The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-08-22
Congress,

On the 18th of August. IS93 on tic i.
floor of the House 90 Rcprrsentat'y tS,
Mr.. Ryran saN - - III - e
In fixing the ratio we should select hat
one which will tha-agreateSt ad-
vantage to the public aud cause the least
Injustice The present ratio, in my jutg-
ment shmld+bc .hdepted,j A ,chanse IN
/ the ratio could be made taS IN lNS3F By
reducing the size of the gala-dollar, or
! 10y increasing the size of the silver dol
lar, or by mpkins-a change IL the welSht
| of both dollars. larger silver doliar
/ would help the creditor y smalleY, rSa;a
! dollar would help the debtor. 1t - LOT
! just to do either. but If n change must
! he made, the benefit should be given 10
/ the debtor rather than the eFed4teF. isi
/ no one accuse me of defending the just
! ness of any changes but 1 repeat IL II
| we are giVenta choice between n chnngu
which VIII laid the debtor by IednCFgg
Il the size of hiSIdsht and change which
L Wal aid the creditor by increasing the
Eamunnt which he2isto receive, either bp
hihcrfasinr the number of his doliars or
H5heif size. the advantage must be given
Hsd The debtor" 1.-.
I 1lagislatiopn IN favor of debtors ST ef
I creditors, as q class. would be class leg
slation fnd wholly unjustifahle. Qu"$-
tons hetwccn debtors and creditors are
] properly settled IN the courts: and every
T
-II~ope is right For the other also Mr. Rrg-
~, therefore. did vel to disclajm. I'd
vocacy Of any change of the existing
ratio. Should q change be made at ANY
time hereafter it cannot and ought not
to affect contracts antedatng sub
change 81. % .-. .". .-i 40. Is
But in advocating the unlimited coI,1-
age IF silver bullion, at the present ralio-l
for The owner and without cost to ham.
Mr. Bryan does prereae a change - sE,'
81
acted. Ave are informed by him. That
there are three ways by which thp ratio
between gold and silver coin can ht ~
trrcd: l. The ShTinkage in size of the
| gold dollar. . ,. The enlargement ~ NE
I silver dollArjf =. Making a change in Il ~.
size ana weight of both dollars. ID7t24eir
| Of these three methods COnTcmpiatpa "a
Il nearer approximation If the rhinGgC rs
lt0.to the commercial fati0 and ia az. Ear
forth honest. ,.If,thiS approximation nf
the two ratfos were carried to. the u0int
Il 81 adealitE, the change suggested hr h NJ
I would be absolutely huuest--Dr6v flCp
that it IS not retroactive in it's application
~ outstanding debts,
!, This Is not, however. the change winch
EWQuld follow the adoption of free ,o35-
age At lotto l. There. is still &, Hsthar.
possible change to which Mr. RF.van
made no reference in his speerh, namely,
tlc Shrlu-Tge of the silver dollar A
Il SILVER dollar containing 3711t grains of
tncYerthclcSS passes current for 100 c,,ais
IN C"ld,IS an anomaly in finance, uuless
HNphlned. The explanation is simptc
8 f1i1ty-thr"c cents. of the current yaIu,. az
p THIS dolltr'IS visible; Al cents of It's value.
* invisible. and consists in credit Fyt.p
| and unlimited coinage would destroy mia
crefiit. In advocating free coiaa!-c ~
10 10 l, therefore, Mr. Bryan proposes, 10
| make the silver dollar smatler-Rct Ia the
eye. but in fact.-- -.
.11ls would he n change of ratio IN tho
purchasing power of the silver dolllr re
compared 4 gold dollar, from 1fl
10 81 l..
20 avoid this result Mr.. Bryan grav,{y
proposes that we should do one ug tlyo
tmRgs: double the weight of the SILVER
dollar. or else coin gold dollars half their
present weight Anybody can see thar
one .0f these womb have TO be done in
! "rttr that identity should Ete nstahlisi,+tf
between the cuinnge ratio and tic crrm-
fhcrciaI ratio. .,...-
Which of these two cxpcdients does
Mr. Bryan fayor2 He tells us hat On
lar@lnE"th" SilvrF dollar would help the
creditor. 1t could only hpip hi1l4 by
maintaining the present standard DP
value. "IItGAlsu'.tcIS' Ms thar haIyr1y the
g"la dollar would help the dchtop n 50,
IT would ho hy a change il The i,ter4 NJ
standard of value. Finally. lie tells as
! that he prefers the latter rypedirnt. i,c.-
| cause the debtor has rights superior 10
! tn" rights of The creditor.