The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-12-15
|GOv. WAITE'S SCHEME,
HIS SPEECH TO THE MINERS.
Advises Making all American Dollars
Legal Tender In the statc.-Ssvsrai
Other Recommendations.

Tho convention OF miners called by Cover
nor Waite met at Salida on the 9th.
OF the twenty-one camps invited 10 send
delegates eleven responded and eighteen del
egates were present, Us follows:
silverton-F. b. Brown, Henry Smith, NJ.
Stockman.
St. Elmo-Jamos Holtschneider, George 7.
Johnson, John Mcbride.
Breckenridge. W. Swishor.
Aspen-J. g. Fitzgerald, j. NJ. McMichacl,
N. L. Parr.
Creedo-Thornton H. Thomas.
Bachclor-ThomM johnson.
Cripple Creek-C. 7. Mccoy.
Kokomo-W. T. Farrow.
Central City--H. Z. Balsinger.
Ouray-L. N. White.
Lawson-W. T. Adams, p. kaufman.
J. NJ. McMichael Of Aspen WAS chosen
chairman and J. W. Swishsr Of Breckenridge
as secretary.
Judge Mccoy Of salida delivered m I'D
dress of welcome to Governor Waite, and
W. P. Harbottle welcomed the delegates to
the city.
After instrumental music Governor Waite
was intr oduced and delivered his address 70
the delegates. He was frequently interrupted
by applause. Y
The governor opened his remarks BY er-
planning why he had apparently Disseminated
against certain camps In Issuing the cau ipr
the present convention. He had included In
his call only silver miners, Is tho class most
vitality hurt by the present money crisis. He
had not even included all silver miners, Civ
Ing preference to camps where men with
families and homes prsdominated.
The governors constitutional right to call
a special session OF the General Assembly was
next cited and the opposltion TO such special
session coming from the monied classes was
declared to be ia, creator than the occasion
called for. 1t was not 10 be taken for grant
ed that the Legislators, II called together,
would 'Icgislate" at all, and It was certainly
not presumed that they would do anything
unwisc or revolutionary.
The governor then dwelt at some length on
the silver crisis. The situation has somewhat
improved since the darkest hours last summer,
be said, but not over 1000 silver miners out Of
the 5000 thrown out Of employment have
been able to resume work. To be sure, Colo
radios varied resources are still here, but
there is little demand for developing them
while silver Is stricken down.
The governor then made number Of sug-
gestions MS TO the legislation that might be
considered at the extra session, aside from
the silver coinage problem.
lie recommended that state and county
warrants for tho payment OF which there ia
no money In the proper fund at tho time Of
issuance, be exchangeablc for state certificates
Of small denominations that would doubtless
pass as currency among business men. lie
said;
II a special session Is called a RECOMMENDED
ton viii be made TO repeal the present law
providing for the Issue Of bonds by the state,
or any other municipality fulfilling, of course,
all obligations Of that kind already incurred
Also that all municipalltles OF Colorado de-
string to construct public improvements TO
the gross amount upon assessed property, as
now permitted by law, may issue. instead OF
bonds, their certificates Ia small sums, re-
ccivsble In whole or In part for the tax levied
by that municipality TO parties who may con-
tract to take them for materials and work
and labor performed.
That the interest on judgments be reduced
to per cent per annum.
That the interest and penalties on delin-
quent lands, sold for taxes. be reduced as the
General Assembly may determine.
That the state enact q bankrupt or assign.
ment law, protecting alike the rights Of the
debtor and tho creditor.
That now county be organized out Of the
| west part OF FL Paso county and contiguous
territory. 10 relieve the people Of the Cripple
Creek region Of the unjust and heavy burdens
which they arc now compelled TO endure, and
In view OF the great Increase, present or prot
pcctive, Of legal business In the Judiciary dis.
trict that another Judge be appointed for
said district
That the acts passed last winter providing
for the construction Of the state canal be
amended so rs 10 provide for the Issue OF
small certificates, instead OF those OF el 900.
and provisions made to provide come other
refources OF payment In addition 10 water
/ rents.
To reduce abstract charges
| To provide that water rents thall not be
collected by irrlgAting companies, except IN
| proportion TO the water supplied.
To amend the Law relating TO homesteais
10 the interest Of the homesteadcr.
The governor then proceeded to the cues.
ton OF states right to coin money lie
duelt at considerable length on the history OF
coinage In this country, and explained the
conditions under which the right Of coinage
had been conferred by the states on the fed.
srai government
| Congressional record, page, $40. volume !,
part ], Forty-hfth congress, second aession,
Feb. Z, 1883, James q. Blaine ssidi II believe
gold aud silver coin to be the money Of the
| peoplc-indeed the money Of the American
people anterior TO the constitution, which
that great organic law recognized - quite
Independent OF iis own existence. No power
was conferred on congress to declare that
either metal shoald not be money. Congress
has, therefore, In my judgment, no power TO
| dsmoneiizc silver any more than TO drmone.
/ lin. Fplns Ia taunnuattNA altber a
more than 10 dcmoneiike both. In this stale
ment am but repeating the mighty dlctam
OF the lrrt OF constitutional lawyers. u am
certainly Of the opinion raid Mr. Webster,
that gold and silver, at rate, fixed by con
grcs.. constitute the legal standard Of value
In this country, and neither congress or any
state has authority 10 establish suy other or
to displpcc this standard Few persons can
be found l nppfehcnd, who will mnin,ain
that congress POSSESSES the power 10 denione.
tie both gold and silver, or that congress
could be justified In prohibitiug tho coinage
OF both; and Jet In logic an legal constfuc.
ton 1t would be difficult to show where and
why the power Of congress orrr silver IA
greater than over goli-grra.er over either
than over the two. II, therefore, silver has
been dcmonetized, am In favor u renione.
lizlpg IL II IT, coinage has been prohibited
] am In favor Of ordering II TO be resumed. II
u has been restricted am In favor OF having
II enlarged
This concession TO Congress Of the right
10 coin money was IN the nature OF n trust.
the execution Of which eau only be enforced
by n CONTINUOUS COINAGE. II trustee
n~glrcta or refuse, 10 perform trust, tho
courts, IN ordinary cnsfa eofnpels u perform.
ancc, OF Ia default thereof, the trust rcvcrts
TO the ttus,or. II NJ In th.s case. the govern.
mcnt being the trustee, there Ia no competent
power TO compel the execution OF tho trust,
the right to coin money rcycr's to tho states
OF the people.
The opinion Of some Of the best lawyers In
the United States I. that tho right Of the PEG.
pie to tho free coinage Of silver hiss never
been taken away, and that tho United states
supreme Court, " the case ever reaches II,
VIII 20 decide. but the evident Intention OF
the United States government officials Il, tina,
tlia question shall never reach tho United
states Supreme Court, am ready 10 recon.