I've posted before about the end result of the efforts of Representative John Joseph Cochran (D-MO) regarding putting an end to ongoing multi-year commemorative coin programs, see:
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Regulating US Commemorative Coins - includes full text of Act
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Prohibiting Certain US Commemorative Coinsbut I haven't previously done a deep dive on Cochran's successful, landmark bill to discuss its journey through Congress to become a Public Law. Here is that dive...
The bill that would become Public Law 76-278 began with an introduction in the House of Representatives in January 1939. It was introduced by Representative Cochran and was immediately referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures.
The bill was quickly reported back, on February 27, with an amendment and a recommendation to pass (as amended). The amendment sought to specify "March 1, 1939" as the deadline date for the authorization of commemorative coin legislation; the original bill set the deadline as the date the bill was enacted. Considering the Committee was reporting on the bill on February 27 and was setting a deadline date of March 1 (just two days later), I think it's fair to say the Committee was "serious" and was looking to head off the possibility of any "last minute" coin bill approvals.
The House considered the bill a week later, and engaged in a longer-than-expected discussion to clarify its scope. Multiple Representatives (Jesse Paine Wolcott (R-MI), John Martin Costello (D-CA) and Edward Herbert Rees (R-KS)) stood to question the impact of the bill on future/pending commemorative coin proposals. In response, Representative Cochran had to state multiple times that it would not impact the actions of future Congresses (or even the current Congress) and their desire, if any, for commemorative coins - it was just to impact those already active as of March 1, 1939. IMO, the lack of understanding by those who questioned the bill was surprising - it was a simple, well-worded, one paragraph bill with clear intentions.
It seems evident from reading the House discussion, that Cochran grew frustrated by the same question being repeated after he had already addressed it. As part of his summary recap, Cochran stated: "I repeat it does not have anything to do with any bill pending or with any event that is to occur in the future. Pending bills will be taken up by the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures in the future."
The bill was then considered, as amended by the Committee, and passed without further objection. It was then sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency.
The Senate Committee reported on the bill favorably, and noted that it was supported by the Treasury Department. When considered in the full Senate, Francis Thomas Maloney (D-CT) took the lead to address the potential objection of Claude Denson Pepper (D-FL). Pepper's potential objection centered on the question of whether the bill would impact/prohibit future commemorative coin proposals. Once Maloney confirmed that it would not, Pepper withdrew his opposition and the bill was considered by the full Senate; it was passed without further objection.
From there, it was examined and signed in each chamber, then sent on to the President for final approval. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the bill into law on August 5, 1939.
With FDR's signature, the era of open-ended, multi-year US commemorative coin programs was officially ended. It did not, however, put an end to multi-year, multi-mint programs - see Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial coins - or other future commemorative coins. It did, however, formally close the door on the Oregon Trail Memorial and Arkansas Statehood Centennial coin programs (the Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial and Texas Independence Centennial coin programs had ended on their own in 1938).
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on Regulating US Commemorative Coins, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 06/12/2023 11:03 am
