The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-22
DiSTRUST GOLD AND PAPER
Ame Sn. ef Silver in Coins Depends Up
on Honesty OF Mint Officials. and
Users Stamp With Initials To Guard
Aeains Cheating.

resentativc julius Kahn, OF California,
who recently returned from a tour OF
the Orient, talks enthusiastically on
the observations he made during his
travels. In nothing did Mr.. Kahn take
greater interest than In the question
Of money and the circulating medium
OF value among the natives whom he
visited.
In China" said Mr.. Kahn. "silver
coins do not always contain the reauis-
itc amount OF silver: their actual
weight as compared with that re-
quired by the law. depends upon the
honesty OF moderation OF the boss In
charge OF the particular mint turning
these silver coins out. For this rea-
son coins In general circulation In Chi.
ma only pass for their bullion value,
as shown by their weight Suppose
we OF this country should have to stop
and hesitate over the value OF coin
every time one was offered to US in
change, or that we had TO have the
little piece weighed before we could be
sure the merchant was not getting the
best of us. We Of the United States,
I'm afraid 10 not value our monetary
system as we should.
TT Is customary among the Chinese
merchants to stamp the coins that pass
through their hands with their own In
itials; when this Is done they pass for
their face value until short weight is
disclosed, when the man who stamped
the coin last must make good the loss.
The repeated stamping OF these coins
give them a hollow or dish like shape,
and they resemble pile of plates when
stacked up in a bank.
I'm the far East gold and paper are
looked upon with suspicion by the ma
tives. Silver is what they want, for II
Is the only money metal with which
they are familiar. However. in this
regard, human nature Is pretty much
the same the world over. In Colorado
and on the Pacific Coast paper money
is still regarded with distrust by the
people. Go into bank In San Fran
cisco and tender $50 bill for cnange
and the teller will turn it over and
over and scrutinize every part OF II
before he grudgingly parts with his
| metallic money for IT, In New YORK
and the East people will bite and rine
| gold coins before accepting them. btu
they accept the paper money without
| looking at It with more than mere
glance TO determine Its denomination
John Sharp Williams, minority leader
Of the House, In discussing the appar-
| ent difference Of opinion between the
North and the South and their view
points on matters of general Interest
illustrated the situation In one Of his
characteristic observations to Repre-
sentative Alexander, Of Buffalo, who
was born in Maine, and is fairly typ.
ical of the New England Continent
| Alexander is one of the most popular
of the Republicans and is we'll llket
by williams.
"In 1920" said Mr.. Williams, "a BAN
Of Pilgrims landed on rock up ther'
In Massachusetts, and the idea the,
brought over with them have passet
on down through generation after gen
Grafton. Much, If not all, the friction
between the North and South that hal
occurred in this country, can be trace
back to the ideas Of that band of pill
grims Now, this being true, 1t mus
follow that II the rock mad landed ol
those pilgrims instead Of the pilgrims
land on that rock, this country woult
have been spared vast amount o
trouble; there would have been nj
sectional feeling, and everything woulc
have been lovely"
Mr.. Alexander did not quite agre
with Mr.. williams conclusion bu
thought his illustration showed tn
readiness with which the minorit,
leader could always illustrate an ar
plinent