Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-15
BOARD OF TRADE.
THE NATIONAL BODY'S TWENTY
EIGHTH ANNUAL SESSION.
REPORT ON THE CURRENCY.
Warming Against Oyer-Conndence
I'm the Continued Defeat of Free
siIyer-uniformity I'm state Laws
A National Quarantine.

WARRINGTON, December 1.-THE Ma
tonai Board os Trade met here to-day Tor
It's twenty-eighth ennual session, ex-Gov-
ernor stanard. OF s.. Louis. presiding in
the absence Of Mr.. Frederick Fraley. OF
Philadelphia, who has been president OF
the boarti since fits organization in 1868
The Organization Committee made its
report, which was adopted. On the sub
Acct Of the currency the report says:
Probably there Is no subject which is
EilI OF such importance as that of the
currency. While the uprising in favor OF
sound money in 1886 was not without IT'S
gooi effect, there is still much TO be de-
sired in the way Of permanent prosperity,
which condition is mainly due to the TACT
that the future OF our monetary system Is
stiI largely in doubt. Over-confidence as
\ To the continued defeat Of free silver may
result in serious trouble.
1T IL a mistake TO suppose that the nu-
merous friends OF unsound systems VIII
be- entirely satisfied by return of pros
perity. The hard times, which originated
the silver question, have undoubtedly been
used by interested parties TO instill raise
Ideas into the minds of many of our peo-
pie, particularly those Of workingmen ana
farmers which have become part OF
their political belief. A spirit of unrest
and dissatisfaction stili exists among
such classes, and there is no evidence that
among such any great conversion from
the free-silycr doctrine has taken place
anywhere in the country
"In New York or Nebraska, the opin-
ions of the dissatisfied are now pracu-
cally the same before the election
THE form may have changed. As free
silver was but a form and natural Sc
quence Of the greenback heresy. so now
the tendency is toward fiat money. rather
than the silver failacy. but in whatever
form IL shows itself. II has become
general theory OF public policy, and
conspicuous tenet OF the doctrine of a
national political party. To such the
free silver or fiat-money question is para
mount, and all considerations Of currency
reform viii be made subservient thereto.
The only way to meet II is by persistent
education. for which purpose some of the
s0und-money organizations have been
continued. and a national one formed, |
though without very much popular inte-
rest or support, and by the adoption Of a
sound financial policy. including not only |
coinage, but banking and currency.
while our present system exists, there |
L. the ever-impending danger of repe- |
tltion OF our late financial difficulties. |
when the country would be at the mercy |
OF those who do not have its best inte-
rests at heart. In the absence OF care
full attention in the mean time, and un-
less. by some unexpected contingency,
we shall have an unprecedented degree OF
national prosperity at the time OF the
next general and presidential election,
we may expect TO see the flat-money issue
the issue OF the campaign"
One OF the most important reports Tre-
scented and adopted was that OF Jonathan
a. Lane of Boston, on Reform OF the
Consular Service" The report advocated
the extension of the civil-service rules 10
cover the consular service, TO the end of
securing practical businessmen in the
service. rather than purely political APP
pointees.
A report was adopted from the Com
mittee on Uniformity OF State Laws.
This especially looks to the unifying OF
commercial laws In the various States.
The T0rrens bin received the endorse
IneDt OF the meeting. This measure re-
lates TO the unifying OF the land laws OF
the several States, so as to make the
methods OF land transfer and the clearing
OF titles the same throughout the coun-
try; simplifying the various processes.
pnd reducing the expenses 10 the mimi
mum.
The recommendations OF Surgeon Gene
sai wyman for a national quarantine
law were discussed at length and heartily
Endorsed
The new ORGANIZATIONS admitted were |
ths Ntlca Chamber OF Commerce. Ohio
valley Improvement Company. New Eng
ssnd shoe and Leather Association New