The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-21
A SILVER COMPROMISE.
Which, 1t Fondly Was Thought.
Could Be Carried Through
the House.
But Further Canvass Disclosed
the Fact That the Task
Was Hopeless.
80 ~ Du~srklrn ~ (sc1h uAA
Statistics 'of tho Production Of Gold and
Silver In the World the
Past Year.

WAsuINGToN, Feb. 20. - Representative
Livingston, of Georgia. is preparing . oill
on the limos OF an understanding reached
Yesterday at q conference between Senator
Carlisle and seventeen democratic members
OF the house. representing the various Gle
msnts (sxcept radical free coinage msn> of
the party on the silver question. The IN
derstanding reached, the men present say.
could not bs called a definite agreement
WAS to suspend silver purchases. to reserve
sufficient silver to provide for the redeMp-
ton of outstanding notes Issued in pay
msnt Of silver representing prodt. or The
difference between the purchase price and
coin; also Of silver heretofore bought.
After this ia don't silver purchases are to be
resumed unless there is new legislation.
Meanwhile the profit will amount to about
SAT. 900, 900, SO that it will take sixteen
months to coin the bullion. The out and
ont free coinage men %announce that they
will fight the proposition to the death, and
tho silver men claim by this compromise
20 have caused enough men to change their
views to turn the scale in favor of oloturs.
provided they could frat Rs' another re-
mort from the rules committee and then
hold ths votes they obtained last time.
The bill was shown TO The republicans BY
Tracy, of New York. and they were asked il
they would support II. Nearly all re-
publioans who voted with the anti-silver
men the last time replied that they would
not do so. II, therefore. seems likely that
the bullion purchase act cannet gain votes
necessary to its passage, - The free coinage
democrats say they will refuse to voto for
it, and The republican detection will more
than offset ths democratic gain made as
tho result of the conference. One PROPOSE
tion which found considerable favor at the
conference nd in the house among free
coinage men, provided for tbs oinaRe OF
bullion now in the treasury and the re-
enactment Of the Bland law, but Williams.
Of Massachusetts. And other gold men. re-
fused absolutely to vote for any measure
providing for further silver purchases In
any amount.
The annual report of the director of the
mint for 1892 shows that the value of the
gold prodact Of the United Stetes was $685.
000. 600. about the average of recent years.
The product of silver was SO, 900. 900 ounces.
of a commercial value of $50, 75O.O 600, q fall
ing off of $50, 600 ounces from the preceding
year. The mount Of silver purchased by
the government during the year WAS 81, 1885,
1927 fine ounces, costing $47, 1884. 291, an aver
age Of S711 cents per fine ounce. From IL
6,333. 245 silver dollars were coined during
tho year.
Imports Of gold aggregated S18, 165, Ob6
and exports SIC. 745, 500, a net loss of $5s,.
$40. 536. SilAer imports were S31. 45O, 96a
and exports 1877. 541, 3O1. The amount of
money in circulation exclusive of the
amount in the treasury was $1.611. 321. 1853,
Jan. l, an increase Of SIS. 92s, 124 during the
year.
Thera Vas an inerease Of over S1o OOO ONr
In the gold product Of the world during the
last calendar year. or this 81. SOC. 600 was
from Australia and SO. 900. 900 from South
Africa. The total silver product of the
world increased about 1860. 900 OUNCES. oc-
oasionsd chiefly by an increase of 1900, 600
ounces in the product Of Mexican minss.
and 100000 in Australian.