The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-03
CARLISLE WRITES.
He Corrects the Statements of
Senator Frye.
Denies He Was Responsible for
the Gold Exports.
NO JUSTIFICATION.
He Asserts Frye Has No Grounds
for His Attacks.
NO JUsTIFICATION.

WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-Secretary
Carlisle yesterday wrote the follow
ing important letter bearing on the
political and financial situation:
Mr.. Phineas Pierce. Boston, Mass
Dear Sir. Your telegram inquiring
whether or not certain statements
made by Senator Frye IN recent
speeches are correct. was received
this morning, and i embrace the very
earliest opportunity to reply.
As understand the stateme nts
made by that senator in an interview
published about a year ago, and very
recently in speeches delivered at Will
mington, DEL and at Melrose and
Maiden, Mass, they are substantially
as follows.
First-what the amendment offered
by Senator Sherman to the sundry
civil appropriate bill in February,
1888, contained a provision that all
our money must be kept at parity
with gOld,' or as stated in the Will
mington speech. for the redemption
of all money IN gold"
Second-That approved this
amendment when it was under con-
sideratiOn in the senate committee on
finance, but afterward caused its de-
feat IN the house Of representatives
by sending a telegram and writing q
letter in opposition to it.
Third-That fortnight after that
] gave an interview, in which l said:
1--WE will be obliged to redeem our
money in silver" and that this al
legged declaration brought on panic
and caused millions of gold to be ex-
ported
There is scarcely the sem blance of
truth in any of these statements ex-
cept the one that personally APP
peared before the senate committee
on finance when the sherman amend
ment was under consideration and
recomme nded its adoption. and If
Senator Frye had added that L con
tlnued &c approve that, and still ap-
prove it, he would have told the
whole truth upon that subject
Further on the secretary says: IF
the sherman amendment had been in
cOrporated into the appropriation
bill. it would have been better law
than the act Of July IA, 1890, and a
serious question would have arisen
vvhe ther 1t did not 50 limit the use of
the proceeds Of the bonds authorized
by it as to prohibit the redemption in
gold of any obligations except that of
the old United States notes But,
however this might have been, the
amendment left the original bond
provision Of the resumption act in full
force and merely conferred additional
authority to issue shorter bonds bear
ing lower rate Of interest was
heartily in favor OF it, and SO in
formed tho committee on finance and
all others who consulted me upon the
subject.
Referring to the threat to defeat
the sundry civil appropriation bill in
the house IL the sherman amendment
was insisted upon the ecretary says:
1T was evident TO the friends of the
amendment in the house that the
passage Of the bill could and would
be defeated and an extra session of
congress rendered necessary unless
they bandQned the amendment
WAS a bsent from the city at the time.
but number Of kilograms were sent
to me BY the supporters OF the amend
Bient stating the situation and insist
ing that under the circumstances it
would not only be useless to press it
further. but that such course would
probably prevent the passage of other
ing to any of these kilograms
carefully examined the provisions
of the resumption act and other
financial matters and came to the
conclusion shat complete authority
already existed to issue and sell bonds
and to use the proceeds for redemp-
ton purposes, and thereupon / sent a
telegram TO a me 10 Der of the commit
tee on appropriations stating in sub
stance that I did not consider the
amendment Of sufficient Importance
to justify a contest, which might re-
suit IN the defeat of that bill
and other necessary legislation.
There was nothing ID my Telegram
indicating disapproval of the amend
nlent and ! never wrote letter as as
serted by Mr.. Frye. to anybody on
the subject" ''In regard to the third
statement of Senator Frye" added
the secretary. Il desire to say most
alphabetically that / never gave out
such m interview at any time or
place"
''On March 2. 1898, when Z became
secretary of the treasury. the gold
reserve was 500. 987. 900, but it was
nfterward increased to Sos, 600. 600 by
exchange Of notes for gold Notwith-
standing the fact that large amounts
were being weekly withdrawn for ex-
port, the records OF the department
show that during the FIVE months
next preceding the date Of my quail
tea tion as secre tary, the withdra walls
of gold from the treasury for export
amounted to $50. O46. 900. and that dur
ing the first five months after / took
charge Of the Office the Withdrawals
for export amounted to sac, $50 000-
In view of these facts it il difncult to
find any justification for Senator
Frye's statement that anything said
or done by me, officially or otherwise,
caused the exportat ton of gold from
this country. Very truly yours
j. O. CARLISLE
wfz