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Show THE PURCHASE OF SILVER. - Treasurer Jordan Ilecbmmends That No Silver Be Bought or Coined. Washington, March 5. During the month of February the Secretary of the Treasury purchased 1,450,000 ounces of silver for coinage into standard dollars, being about $500,000 less than the usual monthly purchase. It is explained at the Department that the amount of silver fell short because no more was offered at the market rates. The price was higher owing to the increased expenses of transportation trans-portation during the bad weather which prevailed during the month. There was, however, sufficient bullion on hand to allow al-low the coinage of dollars to the minimum limit. The silver purchases are made semi-weekly. A commission consisting of Assistant Secretary Fairchilds, Mr. Kimball, Director of the Mint, and Treasurer Treas-urer Jordan, considers the bids received and reports to the Secretary the advisability advisa-bility of their acceptance. Treasurer Jordan Jor-dan holds that there should be a specific appropriation for such purchases. In the absence of such an appropriation he invariably in-variably recommends the rejection of all bids received. The two other members of the Commission hold the coinage act requiring the purchase of bullion and coinage of not less than $2,000,000 in standard dollars in each month, is in the nature of a permanent appropriation, and confers full authority in the premises. The result has been that for several weeks past the Secretary has received two reports re-ports on the subject, the majority report recommending the acceptance of ths lowest low-est bid received, and the minority report recommending the rejection of all bids. The Secretary has in each instance approved ap-proved the majority, reports and directed that silver be purchased in accordance therewith. Had he acted in accordance with the recommendations of Treasurer Jordan, no silver would have been purchased, pur-chased, and the coinage of standard dollars dol-lars to the limit provided by law would have practically suspended." i |