The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-27
FREE COINAGE DISCUSSED.
The Afternoon Entirely Taken up by the
Silver Debate.

The Afternoon Entirely Taken up by the
Silver Debate.
Upon the gathering of the afternoon
session Governor Prince of New Mexico
introduced the following resolution:
Whereas It is desirable that the facts and |
arguments in favor of the full restoration OF |
silver money metal shall be presented TO |
our fellow citizens west Of the Mississippi in |
the most effective and forcible manner.
Resolved. That this congress ask the director |
OF the Columbian exposition 10 set apart day |
in the month OF September next, TO be known |
as silver day, when addresses on the silver
question can be delivered, and the day other |
wise celebrated III an appropriate manner
Resolved, That committee OF seven De APP |
pointed by the president to carry out the OBJ
lects OF the foregoing resolution.
Governor Prince, in introducing the
resolution, said that he understood the !
object of this congress to be to mould |
public opinion in the east in favor of the |
commercial and industrial interests of the |
west, and as this was matter of most
vital Importance to the transit Mississippi
states, he hoped a full vote would be
taken on the resolution. The resolution
was unanimously adopted by the con-
gress.
EQUITABLE RAILWAY RATES.
The following resolution was then read !
and referred:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this con-
gress that the law regulating commerce be-
! tween the states should be so amended as to
insure TO the people OF every state and section
equitable freight and passenger rates. and that
tribunal be created or designated, where
questions between the people ana transporta-
ton lines may be speedily adjusted.
FREE COINAGE RESOLUTION.
Congressman Late Pense, of Colorado,
read the following resolution, offered by
the committee on finance ana silver:
Whereas, The over production of either gold
or silver has been wholly impossible in the
past, and is entirely improbable in the future,
and
Whereas. The drawing apart of the two
metals IN relative value is due solely 10 leg1Sla
zion, and
Whereas, In the opinion of the Trans Missis- |
sippi Commercial congress the United States of
America can. without the cooperation OF any
foreign power. restore silver to its ancient and
rghtful place money metal OF the world
and keep IL there, and
whereas. What the whole world requires and
must nave is more standard money TO redeem
with and not promises TO pay in gold, the pur-
cha Sing power Of which has been constantly in
creasing,
Therefore, Be it resolved that we demand
that the Congress of the United States imme
diately reopen the minis Of our country TO the |
free ana unlimited coinage of both silver and
gold on equal terms. at the present ratio OF
sixteen to one and that the government use the
coins OF both metals without discrimination.
Thomas NJ Patterson offered the fol-
lowing amendment:
Resolved, That we are unalterablv opposed
to the repeal Of what IS known as the Sherman
silver purchasing act, until it is replaced with
a law providing for such free and unlimited
coinage.
IRISH WANTS LIGHT.
Colonel John P Irish of California arose
and asked the proponents of these resolu-
lions and amendments to state reasons for
| their Introduction. Colonel Irish thought
that the congress should be given all
necessary light before voting on this ques-
ton.
Mr.. Patterson suggested that as Colonel
Irish and Senator Stewart were to discuss
this question this evening, that the silver
resolutions go over till tomorrow morn
| ing. The suggestion was put in the shape
of a motion.
Senator Stewart suggested that the dis
cussion proceed. as the minds OF the con-
gresS were now directed to that subject.
A motion to lay the motion to defer con-
sideration on the table was carried.
Mr.. Patterson's amendment was made
a part of the silver resolution.
JUDGE GOODWIN OPENS.
The discussion of the resolutions was
begun. Judge Goodwin was called for
and responded as follows:
Il had no intention of making a talk. !
But Col. Irish asked question which
| think can answer, and that is why !
would we limit the coinage of silver to |
one to sixteen The great nations of
Europe fixed the rates at one to sixteen. |
The idea OF the committee was to undo |
the wrong that was committed when the |
former silver law existed. We believe |
that there is not too much silver in the |
world. We want the law under which |
we formerly prosDered restored, and sill |
yer placed at the rates indicated in the re- |
solutions. That is our reason for placing |
resolutions before this body. We don't |
want to be dictated to by fifty bankers. !
Some say we can { coin silver unless the |
world is behind us. l believe if the United |
States would do what is right, England |
would fall in and rejoice.
'sThere was no public demand for the |
decentralization OF silver. 1t was done by |
a trick, in the same way as done in the |
English parliament in 1916. Germany
demonetized silver because she was on a |
national drunk. France alone reserves |
the right to pay her bills in either gold or
silver.
'sThis question affects the civilization
OF the world. 1t seems to me imbecllity |
to say that there can be too much silver |
or gold. This committee wants gold and
silver given equal recognition. We don't |
ask merely free coinage of American sill |
yer. The argument that too much silver |
will flow in from Europe and the old !
country is simply bugbear. We want |
the free coinage of silver for the world.
HBefore leaving the floor, l wish TO say
| that / hope to have the pleasure of greet |
| ing this distinguished body in Salt Lake, |
where every house shall be q temple of
hospitality to you. We hope to see you
all at the other end of the lake"
coLoRkDo's SILVER GOVERNOR.
Governor Warce was the next snealrer
He said he was glad that the silver issue
had been gotten out OF politics. ~ have
little to say, and will wind up what have
TO say on free coinage of silver. Nv
friend Irish, wants & free discussion Of |
this question. Silver, he said, was
demonitized without a free discussion. |
! Isn't the shoe now on the other foot? We
are for full and free discussion of the |
question and fear no arguments to be |
brought against silver. =
A CHANGE IN ENGLAND.
L. 3. Leet, of Colorado. spoke briefly |
on the subject before the congress. He |
looked upon the recent publication OF |
articles on free silver IN the English |
magazines and speeches on the question |
by distinguished Enalishmen as indi-
cative OF a change in English sentiment |
toward free silver. He thought that one
cause for the present low price of silver is |
the great bill of bullion in Washington. |
He thought silver could go little lower
than the present bedrock prices, and /
that the united action of the civilized |
world could not lessen the price to any
great degree.
COL. FIsK's REASONS.
Colonel Z. c. Fisk was the next
speaker. He desired by a few remarks. |
to answer questions propounded To him
G & T. Ia. L. y