Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-08

4 these charges, is less than he could
4 buy the same goods for at Pittsburg.
Filipino Dollar Worth Bullion Weight.
Possibly the statements made yes
terday relative to the proposed new
coin in the Philippines, may have con-
veyed the Impression that the Fill
pino dollar of 416 grains of silver, will
pass arbitrarily on the basis OF two
silver dollars for one gold dollar. This
is not the case. 1t is a fact that at
the present time the ratio would
cause the coins to circulate upon that
basis, but this government nor the
Philippine government will assume no
responsibility for the maintenance of
parity. This proposed new silver dol
lar will stand strictly upon it's merits,
without reference to the value of any
other piece OF money in the world" re-
marked Senator Allison to your cor
respondent. 1T is simply silver dol
lar OF 416 grains weight. nine-tenths
fine. Its value is contingent entirely
upon the commercial value of silver
bullion from time to time. If silver
should advance in price then the Phil
ippine dollar would be worth more,
and vice versa"
Is to Provide Distinctive Money.
The idea is to provide the Filipinos
with coins which shall be distinctive
AT the present time they have no
do huc
ish, Indian and Mexican money. Nat
urally the people of the Philippines
would prefer to have their own coins
and this bill-the Allison bill-pro-
poses to give them silver dollars and
silver and copper and nickel subsi-
diary and minor coin, and paper mon
ey redeemable in silver. The plan
for practical free coinage of silver in
, the Philippines will, it is expected, re-
suit in the offering of Mexican and
Spanish dollars to the mint as bullion
as, in place thereof, the Filipino will
receive an equal number of Filipino
dollars, less one cent for minting.
! That this will prove a popular propo-
sition to the people of the islands goes
, without saying. The Chinese charac-
tiers and symbols upon the coin will
undoubtedly make the Philippine mon.
ey favorite in China so that within
a few years American-made money in
stead of Mexican, Spanish and Eng
fish will be the medium of exchange
in the far east
: Must Change Front.
Robert B. Armstrong is expected
within day or two to assume his du
ties as private secretary to the score
tary of the treasury. Mr.. Armstrong
has recently been acting as the Chica
go correspondent of the New York
Herald. He is an Iowa man, gradual
ing from Des Moines to Chicago where
he was connected with the daily press
Later he was made the New York rep
resentative of the Chicago Record. Mr.
Armstrong will find his duties as pri
vate secretary to the secretary of the
treasury decidedly different to those OF
the trained newspaper correspondent
Instead of getting news his duties will
involve the prevention of leakage OF
news. He will be thrown constantly
in contact with $50 senators and con
gressmen and twice as many other Off
Gals. all of whom have business with
the secretary of the treasury. MI
Armstrong will be expected to person
ally relieve the secretary of great
deal of the routine work: see visitors
attend to their wants and satisfy them
He will stand as sort of diplomatic
agent or bulwark between the oficia
public and the secretary. 1t is desira
, bic that he should be familiar with al
. the bureaus in connection with the
treasury so that he may at moments
notice put his hand upon any detail
brought to his attention. in fact he
must needs be a veritable walking Fl
nancial encyclopedia. Mr. Armstrong
is very bright young man and 1t is
confidently believed he will rapidly
grasp the leading strings to the situa
ton and prove valuable aid to Sec
rotary Shaw.
, Roberts Goes to San Francisco.
Director of the Mint Geo. E. Robert:
is on his way to San Francisco, wher,
he is called in connection with the
case against Dimmick AS the cas-,
is not called until April 10 and viii
last a week or ten days, Mr.. Robert!
may not return to Washington be
fore May j. 1t is likely he will be il
} Des Moines a day or so on his return
: trip.
: Charleston Exposition Failure.
; An Iowa man passing through Wash
ington on his way homeward from {
visit to the Charleston exposition, say.
the show is complete failure Thu
I attendance dwindles down some day.
: to less than 200, and the receipts d.
: not amount to sufficient to pay tn,
> colored help The exhibits of thu
" limited Statoc opvoypmpnt com.
$ of the states are very good, but other
: wise at this time there is PRACTICAL.
+ nothing to be seen there.
, SPEAKERS CAREER.
!. Washington Newspaper Devotes Seve
Columns to IoWan.
: Washington, April 2, 1902.