The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-25

transition 10 "a different basis cannot be
made without industrial disturbances and
without great hardship W al employers
Of labor silver IN tho currency OF every
day NE tyngw and nnlarles hfe paid
IN II, Notwithstanding tho fluctuations
IN value aa measured by the daily quota
lions against gold II serves Nil pnacticaI
purposes. probably because II IL clearly
recognized as subsidiary coinage IN the
country districts The mans Of The popula.
ton never 500 any money except silver
pesos" or dollars, "poaetaH' or 2Q.cont
pieces ana reals" or dime.
Tho rata Of daily wages n ordinarily a
silver dollar Tho nurch iAlng power does
not follow tho fluctuations 10 closely ~
might bo supposed. though when silver
n falling ia ylluh, prices ~ Necessities
riHo faster than they fall whom lts yaiuo
10 hpprecintlng This has been Illus.
lraiod during tho last three months.
Though tho "oonten" now buys only seven
Bpaulah silver dollars wharo formerly II
bought oght, tho waRo.oarncrB are not
ablo 10 purchase more with their wagca.
Tho prices ~ retail commodities have re-
mhincd stationary
Tho opinions of tho employers h that
n change II mado that they viii bo
compelled 20 advance wages 10 per cent,
for thlt in about what tho elimination of
tho BDanlsh silver currency or iia read.
juntment 10 American values will cost.
They do not belleyo that the laborem on
tho sugar plantations and elsewhere can
be argued into accepting reduced WAGES
In money OF an Increased purchasing
power. because that rradjustmem would
come slowly. Tho experience of tho Ia.
borora has not been such a. 10 cause
them % walt patiently for tho natural
change under which values would reRti.
itta themselves.
They know what Spanish silver doiiar
has meant % him They will not bs easily
convinced that ~ cents In either Spanish
or American silver mean just NJ much.
on tho other hand. employers az clnsa.
either on tho sugar plantations or In other
branches OF Industry cannot AFFORD 10
give Tho equivalent Of 10 per cent
Increase on wages.
Tho payment OF tho Amedican troops
Will add 10 tho difficulties A small
amount OF United States currency Il In
but II IN In bills In demon.
nations Of g. and upwards. ~ these are
lane enough 20 command tho regular
exchange. which varies from ~ 10 per
cent ono dollar and two dollar bills
w'haro thew are taken. pass merely ab the
equivalents Of tho Spanish pesos o. sill
yer dollarn:
The small shop keepers and tho laborlng
population aro still Ignorant OF tho yalno
n American silver coin. In tho cafes
hey ara diatrustod. and tho eabmen viii
lot accsp, them. when large payments
have been made 10 tho soldiers this silver
10 certain b bo forced into circulation but
hs relation which Il Will bear 10 tho
spanish coin Ia . puzzle.
Though very large amounts Of silver |
nave been taken back 10 Spain BY the
,fiioorp and tho officials. the fear that no |
.ilycr would be- loft In Cuba has not
,ccn realized Al pfesent tho value ln
1ninR alightly. duo 10 further depletion |
~ tho departing spaniardH. but enough |
'uirHins 20 rrEwcr the purpose of business
mi 90 add 20 tho complex problems
shich must be solvci By tho treasury de-
,artmong AZ Washington.