The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
THE SILVER QUESTION UP
The House Debates the Question
Of Free Carriage.
Mr.. Hill Moves to Strike Out of thc
Sundry Civil Bill the tppropria-
ton Providing for transportation
of the White Metal to Bnnks-Op-
posed by the Colorado Members.

from west of the Missouri River
The debate was precipitatcd by the mo-
tion of Representative Hill TO strike from
the Sundry Civil bill the committee
amendment providing for an appropria
tion of OGO to be used by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury in defraying the oX
penses incurred in shipping silver coin
from the mints to the banks.
Representative Hill led the attack upon
the measure with the statement that the
Government was being used by the banks.
by individuals, and by express companies.
and was being forced to pay exorbitant
charges which the Federal authorities
were under no necessity to pay.
Representatives Bell and shaforth of
Colorado replied to Mr.. Hill. advancing
the theory that to strike out the provision
for free transportation of silver would be
to legislate against silver, and the at
tempt made by the Republicans was really
fathered by desire to drive silver cut of
circulation. Both asserted that the strik-
ing out of the clause would initiate
against the Western States, and keep
them from employing the kind of cur
rency which they have been used to and
still desire. The clause was retained.
After the House had resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole, Representative
Hill asked that the section Of the bill
providing for an appropriation of S1G0, coo
20 be used by the Treasury to defray the
expense Of Transporting silver currency
be stricken out. He stated that he could
prove that the United States had been
used. and used fraudulently, in the matter
of the shipment of currency for private
Ind -. .T,- ill
currency shipped out at the expense
of the Government. Other forms Of money
were transported at the expense of the
individual
The Government of the United States"
he said, is being made a monkey of and
being forced by the banks TO pay the ex-
pense of shipping their own money. An
express company in California has, SO
the Treasury records show, forced the !
Government to pay the ezpressage on its |
own money, transported by the company |
itself. The result of the striking out of |
this clause will be to make the circuIa- |
tion of silver money more general"
Representative McRae answered that |
the payment of the expressage by the Gov
errment aided the distribution OF silver
He stated that the transportation-oi the
paper certificates cost, taking all things
into consideration. more than the trans
poratiCu OF silver. He asked that all the
friends of silver as a money should rally
TO the support of the amendment which
gave the white metal free transportation.
Representative Hill said he regretted
that the member from Arkansas should |
make a party question out OF the matter 1
under consideration. and then continued |
his speech, stating that banks L all parts
Of the country had taken unfair and
unjust ADVANTAGE % %
tion -'.-9e
H- gave
Ja.- ,ae COST VI
sfr-.
cost o.
O. y..,ate moneys the Government
was being made use Of md that esCEJIt5n-
freight charges were being made which
the Government was Obliged to pay. he
mad read also by the Clerk letter from
ex-SeCreLary Carlisle susl l.iing his pom,
that the silver shipments did not aid IN
distributing silver, but that the silver as
a rule found its way back TO the place
from which it was shipped.
Representative Bell asserted that the
people vest Of the Missouri River con
fined themselves almost entirely to the
use Of silver coin, while The people Of the
East used paper in preference. He said
that tEe silver coin drifted back TO the |
centres OF trade which was only natural
lie depiored the attempt made by this Id
ministration TO legislate to the detriUeni
Of silver circulation 30 other Adm Eis- |
tration 50 far as he knew, had ever !
made any objection TO the free carriage OF |
silver. He thought il the duty Of the Gov |
ernment to be superior to paItiy expense
and TO see that all parts Of the country |
were taken care OF without regard TO sec |
fion. A panic would result he felt sure |
il the Republicans we're allowed TO tinker |
with existing monetary conditions, which |
he considered progressing 20 a satisfac-
tory condition. But though the policy OF
distributing silver 10 the outlying dis |
tricts should not be changed the abuse |
OF the free transportation should and |
could be corrected.
Mr. Shafroth explained that there was |
shortly to be a mint in Denver, Col. |
which would alter conditions materially. |
To this Mr.. Hepburn replied that the Ben |
yer banks gave silver because they could |
have it sent TO them free, and Imposed |
the eartwheel upon the people because |
they would not bear the expressage upon |
the paper money"
Mr. shafroth continued. saying that |
though. because of the proposed mint. |
Denver might not ne hurt by the striking /
out OF the section. it was against the I
principle that he spoke. If a mint was
arbitrarily established by the Cove nment |
at one place the Government should Cx- /
tend the privileges OF that institution t.
every part Of the country. He limited thai
the same principle might be applied to
gold and paper currency. He was sure /
that the provision Of the bill was neces-
sary to the proper distribution OF silver
coin.
Mr. Hill admitted the final statement Of
Mr.. Shafroth as regarded The 'legitimatl
shipments but said the point espec ally
TO be fought was the illegitimate use OF
the privileges. especially by the express !
companies, who desired to gel the express
charges.
Mr.. Shafroth claimed that unless here
was a real necessity for silver to go !
from one place to another, it would not
go, and therefore the express companies
could not make business out OF it,
There is something deeper in this bin
than the mere saving OF small expense"
he said. 1T is just a little legislation
against the money In use in our mining
communities. The gentleman may think
that It is a good economic step, but l
think that it is a subject upon which snap
judgment should not be taken"
Mr.. Bin was asked II he intended TO
legislate against the silver dollar. He re-
piled that he was opposed 10 the circua-
lion Of all bills Of less than s..
Mr.. Cannon said that though the amend
ment was reported by the committee. he
believed that 1t should be stricken out.
fer by such action silver would be forced
into circulation. He continued:
we pay express charges for silver but
we don't do 1t for pser We ought not
to send even gold from the assay Offices