The times., 1899-12-13
SILVER AT THE CAPITOL.
Several White Metal Measures In
troduced in Congress-

troduceu in Congress.
While the gold bill of the Republicans
occupies the attention of the House of Rep
resentatives. silver coinage measures con-
tinue 10 be introduced in both branches of
Congress.
Mr.. Bell of Colorado has introduced in
the House a bill Ito restore the bimatarlic
system of the United States. and for other
purposes"
Mr.. Bells bill. which was referred TO
the Committee on Coinage Weights. and
Measures, provides that the silver dollar Of
371 Ii grains troy of pure silver or 412 IL
grains silver, and the gold dollar as now
authorized by law. shall be the unit of ac-
count or value. and the standard silver
dollar. in like manner as the gold dollar.
shall be a legal tender for all debts and
dues, public and private; that ali holders OF
silver or gold not too base for the opera
tions of the mint. of the coinage value of
800 or more. shall be entitled to deposit
the same at the mints of the United States
and to have the same coined into standard
legal l-tender gold and silver coins.
It is further rected that depositors of
gold or silver at any mint of the United
Statss may receive therefor coin notes equal
10 the coming value Of the gold or silver
deposited and the gold and silver so de-
posted shall become the property of the
Government and shall be subsequently
coined into any Of the authorized standard
legal tender coins of the United States. and
I the coin held in the Treasury for the re-
demptiou Of the coin notes issued therefor,
that the coin notes shall be of denOmina-
tions of not less than IS and not TO exceed
600 and shall be legal tender in like
manner as the standard gold and silver
coins OF the United States
Senator Pettigrew has introduced in the
Senate bill. which has bsen referred to
| the Committee on Finance to restore the
| coinage of silver dollars. 1t is provided
that the mints of the United States shall
be open to the coinage of silver and there
shall be coined dollars Of the weight OF
! AZ II troy, of standard silver, nine
tenths fine. as provided by the act OF Jan
! uary Is, 1897. and upon the same terms and
! subject to the limitations and provisions
! of law regulating the coinage and legal
! tender quality of gold, and whenever these
coins shall be received into the Treasury,
certificates may be issued therefor in the
manner now provided by law.
Mr.. Bell of Colorado has introduced a
bill directing that the Secretary OF the
/ Treasury shall be required to cause to be
paid out standard silver coin the same as
gold coin and without discrimination
! against either form of money.
Under the provisions of the bill it shall
! not be discretionary with the Secretary
Of the Treasury to determine the financial
policy of the Government in the paying
of its obligations otherwise than is pro-
vided by the contract, and he shall pay
the obligations of the Government in any
/ kind of legal-tender money that is most
! convenient TO the Government, unless
/ otherwise especially provided.
Among the other silver bills in commit
/ tee are: BY Mr.. Shafroth. to coin gold and
/ silver bullion on equal terms; by Mr. Nc
4 Rae for the free coinage of gold and silver
and for the issue of gold and silver certi-
! dcates.