Uniform Coinage
--The Hon. John A. Kasson, who has just been made chairman of the House Committee on Coins, Weights and Measures, has given much attention, both here and in Europe, to the subject of a common unit for all the currencies of the civilized world, and will, we trust, submit a proposition from his committee to the House at an early day. Meanwhile, we make the following suggestion:‘ Perhaps the French franc is the unit which would be most generally acceptable. The gold Napoleon (twenty francs) is current all over Europe and on all the coasts of the Mediterranean. If the British shilling would be as widely acceptable across the ocean, it would suit us better; but we think it would not be so readily adopted elsewhere.
’ If the franc be taken, we would be required to reduce the value of our dollar a very little — not more than two cents--to make it equivalent to five francs; when our eagle would be fifty francs, and our double eagle one hundred francs. Our smaller coins would need no adaptation to the new standard. The France is now all but identical in actual value with two of our dimes, and it would be fair to make that its legal value.
The British standard would have to be reduced the merest fraction to make four shillings equivalent to five francs, and the pound sterling to twenty-five francs. Then our dollars would be four shillings and the pound sterling five dollars, as they ought to be declared at once. The false pretence that our dollar is worth four shillings and six pence sterling, when it falls far short of that amount, makes exchange on London nine per cent. premium when it is really at par, and involves other misleading solecisms.
We urge all who would like a universal currency, and are prepared to throw light on the subject, to communicate with Mr. Kasson. If sufficient interest is evinced, we may have the needed reform fairly inaugurated at this session.--New York Tribune.
