The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-09-30
HOPEFUL FOR SILVER.

The royal commission appointed
four years ago by the Gladsionian
Government to inquire into the
agricultural depression OF Great
Britain has produced its final vol.
ume. Out of the sixteen commiss-
ioners, fourteen. including Mr..
Henry Chaplin, Mr.. Walter Long
lwho are members of the present
Cabinet), Sir Robert Griffin, Lord
Cobham, Lord Rendel, Mr. Charles
Elton, Q. c., Sir Nigel Kingscte
and Mr.. Lite sign the main report,
which gives a most pathetic account
of the hopeless struggle waged by
the British agriculturist against the
ruin which has overtaken him in
mauy parts of the country and
against the terrible depression every
where. The commission feuther re-
ports that the cause is due to the
progressive and serious decline in
the prices of farm produce. The
final findings are.
ia.) That the changes in the price
of grain during the past twenty
years represent a fall of over 40 per
cent in the three staple cereals, and
of over so per cent in the case of
wheat.
(b.) That in the price of beef
there has been in the same period
fall ranging from "a to 20 per cent
according to quality.
(c.l That the prices relied for
mutton since 1881 "a have exhibited
progressive decline of from 20 to
30 per cent.
id.l That there has been a fall
in the price of wool amounting to
up ward of so per cent, during the
past twenty yeers.
(e.) That dairy produce has
participated in this depreciation,
and that taking the changes in the
price of milk, butter and cheese as
whole, there has been a fall ap-
preaching 30 per cent
IT, That the fall in the staple
product already referred to has
been accompanied by decline of
at least 20 to 80 percent in the price
of potatoes.
lg.) That though there have
been fluctuations in the price of
hops, they have exhibited in recent
years a general tendency to fall to
an Improbable level
The conclusion is that zone OF the
gravest features of the depreciation
has been its persistency.' and that
"the present crisis in agriculture is
due primarily to the fall in prices.
Then follow some gloomy recon-
mendations and a statement of the
agricultural depression in France
Germany and Australia: the two ex'
ceptions in the world being Argen-
tina and India-silver countries
Finally ten of the commissioners, in
cluding Mr.. Chaplin, recommend
the reconciliation of silver as cure
for the awful depression. In this
connection a labor petition, the most
important one according to the
London Chronicle) ever presented
has just been forwarded to Lore
Salisbury. 1t includes all the work
ing orders in the kingdom and il
signed by over $50 labor organiza
tons and begin with these words
"My Lord Marquis The Govern
ment over which your Lordship pre-
sides will soon be approached by the
Governments of other countries will
the view of arranging an interna
tional agreement on the monetary
question. The resolution accepted
blythe Government, and unanimousl,
passed by the House of Commons
last year; pledged your Lordship's
Government to do all in their powe,
to secure by international agreemen
stable monetary par of exchange
between gold and silver, and we re
spectfully but very earnestly urge
that your Lordship's Government
will now heartily cooperate with tn
other Governments and not miss tn
favorable opportunity of arriving a
at settlement of the question, 81
redeeming the pledge given by tn
House of Commons and to the coun
try.
There is more of it, but that i
enough. 1t will be seen by tn
above why the Times and Westmin
ster Gazette are raging, and why tn
wondering goldbug editor on thi
side is paralyzed at the news fror
across the sea. 1t is working a
right: we believe the response of tn
Government of Great Britain to th
commissioners of France and til
United States will call right. Loo
nnt for 90 oant ailvar hv Noyembt