Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-15
Statute to Fix the Gold Standard as
the Legal Unit Of Value Now
Agitating Congress.
DIVERSIFIED OPENS FOR REPUBLICANS
He Says the Present Parity Rests for En-
forcement Upon the Judgment or Ca
price of q Single Individual, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury-He Wants an
Unequivocal Declaration of Law.

" a fair attendance in the galleries or
the house to witness the opening of
the debate on the currency bill. Inn
mediately after the reading of the
journal the house, under the special
order, went into committee OF the
whole, Mr.. Hepburn Qa.) in the
chair, and entered upon the considera-
ton of the bill Mr.. Overstreet Qnd.),
who is to be in charge of the measure
on the floor, opened the general debate
with set speech. Representative Over
street said in part:
This country presents the anomalous situa-
ton of being the absolute and unchallenged
leader in almost every field Of advanced
thought, whether in science or Hterature; GER
tainly the most advanced in material develop
ment and the control OF trade; by far the su-
berior in manufactures and growth of mar ketS;
and yet it is the field of great controversy upon
the subject of the standard of value and the
proper media Of exchange.
No nation has devoted more time to public
discussion and legislative consideration of the
question of finance than the United States
Notwithstanding there have been occasions
when serious doubt clouded the sun and pro-
duced grave fears lest the entire fabric OF our
monetary system might be seriously shaken,
yet it is to the great credit of the government
that every dollar of our money in circulation is
absolutely sound and unqueStioned. This con-
dition has led many people into the erroneous
belief that there was no need for legislation,
and that the best the government could do would
be to let the subject alone Such people are
not familiar with the frequent pledges of the
government to maintain the parity Of our
money. declaring by congressional acts the
honest purpose of the government to faithfully
and surely guarantee the full parity of all money
In circulation. The present parity depends en-
tirely upon such declarations and guarantees,
but its maintenance and enforcement rests with
the judgment caprice of the secretary of the
treasury, who by single order, directing the
OF silver in the discharge of our obligations.
may completely destroy the parity, and shift
the standard to the metal used. It seems far
better to attempt proper regulation Of the
question by q clear and permanent statute,
rather than depend upon occasional declara-
tons by the government of its intention. 1t is
far better to end the matter by public law,
which shall be plain and uneQuivocal rather
than rely upon proposals of what may or shall
be done at some future date, or leave so dan
gerous an option within the control of one man,
whether he be the president his financial ad-
wiser.
If the legal standard to-day is the gold stand
ard, under the act of 1873, positive statute to
that effect can do no harm. If, on the other
hand, there is any reasonable doubt. it should
be diSpelled by q statute plain and clear in its
terms. When certainty shall take the place of
doubt, and the integrity of our credit be as
fxed as the honor of the nation the national
debt can be readily refunded at lower interest
rates and future loans negotiated with ease
upon better terms than ever before. The rapid
development of American trade and its vast
expansion bringing our people into close rela-
lions with the leading nations of the world,
makes it imperative that the standard of value
In which settlements are made shall be the best
known to the highest civilization, and shall
safely appeal to intelligent and successful ex-
perience.
The advocates of currency reform firmly de-
clare that the financial operations of the govern
ment are upon the gold standard, but that the
honest fears engendered by doubtful legislation
relative coinage
attack upon the standard of value fully justify
the legislation asked To firmly fix gold as the
standard of value the unequivocal terms, made
fully operative by all proper safeguards, is the
central idea of the law. It is confidently be-
lieved that the country demands it. and that
action will be ratified by the people. The sup
porters of the proposition are not confined to
the republican party, nor to the So-called' money
ton have nobly dared to break from party lines
and suffer, unflinchingly, the sting of the party
whip in honest and patriotic effort to uphold
the integrity of the national credit and make
secure the foundation Of the vast and expand
Ing business OF our people.
While the question is economic and should be
separated from partisan debate, yet the repub
iican party will not attempt escape from re-
sposibility for the legislation believing that 1t
is wise for the country, safe for the people and
in perfect harmony with the institutions of the
nation.
Mr.. Bowersock (Kan.) introduced in
the house bill appropriating So, 200
for a public school building at Law
renee. He also introduced bill reim-
bursting the University of Kansas in
the sum of $50, 600 for the destruction
during the civil war of the Free State
hotel at Lawrence.
The Senate Session.
The announced intention of Mr.. Ma
Son Qll.) to address the senate to-day
on his resolution expressing the SYM
pathy of the senate with the South
African republics in their war with
Great Britain, drew a large audience
to the senate galleries. In the absence
of President Frye, Mr.. Plat Comm
was designated to occupy the chair.
Mr. Hoar presented the resolutions of
the Massachusetts legislature in favor
of a constitutional amendment provid-
ing for uniform hours of labor in man
ufacture in the United States
Mr.. Mason Qll.) called up his resolu-
ton offered few days ago, expressing
the sympathy of the senate with the
South African republics in their war
with Great Britain. His speech was
long and delivered with characteristic
vehemence. He maintained that under
the Monroe doctrine and presidents
previously established, the United
States had the same right to extend its
sympathy and hopes for success to the
Beers in their struggle for liberty as it
had to interfere with Spain in its con-
duct Of the affairs in Cuba He urged
that the interests of the United States
was aroused by the fact that the South
African war was struggle between
democracy and royalty-between the
divine right of kings and the divine
right of men. ''If we should speak and
speak quickly. it would sting the poll.
tieians who brought on the war for
greed OF gold and cheer the poor brave
Dutch defender of his home"
In the senate Mr.. Hoar (Mass.) OF.
Tered joint resolution providing for