The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-02

by this legislation. We do not, in tn,
slightest degree. take away from silver
| or from the silver certificates any OF theii
legal tender quality
Mr.. Daniel: The Raison D'Etre of TIL.
bill in the theory of its sponsors is that
we are on the gold standard. But why are
| they leaving it in doubt? Why are the,
leaving door wide open?"
There is no wide open door about it,"
Mr.. Aldrich Put in.
TIE House Hill.
Mr. Daniel: Here Is bill from the
House OF Representatives which declares
that it does not intend 10 interfere with
the legal tender character OF Treasury
notes or greenbacks. and here comes this
Senate substitute. which provides quite
other features. Then / say, Il II was not
intended to raise that question. put the
words of the House bill back, and it ends
the debate on that point"
MIR. Aldrich: THE Senator from Vir-
ginia is undoubtedly aware that the House
bill contains q provision which makes all
obligations, public and private. payable in
soihs anu a tIldl lutl
shall not affect the legal tender qualities
of silver. There was no necessity for any
such provision in the Senate bill; and
there is nothing in 1t which makes all
obligations. public and private. payable in
gold
Mr.. Daniel: "In my judgment this pro-
vision in the House, bill ought TO be put
in the Senate bill The Senator's answer
in debate will not be the law. But il he
be correct let us see in what attitude
this country is placing itself. The bill
declares in its first section that an old
and retired gold unit shall be hereafter
the unit and the standard OF value But
IL IL be true (and il cannot be the unit
and standard Of value, but only a CO.
unit and co-standardp, with some eight
hundred millions of greenbacks and treas
Try notes We would still find the end of
the bill refuting and contradicting the
legal conclusion of its first section. And
the declaration that we are going on the
gold standard would be reversed and
driven back by new declaration that we
are endeavoring to preserve the double
standard"
A short colloquy ensued between Mr..
Daniel and Mr.. Aldrich. during which the
latter stated that under the bill Treasury
notes. greenbacks. and silver certificates
Npuiu tt 6Uiu. Tue
bill does not take away any of the dis
cretiop that the Secretary of the Treas
ury now has as to their payment. He
said. further that the status of silver GER
tifcates is not changed by the bill and
though he admitted that only the 3i6. .000.-
coo OF greenbacks. and the $4,000 600 of
Treasury notes are specifically redeemable
in geld. he stated that the the Treasury
notes that are now at the discretion of
fhe Secretary OF the Treasury, payable in
either silver or gold would not have their
status changed by the bill.
Mr. Daniel then asked what. there is in
the bill that re-enforces the value of a
silver dollars. or that prevents the main
tanning of its parity with gold.
What agency he continued. will the
Secretary of the Treasury exercise TO
make silver of parity with gold?"
Mr.. Aldrich replied. I'VE know that the
result has been attained. but am not sure
about the method" MIR Allison inter
rupted to ask Mr. Daniel IL he did not
think that the fact that silver dollars and |
silver certificates are receivable fer all
public dues makes each equal to gold Mr.. |
Daniel refused 10 discuss the question |
further at that time. and insisted upon |
his speech.
MIR. Aldrich Wants Infcrmation.
ton by Mr. Aldrich who said:
The Senator from Virginia says that We |
should incorporate In the Senate bill the |
proviso of the House bill which speaks of |
the legal tender quality of the |
sreenbacks. ! wish him TO explain to me |
what the House bill means when it says
hat 1t is not the intention to interfere with
he present legal tender quality"
MIR. Daniel replied: 81 suppose it means
,xactly what il says. although | am very
suspicious about it. The Senator from |
Rhode Island has thrown up the sponge |
~ showing the project of this bill. We |
ave 1892 coo. 600 OF silver money. either in
he form of actual coined dollars or of Ger
ificates for them. Aud yet this bill sets |
orth in its title that IL intends to maintain
he parity of all forms of money, and has
eft this vast volume of our metallic money
rholly unprovihcd for and out in the cold.
nd the only silver money that in this bill
5 protected by the sl50.0 .0eo. 600 of gold re-
erre is the sss.000.Oo0 of Treasury notes
ssued under the Law of 1890
Commenting upon the statement made
y Mr.. Daniel that he did not know that
ny particuiar care or redemption is me-
ssary 10 preserve the parity of silver
oilars now outstanding. Mr.. Aldrich said:
My personal opinion is that 49,. .G00. 900
ollars. each containing 4i2 1-2 grains |
( copper could lie maintained at a parity |
nth gold. with the same rights and pro-
!sicns now given 10 silver
Mr.. Daniel replied: II am very happy |
D see that the Senator is so rapidly COM !
ng to the appreciation Of the genius Of
imetallism. l am pleased to have his con-
ession, and I shall look for more here
tier OF oil the countries on the face of
be earth, this country has the most reason | !
{ support bimetallism. / hope that the
enator from Rhode island will indoctrin-
te his constituents in such broad and
beral views. ] shall stand by the dollar |
the common law" Mr.. Daniel conelud- {
d, by the dollar OF the Constitution; By |
ie dollar OF America. which today, erect,
soud, and triumphant. is worth as much {
5 when it first emanated from the mint I
! 1890, and which win go on to fulfil I
S mission for the betterment Of this peo-
le, IL not interrupted by unwise laws"
MR.. ROBERTS MILEAGE. In