The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-09-26
The "CRIME" OF 1878.

The "CRIIME" OF 1878.
Hitherto we have placed little stress
upon the so-called "crime" of 1873, and
the part which England played in max
ing the coinage law of that year, for we
have considered matters of the present
of more Importance, and possibly would
not have referred to that matter now.
but for the fact that Senator John
Sherman in his speech at Cincinnati
last Wednesday declared that the act
of 1873 was fully discussed by congress
before it became law and was fully
understood by the members of both
houses. This leads US to quote from
the San Francisco Chronicle of August
>, 1893, its version of the passage OF the
act. The Chronicle is pronounced
gold paper now, and cannot be disputed
as authority. We make the following
extracts from that paper:
San acrimonious controversy has
long been maintained over the ques-
tion whether the striking of the silver
dollar of 4124 grains from the list of
coins and its subsequent characterization
by congress was the result of a con-
spiracy. In the senate and house in
1877 and 1878 the change was freely
made by the advocates of silver that
the men who engineered the scheme
through congress had an ulterior OBJ
ject in view, aud that they studiously
endeavored to work in the dark. The
monometalists repelled the charge,
undertook to prove from the records
that the bill was read in the usual way
and that every opportunity was given
its opponents to debate it had they
seen fit.
"This latter assertion may be ab-
solutely true, and yet it would not dis
prove the allegation that there was
small clique which clearly understood
the object to be achieved by demonetl-
zation, while the great body of sena-
tors and representatives did not haye
the remotest idea what the senate COM
aud measures were seeking to accom-
plish 1t is we'll known to every one
familiar with the usages of congress
that much of the legislation touching
the practical work of the mint is shaped
in committee, and the representatives
accept rs trustworthy the recommen-
dations of the body delegated by them
to inquire into particular matter.
SIT will also enable the reader to
more clearly understand the disputed
question if he keeps in mind the fact
that when the standard dollar of 4124
grains was stricken from the list Of
coins of the United States, owing to
the difference between the ratio es
tablished by the Latin Union, it was
at premium of per cent over gold.
1t is necessary to fix this fact in
mind, otherwise the assertion made by
gold monometalists that silver was de-
monetized because its increased pro-
duction had deprecated into value may
prove confusing" The Chronicle then
quotes from speech of M. Hooper,
who was chairman of the committee on
weights and measures in 1873, in which
he shows that the silver dollar was
then at q premium; also from the re-
port of Director of the Mint Linder-
man showing the same fact. The
Chronicle continues:
"It is clear then that from these tes-
timonies that the standard dollar was
not stricken from the list of coins be-
cause silver was depreciating metal.
for it was worth more than gold at the |
ratio of 16 to !.
: "What then was the motive for the |
action of Hooper and his committee?
A dilligent examination Of the records |
.diseloses none. There was no allega-
tion made that the demonetization of |
silver by Germany 10 1871, and tho
subsequent closing of the French
mints to the free coinage of silver
made such step necessary.
"The entire avoidance of all discuss
ion of the possible consequence of s5rik-
ing an important coin from the list of
coins authorized by the United States,
and the further fact that no reference
was made to the legal tender quality
of the coin stricken from the list are
strong points in favor of the contention
that select few understood the matter,
and that their purpose was to keep the
house in ignorance of their object.
That there may be no mistake on this
point, we quote from the congressional
record of May %, 1873, showing the
evident anxiety of Chairman Hooper
to force through his bill, and the act
ual misrepresentation resorted to by
him to accomplish his purpose:
Mr. Holman-I suppose it is intended to have
the bill read before itisput on its passage.
The Speaker-The substitute will be read.
Mr.. Hooper of Massachusetts hope not. 1t
is long bill, and those who are interested in it
are perfectly familiar with its provisions.
Mr.. Kerr-The rules caunot be suspended SO
as to dispense with the reading OF the bill.
The Speaker-They can be.
Mr. Kerr-I want the house to understand
that it is attempted 10 put through this bill
The Speaber-Does the gentleman from Mass
(Mr. Hooper, move that the reading
Of the bill be dispensed with!
NJ. Hooper of massachusetts, will frame
nv motion to suspend the rules that it will dis
pense with the reading of the bill
The Speaker-rhe gentleman from MaSSa-
chuSetts moves that the rules be suspended and :
hat the bill pass, the reading thereof being dis
oenSed with.
Mr RandaIl-Cannot we have division of
hat nlotiong
The Speaker-A motion to suspend the rules /
,anpot be divided.
Mt RandaIl-I should like to have the bill
.ead, although am willing that the rules shall | /,
De suspended as to the passage of the bill.
The question was put on suspendng the rules ,
ind passit tg the bill without reading, and( two
birds rot voting in favor thereof the rules | I
we're not suspended:
Mr. Hooper OF Massachusetts, now move
hat the rules be suspended and the substitute L
or the bill in relation to mintS and coinage 7
passed and ask that the substitute be read. .
The clerk began to read the substitute.
Mr.. Brooks-IS that the original bill! | ,
The Speaker-The motion OF the gentleman
rom Massachusetts, Mr. Hooper, applies to
he substitute and that on which the house is
,alled to act is being read.
Mr.. Brooks-As there is to be no debate the
,nly chance we have to know what we are doing
S to have both the bill and the substitute read :
The Spealer-The motion of the gentleman |
rom Massachusetts being to suspend the rules |
md pass the substitute it gives no choice be- ,
ween the two bills The house must either
PASS the substitute or none. ,
Mr. Brooks-How can we choose between the
original bill and the substitute unless we hearl |
hem both read? ,
The Speaker-The gentleman can vote AYE
,r no. on the question whether this substitute
hall be passed.
Mr. BrooBs-I am very much in the habit of