Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-02-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SUMMARY OF THE MORE lMPoR-
TANT EVENTS AT THE CAPITAL.

Majority and Minority Reports on the
Bland silver Bili-Hills Schemes to De-
liver New York TO the Democrats-What
the Pope Says in Relation to the worlds
Fair-New Extradition Treaty With
France.
Especial for the BELLOWS FALLS TIMES.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. Is, 1892
II he majority report of the committee
recommending the passage of the Bland
free coinage bill was sent to the house
Monday. The report is complete
statement of the free coinage side of the
question and goes ON to dispute the
statements that ship loads of silver
would be sent to this country from for
eign nations to be coined into money
and sent back. The reason given is
is that the promoters of such scheme
would lose money on every transaction.
1t also says if ship loads of silver came
from other nations it would have to be
left here for i could not be taken back
and invested with any hope of profit. If
it was left here it would stimulate indus
tries and ship loads of immigr; n 5 would
come to operate the new indusu les built
up on the money thus sent here. The
report then quotes from Secretary Win
dom's report for 1889 in which he said
that there was no known accumulation
of silver bullion anywhere in the world
which could be shipped here, and that
the entire stock of silver coin in Europe
was needed there for business purposes.
The report declares that in the conspi-
racy formed in the old world and here to
confine the debt paying medium 10 the
single metal gold, decreed that gold
should rise in value 90 per cent, thus
enormously increasing credits and de-
pressing the value and the products of
labor. The promoters of this conspi-
racy, says this report, and the benefic-
iaries OF it know that when this great
government throws its influence in the
silver balance the world will be again
restored to full faith in the value of
silver as the money of the W Orld and the
old parity Of the tn o metals will return.
The report affirms that we pay a dollar
to the silver mines for silver worth only
Al cents, and that we often coin the gold
miners product that costs but four dol
lars into money amounting to $780, Re-
garding the assertion that if silver was
coined free, gold W ould flee this country
to the amount of $685., 200, 600, the re-
port says that official reports show
total of gold in the treasury and in banks
of only 1915 402 554, so that the remain.
der of the estimate is only imaginary.
Othfr important points are touched upon
in the lengthy report which has now
gone before congress for discussion.
The minority report of the silver COM
mittee has been submitted to congIess
1t protests vigorously against the Bland
bill and recommends the passage of a
measure authorizing the president to
call an International monetary confer
ence. The report says that the first
eight lines of the Bland bill state it, true
character. That provides for two diff
ferent dollars and compels citizens to
receive either in payment of debts due
them. 1t requires no knowledge of
compelling the legaltenderpoweru
creditor will be a cheaper and debased
dollar. A few debtors will pay 100 cents
and the remainder 20 cents which is all
the law will require. The report says
this bill converts all existing paper into
papers to be paid in silver and leaves
none to be paid in gold. 1t is evidently
intended to clear away all distractions
in the form of pledges to pay gold, and
without distinct declaration of repud-
ialion, to provide an easy track on which
we may descend to the silver monomteal-
lie standard I he minority of this commit
tee submit that the only possible result
of the legislation proposed in this bill is
the prompt suspension of gold payments
by this government and the immediate
adoption of the cheaper monetary stand
ard of silver. The minority argue that
the Bland bill will bring silver from for
eign COMMITTEES. The minority make a
strong plea for the conference and pro-
tect against the passage of the bill.
In the first appropriation bill to be
brought into the house the Democrats
have furnished good illustration of
their professed economical plans for re-
ducing governmental expenses. This
was the military academy bill which
asks for many thousands of dollars less
than the officers in charge of that insti-
tuition deemed necessary. Their request
for an appropriation for improving the
drainage of the barracks for enlisted
men was refused; that to increase the
capacity of the gas plant was killed and
a small sum substituted to install an
electric plant to light the cadet barracks,
the salaries of the clerks at West Point,
who work all the year around. have been
reduced to starvation figures while. the
committee on military affairs has Sc
cured an additional clerk for itself at a
good fat salary. The Republicans are
doing their best to overcome this parsi-
monious policy Of the Democratic house,
but they are too weak in numbers. But
by thus obsti ucting the legitimate work
in the various departments the Demo-
Gratis are digging their political grave
for the citizens of this rich nation will
not uphold such niggardly acts.
The latest bit of sensational gossip is
that Hill will support the free silver bill,
first making sure that the delegation to
the Chicago convention will be subserv-
lent to his will and bound to the unit
rule to support him A story comes from
Utica that Hill will promise the state