduEi-uicldliiSo Couu
try We now manufacture coins in I'll
United States mints from the metal gol,
from the metal silver, and from I'll
metals copper and nickel combined l.
gether.
The subject under consideration u,
der the title of bi-metallism is whether ,
not gold and silver coins shall be mad
an international bi-legal tender at give
ratio of weight, by way OF n treaty anon
the nations tnat now make the princip
use of gold, and under whose laws leg
tender is now limited to given quantit
of gold or its equivalent There are 1
more strenuous opponents OF free coinal
of silver of the pres mt standard OF IN
legal tender In this country than the mo
intelligent advocates and believers in Il
possibility of a treaty OF information
legal tender who are known as bi-meta
lists. We may not give time to the d
cusson OF that question, as IL will not
a live question so long as the existing la,
of tue United States for the purchase
the government of silver bullion cause
great concentration Of silver I'm our tres