The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-09
FIYE-CENT PIECE
A NECESSARY COIN
Stands for More Fixed Val
ueS Than Any Other.
COULD NOT BE ELIMINATED
People Would he at Complete Loss
How to Proceed without the
"NickeP,-Bread, Beer, Cigars, Car
fare. Telephone Calls, and Payment
to Picture shows Are Five Cents.

officials of the Treasury Department
sometimes discuss the nations somewhat
coinage and make sug-
gestions 10 one another that this or that
change might bring relief to the working
forces of the department. Generally these
discussions do not so beyond the inner
circle where they originate. no change IS
made or even suggested seriously and the
work of the mint goes on as before.
Recently, however, the fact leaked out
that the scent piece, or nickel had
been under discussion, and that the gov
ernment\ might ask Congress 10 pass a
law eliminating it from the national
coinage. Small likelihood exists or ever
did exist that srch a step would be
taken. bat for a short space Of time
considerable anxiety developed in all
parts of the country lest the useful and
popular nickel" should disappear from
the circulating medium
Least Likely TO Go.
The fact is the government could afford
to dispense with almost any coin rather
than the scent piece. It stands for
more stable prices than any other. II is
the price of a loaf OF bread, 1t pays the
cost Of the ride in the street ear, with 1t
the German buys his glass of beer. and
the American pays for the shining OF his
shoes 1t ls probably not too much 10
say that the disappearance OF the
nickel would prove a greater shock TO
the finances Of the nation than almost
anything that could happen
The scent coin for two generations
at least. has been the fixed price Of so
many things that the people would be at
complete loss how 20 proceed without
il. True hundreds OF thousands OF 81
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 q
greater number Of "nlckels" than Of any
other coin.
II has been said thar its universal use
as the price Of a fare on the street cars
is the cause Of its retention. but that can
hardly be so, as Il enters very largely
into the price Of so many other things
that II could not be dispensed with II
the price Of the car fare were changed
Pays fer Telephone Calls.
The nickel" is extensively used iT
telephone calls It was formerly more
than now the open sesame Of the popular
slot machine. for which il still does ex-
teusive duty. Il is the price OF admission
10 the fast multiplying picture shows ir
all parts Of the country. The new fash
toned boot shining parlor charges q
nickel" The saloon keeper and the
baker for years have gathered theiI
daily harvest OF these little coins. The
soda fountain growing in popular favor
deals mostly In "nicSels." Ice cream Fl
summer time goes for cents. and
the charge for a myriad things in tht
pharmacy and the scent store re
quires this coin Most smokers would
have TO quit were II not for the nickel.
obnoxious as the domestic cigar IS q
many Of them. The cigarette would
cease to be the popular smoke it is II the
price was not cents. Shoe lace:
would either become a luxury at q
higher price or require payment In
pennies
Turn which way one will, the J-cent
piece hobs up at every turn as the most
necessary coin of the realm. It's dis
continuance would inevitably increase
the cost Of a thousand things OF every
day life. which no dealer now has the
daring 20 change because of rIveted
custom. There is no likelihood that the
government will soon consider the elimi-
nation of this coin, as such action would
result in a howl of disapproval, nation
wide.