Civilization itself is a synonym of protection, having its foundation and growth in inducing men to add other pursuits to the primal pursuits of agriculture and herding. -Hon. Jos. H. Walker, Massachusetts. COAL, DUTY ON, FROM 1789 ΤΟ 1894. The changes from time to time in the duty on bituminous coal is shown in the following compilation of the tariff laws, to wit: COAL, PRODUCT, VALUE, PRICE AND NUMBER OF PERSONS EM 22, 576 1 A political party may fool part of the people all the time, and all the people part of the time, but no political party can fool all the people all the time. -Abraham Lincoln. Our imports in 1893, were valued at $3,701,642, on which we collected a duty of $839,625. New law reduces the duty from an average ad valorem rate of 23.80 to 13.80 on all grades. COFFEE, PRICES INCREASED BY REMOVING THE TARIFF. During the five years of 1868-72 there was an import duty of 5 and 8 cents a pound on coffee. There were imported 1,231,432,087 pounds at a cost of $126,294,643. On this the Government collected a revenue of $53, 018,331. At the clamorous demand of the Democratic party this "robber tariff," which taxed the poor man's breakfast table, was repealed, and coffee put on the free list. During the next five years, 1873-'77, there were imported 1,675,097,330 pounds of coffee, at a cost of $273,993,877, from which the Government derived no revenue. The average price of coffee for the five years of tariff tax was 10 cents and 1 mill per pound; the average price for the five years of free trade was 16 cents and 5 mills. Repealing the tariff on coffee cost the Government in five years $53,018,331 in loss of revenue, and cost the people $107,206,229 in increased price of coffee. And such is the price of Democratic statesmanship! But, you ask, How could this be? When we repealed our tariff, Brazil levied an export tax and transferred the $53,000,000 to her coffers, and the importers formed a "syndicate" and transferred the $107,000,000 to their pockets. No wonder New York importers want free-trade. [See Evans, Export Duties, 1867 to 1883, p. 127.] The system of indirect taxes is our ancestral policy, hallowed by the usages of the fathers and the acceptance of subsequent {generations in this land. -Senator Watson C. Squire, Washington. COIN. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS-OF-RELATING TO. Art. 1, Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power *** to coin money. regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coins, and fix the standard of weights and measures. Art. 1, Sec. 10. No State shall * * * coin money, emit bills of credit, make anything but gold and silver coin a tenderin payment of debts. After the Declaration of Independence and before the Articles of Confederation each of the thirteen original States had the right to coin money. The Articles of Confederation gave to Congress "the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority or by the respective States." Under this provision the States retained the right to coin money concurrently with the Government of the Confederation, but only according to the standard of fineness, weight and value prescribed by the central Government. The right to emit or issue paper money, known as "bills of credit," had been exercised by the several States before the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, and by these authority was given to the United States to issue such bills. The object of delegating to the United States the sole and exclusive right to regulate the alloy and value of coin was to insure uniformity as to weight, fineness and value throughout the several States. Before the passage of a money system the Confederation of States gave way to the present compact under the Constitution. Thus the coinage of money and the regulation of what should be used in the payment of debts were placed under the exclusive control of the National Government. The States may make gold and silver coin a legal tender, but it must be in conformity with, and subordinate to, the laws of the United States. It was doubtful whether Congress had the right to make coins composed of any other metals than gold or silver a legal tender, but in 1864 base metal coins were made a limited tender. COINS OF THE UNITED STATES, AUTHORITY FOR COINING AND CHANGES IN WEIGHT AND FINENESS. COINS, GOLD. DOUBLE EAGLE. (Legal Tender in all payments.) Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1849. Weight, 516 grains; fineness, .900. Total amount coined to June 30, 1893, $1,145,463,340. Protection declares that men cannot right- COINS. (Continued.) EAGLE. Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792. Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains. HALF EAGLE. Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792. Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 129 grains. QUARTER EAGLE. Authorized to be coined, act April 2, 1792. Weight changed, act of June 28; 1834, to 64.5 grains. THREE-DOLLAR PIECE Authorized to be coined, act of February 21, 1853. Total amount coined to September 26, 1890, $1,619,376. ONE DOLLAR. Authorized to be coined, act March 3, 1849. Weight, 25.8 grains; fineness, .900. Total amount coined to September 26, 1890, $19,499,337. Coinage discontinued, act of September 26, 1890. COINS, SILVER. (Legal Tender in all payments except stipulated otherwise by DOLLAR. contract.) Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792 Weight, 416 grains; fineness, .892.4. Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 412 grains. Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900. Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873. Total amount coined to February 12, 1873, $8,031,238. Coinage reauthorized, act of February 28, 1878. Amount coined from March 1, 1878, to June 30, 1893, $419,332,450. I do not believe in that solitary protection sentiment that proposes simply to benefit a locality. -Hon. John H. Gear, Iowa. COINS. (Continued.) TRADE DOLLAR (Was a legal tender.) (No longer coined.) Weight, 420 grains; fineness, .900. Coinage limited to export demand, joint resolution July, 22, 1876. Total amount coined, $35,965,924. HALF DOLLAR. (Legal tender in sums not exceeding ten dollars.) Weight, 208 grains; fineness, .892,4. Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 2061 grains. Weight changed, act February 21, 1853, to 192 grains. Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 12 grams, or 102.0 grains COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR. (Not a legal tender.) Authorized to be coined, act of August 5, 1892. QUARTER DOLLAR. (Legal tender in sums not exceeding ten dollars.) Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 104 grains; fineness, .892,4. Weight, changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 103 grains. Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains. COLUMBIAN QUARTER DOLLAR. (Not a legal tender.) Total amount coined, $10,005.75. TWENTY-CENT PIECE. Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1875. Total amount coined, $271,000. DIME. (Legal tender in sums not exceeding ten dollars.) Weight, 41.6 grains; fineness, .892.4. Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, 414 grains. Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains. Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 24 grains, or 38.58 grains |