The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-16
.F|VE-CENT PIECE A NECESSARY COIN Stands for More Fixed Value
 Than Any Other COULD NOT BE ELIMINATED People at Complete Loss How to Pro- ceed Without "NickeI"-Bread,
 Cigars, carfare and Picture
 Shows All 5 Gents.

From the Washington Herald.
 Officials of the Treasury Department sometimes discuss the nations somewhat cumbersome coinage and make sugges- tions to one another that this or that change might bring relief to the work ing forces of the department. Generally these discussions do not go beyond the inner circle where they originate, no change Is made or even suggested se- as before.
 Recently. however, the fact leaked out that the 6-cent piece, Or "nicker had been under discussion, and that the gov ernment might ask Congress to pass law eliminating 1t from the national coin age. Small likelihood exists or ever did exist that such step would be taken. but for short space of time considera- ble anxiety developed in all parts of the country lest the useful and popular "nicker' should disappear from the cir culating medium
 Least Likely to Go.
 The fact is the government could afford
  than the 5-cent piece. It stands for more stable prices than any other. It is the price of loaf of bread, it pays the cost of the ride in the street car, with it the German buys his glass of beer, and the American pays for the shining of his shoes. It is probably not too much to say that the disappearance of the "nickep' would prove a greater shock to the finances of the nation than almost any, thing that could happen.
 The b-cent coin for two generations, at least, has been the fixed price of so many things that the people would be at com- plete loss how to proceed without 1t. Tpe, hundreds of thousands of 5-cent pieces are lost each year, but that is due largely to the amazing use to which this little coin is put. The uses of business require the coinage of a greater number of "nickels'' than of any other coin.
 It has been said that it's universal use as the price of fare on the street cars Is the cause of its retention. but that can hardly be so, as 1t enters very largely into the price of so many other things that 1t could not be dispensed with if the price of the car fare were changed.
 Pays for Telephone Calls.
 The ''nickel' is extensively used in tel ephone calls. It was formerly more than now the open sesame of the popular slot machine for which it still does extensive duty It is the price of admission to the fast multiplying picture shows in all parts of the country. The new fashioned boot shining parlor charges nickel" The saloon keeper and the baker have for years gathered their daily harvest of these little coins. The soda fountain. growing in popular favor. deals mostly in ''nickels." Ice cream in summer time goes for cents, and the charge for myriad things in the pharmacy and the 5-cent store requires this coin. Most smokers would have to quit were it not for the nickel obnoxious as the dornes- tic cigar is to many of them. The cigar cite would cease to be the popular smoke it is if the price was not cents. Shoe laces would either become a luxury at 8 higher price or require payment in pen ntes.
 Turn which way you will, the 6-cent piece bobs up at every turn as the most necessary coin of the realm It's dis continuance would inevitably increase the cost of thousand things of everyday life, which no dealer now has the daring to change because of riveted custom. There is no likelihood that the govern ment will soon consider the elimination of this coin, as such action would result in a howl of disapproval, nation wide