The silver star., 1900-03-30

The amount of bonds to secure circu-
lation is about S24O.O0O. The new act
permits the banks TO take out clrcula-
ton to the par value Of these bonds.
thus emitting them to about S24.Oo,oV
in excess OF that they have heretofore
enjoyed.
Ellis H. Roberts. treasurer OF the
United States, says that under the new
currency law nearly $12.OW.0OO OF Sill
yer bullion must he Immediately pur-
chased by the mints for the coinage OF
10. 25 and 50-cent pieces. The new law
REQUIRES that the subsidiary silver shall
hereafter he kept at 800, 100000. which
is an increase of S24,OOO.OOO (S2i,5li,-
$50, for the amount outstanding on the
1st OF the month was SIj,42o,4 4l3. The
same law provides that hereafter all
currency under the denomination of
$40 shall be standard silver dollars or
certificates issued upon them. There
fore all greenbacks and other notes OF
81, So and S. are to be retired and sill
yer certificates substituted for them.
This will require the coinage of about
120OOO.OOO new silver dollars within
the next year or two.
The conference on the Puerto Rican
appropriation bill have agreed upon a
compromise measure, The Senate con
ferees receded from the Senate amend
ment limiting the appropriation to the
revenues collected on Puerto Itican I'M
portations until the first OF last .Innua-
ry and restored the clause In the House
bill applying to future revenues, read
| ing as follows: "Together with any
further customs revenue collected on
importations from Puerto Rico since
Januray l. 1900. or that shall hereafter
he collected under existing law" The
provision in the Senate amendment
specifying the purpose for which the
| money shall be used Is retained but an
| addition is made declaring specifically
that II shall be for the laid and relief
Of the Puerto Ricans."
Mr.. Foss of Illinois, who is acting as
chairman of the committee on naval
affairs during the disability OF Mr..
Boutelle. has prepared the biggest ap-
preparation bill ever offered to the
House of Representatives for that
branch of the service. Its total is $1S.-
100000 in excess of the highest prev
ious record. 1t provides for two 1900
ton battleships at cost of $3.6O0.OOO
each, exclusives OF armor or nrma-
ment: three swift twenty-twokn ar
mored cruisers of 5000 tons, to cost 81
100000 each. and three twenty-five
knot unarmorcd cruisers of 6.OOO tons,
to cost 81. 10000 each. In addition to
this S12.OOO.O00 Is appropriated TO con
tinue the construction OF vessels al
ready begun. Two new dry docks mt
Brooklyn and Norfolk nrc provided for,
as large as any in the world, and a new
building for the Naval Academy. to
cost S2,OOO,OOO.
The Republican peace committee met
after the adjournment of the Senate
Thursday and practically ratified the
offer of Senator Foraker In the Senate
to separate the House Puerto Rico tar
if bill from the Senate governmental
Dill, ana to take vote ON the House
measure. The peace committee IL will
ing that n vote should he taken upon
the House bill as first passed by that
body, provided 1t becomes apparent
that 1t is impolitic to attempt to amend
1t, but an effort will be made to asccr-
tain whether the House will consent to
any modification. Some OF the Repub-
lican senators think the bill should be
so changed as to provide for the con
tinucd exemption from duty of the ar
ticles which were exempted by the
Presidents order. They also find the
House bill deficient In that II fails to
provide any means OF collecting the
duty which II imposes.
The correspondent Of the Chicago
Record, Republican paper, saws:
Representative Page Morris of Mime
sofa and six other Republican members
of Congress have found Il necessary 10
20 home and explain to their constitu-
ents their reasons for voting for tariff
on Puerto Rico. and all OF them are
likely to lose their seats because of that
inexcusable blunder. One member
who is similarly situated "lay right
down and let his constituents jump ON
him." to use hfs own words. He did
not attempt to defend the bill. He
said that 1t would have been necessary
for him to change the opinion OF every
intelligent man In his district. and that
Is too big job, so he promptly entered
the plea of guilty" and threw himself
upon the mercy Of his constituents,
asking them to take into consideration
certain extenuating circumstances. "I
told them that I was led by party 10y
atty into voting against my own convic-
tion." he said. "but l promised never
to do so again. This seemed to please
the people, and I think am stronger
than ever in my district. but I had Il
mighty narrow escape from political
oblivion" Those members who are mt.
tempting to defend their action meet
with many embarrassmcnts and only
provoke controversy In which they
come out second best. It In the gen
eral opinion that the passage OF the
Puerto Ricnn tnx bill Will cost the Re.
publican pnrty the control OF the next
House OF representatives.
II think the Cubnns are getting to Nh.
derstand that steady progress II being
mnde toward the establishment OF their
government. do not think they wish
tho present condition OF nfYnIrs To con-
tinue. but they nre not impatient about
taking over the government" Sec
tnry Root made this statement aftcr he
had reported to the President ON his re.
turn from Cuba. II was evident from,
the secretnry's mnnncr that lie does
not think the Cubans are yet rendy for
government. though he would not
say 10. "rhc strongest men In Cuba"
he continued, ''rcalixc that the etlucn.