The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-04-26
SILVER PRODUCERS
TO PROTEST RULING
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
Author of Pittman Act Ex-
plains Situation--Big Loss
to Silver Miners
COMMITTEE HEARINGS

y liver producers are in no mood
to accept the ruling of the
treasury department by which
they are deprived of the sale Of
100000 ounces of silver at 81 per
ounce under the Pittman act, and an
effort will be made to have the ques-
ton resubmitted to the comptroller
general 1t is claimed that he did not
have all the facts regarding the OPP
GRAFTON of the law when he rendered
the opinion that the 100000 ounces
of silver withdrawn and used for sub
sidiary coinage should be deducted
from the amount remaining to be
purchased under the Pittman act, and
it is proposed now to have the special
senate committee. which was APP
pointed to make an inquiry into the
gold and silver situation. hold hear
ings at once in order to bring out
certain facts which it is believed when
brought to the attention of the comp
troller will cause him to reverse his
ruling. The late Senator Nicholson.
of Colorado, was chairman of this
committee, and the vacancy caused by
his death has been filled by the ap-
pointment Of Senator Sterling, OF
South Dakota. 1t is a matter of
pressing importance that the silver
producers should know just where
they are at" with regard to the
amount of silver to be purchased at
81 an ounce, and it is understood that
the committee will be called together
in Washington at the earliest possible
date to hold hearings on the ques-
ton. Other members of the commit
tee are Senators Gooding of Idaho,
Walsh of Montana, and Pittman and
eddie of Nevada. If the present rul-
ing stands, it means that the silver
miners will be deprived of more than
100000, representing the difference
between the foreign price of silver
and the Pittman act price.
Pittman Protests.
Senator Pittman recently wrote the
Nevada Mine Operators association
regarding the action of the treasury
department in reducing the amount
Of silver to be purchased by 10000 900
ounces. in which he takes issue with
the attitude Of the department and
announces his intention to use every
effort to have the ruling reversed. In
this letter Senator Pittman said in
part:
1.-THE first thing that we must do is
to ascertain the facts bearing upon
the life of the Pittman act This can
only be satisfactorily accomplished
through an examination of the di-
rector of the mint and the records of
his office touching the administration
Of the act.
"As l stated to you in my wire of
there is a question of 49,
BOO, 900 ounces of silver that are now
charged to purchases under the Pitt
nan act. BY proper order of the
treasury department 100000 ounces
IF silver were melted up for alloca-
ion under the act. This ALLEGATION
lnder the terms of the act constitut-
I'd sale just the same as the sale Of
melted silver dollars to India consti-
uted a sale The question arises
having been sold. is it within the
power of the treasury department to
sancel the sale? If not, then it must
'ecoin this 100000 ounces of silver
rom silver purchased under the Pitt
nan act from the American miner
"When Mr. Baker was director of
he mint he allocated 100000 ounces
If silver for subsidiary coinage Sub
iequently, the present director of the
mint attempted to resell 100000
ounces of this silver to the treasury
20 as to avoid the purchase of 1000,
100 ounces from the American miner
rhe legal question that arises in this
,ase is the same as in the former.
Having been sold by ALLEGATION, is
here any jurisdiction in the treasury
department. to cancel the transaction?
an my opinion. the jurisdiction OF
he treasury department ended when
t made such ALLEGATIONS and it had no
to attempt to resell it to the
reasury department or to cancel such
iales. 1t would seem plain that the
department is attempting to
rotate the terms of the act so that
he government may profit 30 or 40c
IN ounce on such silver at the ex-
)ense of the American miner. 1 in
end to present this matter as force
'ully as possible to the treasury de-
oartment and hope that their action
will be rescinded."