The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-24

II was suggested. the establishment OF an
assay Office on the Yukon river?
Mr.. Canno--Whys
Mr.. RiJgely-it was opposed by the Sec
rotary OF the treasury
Mr.. Garment ask why it was opposed.
Mr.. Ridgely-Thar IS for You 10 answer
You are suggesting the establishment OF
an assay office on the Yukon river for the
benefit OF the miners in thar regicn. Why.
let NE ask you. did the secretary oppose
such an establishment There must have
been some reason for II.
Mr.. Cannon--he gentleman knows we'll
enough that the miners from that region
are not supposed TO carry The bullion IN
their pockets. Whether il costs S. or s. for
the transportation OF the bullion TO the
mirtS, somebody gets the benefit OF II.
whether il he the miner or the transport
ation company. | am perfectly Wiling 20
admit that the transportation companies
in NY state are interested IN this business.
All transportation companies are, ard
there is no reason why they should not be.
Inese companies VIII take care OF 1hena-
selves, asI3 All they ask or this body Is 10
take cara OF the production OF The treas
ura itself They only ask proper legislation
IN the direction or protecsing 1he miners;
way 10 take care OF the miners ana or
themselves as We'll.
only ask ths house now not 20 adopt
hasty and unnecessary legislation in this
direction. / ask you not 10 adopt improx-
idenc legislation that VIII DC or no adVan-
tage either 10 the miner or 10 the trans
But. says my friend-or one of my friends
representing the state OF Washington-the
man who mines the ore can sell the
bullion at its full value in Victoria stop
here now to challenge any statement OF
anybody that at Victoria the mint price
a. Philadelphia can be paid or VIII De PAID
by anybody for the bullion OF the nlinet:
II cannot be true in the very nature OF
things.
Now. Mr.. Speaker. that is about all de-
sired 10 say on this question 1t seems TO
me that the matter is too simple 70 require
any further discussion.
Mr. Shafroth--win the gentleman from
Illinois allow an interruption?
Mr. Cannon~-Certainly.
charge for bullion from Seattle to san
Francisco is, as some gentlemen assert.
only % cents on each Sleo0. IS not that eN-
penditure on the part OF the government
placing it in the treasury OF the uniieo
Statese
Mr.. Cannon-why. my friend must know
that the figures he gives do not IN any re-
spect measure the cost OF this service. The
best information we have Is that the cost IS
about 81 per thousand.
Mr. Shafroth--Do you mean to say that
there Is not more than 80 cents on the
thousand difference between the charges
for the transportation OF gold from Seattle
to Philadelphia than from Seattle TO San
Mr.. Cannon-Such Is my information. II
the gentleman has any other information
on the subject. of course he can state II In
his own time and give it for the benefit
OF the house.
Mr. Lewis of washington-T ask the gen.
tleman from Illinois to read the newspaper
clipping which / hand to him. containing
the information that the mint price is paid
at Victoria by the Canadian government.
give the gentleman an Associated Press
dispatch, so that he may see IT. The Cana
dian government. of course. VIII not give ne
any official information as TO anything
they do
Mr.. Cannon--Now. this does not say any
such thing. and challenge the statement
and make the declaration here. after some
thing Of inquiry, that neither the British
government nor the Canadian government.
anywhere pays the mint price for gold. and
this does not say that 1t does. Now,
want to yield a moment for suggestion
from my friend from Oregon (Ar. Tongue)
Mr.. Tongue-Mr. Speaker, want to offer
an amendment to this bill at the close o.
my remarks.
The Speaker-No amendment is In order
except by unanimous consent.
Mr.. Tongue-Well. after making a
to be allowed to offer this amendment.
Mr.. Speaker, / want simply to say that
Whatever arguments have been used IN
favor OF establishing an. assay Office at
the city of Seattle are OF equal force for
the establishment OF an assay office at
the city of Portland. The output OF the
mines of Oregon during the last calendar
year, from the best information can get
amounted TO three and half million do
lars. The mining interests OF Oregon are
only just being developed.
While that Is an old state, there are a
great number of mines of which people
knew nothing. which they have just begun
TO discover. and which they are develop
ing with remarkable rapidIty. I have as
surances from men who have opportunity
of knowing, and who are reliable that the
output OF the gold and silver mines OF the
state of Oregon for the coming calendar
year will equal s7.0o00o0. II this is true.
oregon is going TO be one OF the greatest
mining states OF the Union, one of the
most productive. There is no assay office
in Oregon. There is none near Oregon.
The city OF Portland is situated upon the
northern boundary. within fifteen miles
OF the state of Washington and close to
the Columbia river.
The mining sections of that state and OF
Washington are connected with Portland
by & system OF railroads. An assay office
there will be of infinite henef; to the citi-
zens of that state. as well as Of the adj
Joining states. The mining interests of
oregon are sufficiently important TO au-
thorize this expenditure OF money for the
establishment of an assay office. The
amendment propose asks no appropria-
ton for a building. The government Is
about to construct a. building, and II
would require only a small outlay OF
money for the expense OF running the Of
flee. The cost of sending ore to san Fran
cisco will be bat very small item. viii
cost the government but very small
amount of money.
I think the United States ought to en-
courage the mining interests OF Oregon. at
least TO that extent. j hope there Will be
no opposition go this amendment If the
one office is established. certainly the other
ought TO be. II an assay office should be
established at Seattle. there should be ona
established nj Portland. I trust the
amendment win not meet with any objec-
ton / ask unanimous consent for the
consideration OF the amendment which /
send 10 the clerks desk
Mr. Cannon-Mr. Speaker. / suppose H.
IL not in order 10 offer an amendment
when a motion Is made 20 suspend the
rules The gentleman asks unanimous con-
sent that the amendment may be acted
upon. / do not know whether that Ia in
order
animous consent.
Mr. Charles W. Stone-I object
Tha Speaker-The gentlenas from Penn
sylvania objects.
Mr.. Cannon-Objection IL made. Now ]
am glad my friend from Oregon tMr.
Tongue, has said what he has. IL shows
ius, how this thing ia. Il is proposition.
ii thew can get an assay office establish
ed 10 raw substantially s. L thousand more
than gold bullion Is worth az Seattle.
Portland can not DO l. because. as she
has No assay Office. she has got 10 pay the
TRANSFORMATION herself, Nov. there rs tae
whole thing In a nutsheil-faForltsIn I'M