AUTHORIZE COINAGE OF SILVER 50-CENT PIECES IN COMMEMO- GADSDEN MARCH 17, 1930.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. PERKINS, from the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 2029] The object of the bill (H. R. 2029) is to authorize the coinage of 10,000 silver 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Gadsden Purchase. In July next there will be held an international event at Mesilla, N. Mex., and also at El Paso, Tex., to commemorate the final settlement of the controversy between the United States and Mexico as to the boundary between these two countries. The event is of international importance and of outstanding interest to the people of the Southwest, and is such an event, that, in the judgment of the committee, should be fittingly commemorated in the coinage of our country. The legislatures of the States of Texas and New Mexico passed resolutions requesting the Congress of the United States to pass a bill authorizing the coinage provided for in this measure, and to be known as the Gadsden Purchase coin. No loss can come to the Treasury of the United States inasmuch as the chairman of the commemorative coin committee of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce as well as several Members of the House of Representatives has offered to pay for the coins in advance and to take the entire issue. The committee, therefore, recommends that the bill (H. R. 2029) be passed. O THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY MARCH 17, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. PERKINS, from the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6846] Massachusetts will celebrate this year the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the Puritans in 1630, and the setting up of independent constitutional government in America. The bill, H. R. 6846, is to authorize the coinage of silver 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The State of Massachusetts is also celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of the general court-the present legislation of Massachusetts one of the oldest continuous legislative bodies in the world. The cities of Boston, Charlestown, Medford, Watertown, Roxbury, Newton, Dorchester, Cambridge, and Brookline are also celebrating their three hundredth anniversary. The founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony is one of the outstanding events in the history of our country, and is an event of national importance and it is, in the judgment of the committee, fitting that this great celebration be commemorated in the coinage of our country. The objection to the coinage of commemorative coins that most of them are thrown back on the Treasury is obviated in this instance by the agreement on the part of the First National Bank of Boston to take over the entire issue of 500,000 coins and to act as the exclusive depositary of the coins. This is evidenced by the following letters: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON, Hon. JAMES JACKSON, Boston, Mass. DEAR MR. JACKSON: Confirming our conversation of this morning at your request and that of Mr. Rogers, executive director, the First National Bank of Boston will take 500,000 Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary commemorative coins of the denomination of 50 cents each and legal tender to be issued by the Treasury Department. The bank will act as exclusive depositary of these coins and will use its best endeavors along with your committee and others to see that they are duly distributed. Believe me to be Yours very truly, C. F. WEED, Vice President. CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON COINAGE, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We are pleased to inform you that the First National Bank of Boston will take and pay for the tercentenary 50-cent piece, for the coinage of which our Representative, Mrs. Edith Nourse Rogers, has filed the bill, which was heard by your committee on Monday last. We inclose herewith a copy of a letter this day received by our treasurer, Hon. James Jackson, from C. F. Wood, vice president of the First National Bank. Very truly yours, MASSACHUSETTS BAY TERCENTENARY (INC.), The committee therefore recommends that the bill (H. R. 6846) be passed. DISCONTINUE COINAGE OF $2.50 GOLD PIECE MARCH 17, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. PERKINS, from the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H. R. 9894] The Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 9894) to discontinue the coinage of the $2.50 gold piece, having had the same under consideration, now reports the bill back to the House with the recommendation that the same be passed. The bill was introduced at the request of the Treasury Deparment. From no source was there opposition to it before the committee. The $2.50 gold piece is a coin that is not used or required in commerce, nor is it in general circulation, and is easily confused with a new 1-cent piece. The discontinuance of this coin will cause no inconvenience to business or banks or the public. There is no real economic need for the coinage of the coin in question, and no public demand for its continued coinage. Your committee, therefore, unanimously recommends that the bill H. R. 9894 be passed. O |