BLAND, RICHARD PARKS

(18351899). He received an academical education and was admitted to the bar. Between 1855 and 1865 he practiced law in Mi ouri, California and Nevada, settling in Mi ouri in 1865. He was elected to Congre from that State in 1873 serving continuously, with the exception of the term 1895-97, until his death in 1899. He had great influence upon legislation and was a recognized leader in the House. He is best known as the leader in the Free-Silver movement and as author of the Bland Silver Bill! This bill he introduced in 1877 and provided for the free and unlimited coinage of silver by the United States. The silver dollar had been demobilized in 1873 and its coinage wholly abandoned. The Bimetallists desired to restore jt to perfect equality with gold as a standard of value. The Senate amended the bill materially, the free coinage was striken out and as a substitute the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to purchase each month $200,000 and not more than $4,000,000 of silver bullion for coinage. This coinage was to be unlimited legal tender for all debts. The amended bill, now called the Bland-All is on (after the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee) was pa ed in 1878. Vetoed by President Hayes, it was pa ed over his veto and became a law on Feb. 28, 1878. The silver purchase clause of the act was repealed by the Sherman Act of 1890.