Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-23
FORMS OF MONEY USED IN PAYING
DUTIES.

Since the delivery of Senator Beck's
speech on the financial policy OF the ad-
ministrati0n, inquiry has been frequent.
ly made as to the proportion Of coin
and paper received at the custom houses
in payment of duties on imported mer-
chandise. The records OF the treasury
department show that, prior to the re-
sumption Of specie payment in 1879, 7S
paid in gold certificates, about 5 per
cent. in gold coin, 10 per cent. in silver
certificates, about per cent. In United
States notes, and less than per cent.
in silver coin. The resumption act
went into operation January l, 1879.
and for the first six monthe OF that year
80 per cent. of the customs were paid
in United States notes. less than / per
cent. in gold certificates, less than 2 per
cent. in gold coin, per cent. In silver
certificates. and practically none in sill
YER coin. The second ak months OF
1879 the proportion of United States
notes received fell to SO per cent,
while gold coin rose TO 20 per cent,
and silver certificates to 81 per cent.
For the first six months of, 1850 the re.
ceipts were composed of 81 per cent.
gold coin. 25 of. silver certificates, aud
Is of United States notea, and for the
last half OF that year the percentage
was 30 Vuid COIN, - silver certificates
and United ,6tates notes. r-i
In 1881 the percentage of silver Ger.
tificates reached the highest point,
averaging for the year over 40 per cent.
the average for October of that year
being over 81 per cent, against Sc in
gold coin. For the six months ending
June 80, 1882, gold coin formed Is per
cent. of the receipts, and silver certi6-
Gates %; and for the last six months of
that year the gold coin fell to "a per
cent, and the silver certificates rose 10
80. In October Of that year gold GER
tificates again made their appearance
after all absence of nearly tour wears,
and formed over "a per cent. of the re.
ceipts for the latter half of 1892. Since
the re-appearance of the gold certi6.
Gates, in October, 1882, they have been
used in the payment of customs almost
to the exclusion of gold coin. In 1883
these certificates constituted IS per
cent. of the receipts; silver certificates,
IL; United States notes, 8; and gold
coin, less than 3. The six months end
ing June 80, 1884, show q decided
change in these conditions, the receipis
for the period having been gold certi-
ticstes, 81 per cent; silver certificates.
%: United States notes, 12; and gold
coin, less than 8; while the six months
following show still more decided
changes, the percentages for that period
having been: Gold certificates, 33;
silver certificates, So; United States
notes, 80. and gold coin, less than 2.
The returns for the first six months
of 1885 do not show q material change
compared with the last six months Of
1881, the averages having been: Gold
certificates, 35; silver certificates, 81:
United States notes, q; and gold coin.
less than l, From July l to November
OF this year, the average of gold cer-
tificates rose from 26 per cent. in july
to Al in November; silver certificates
ran down from 90 in July to IL in No.
vember; and United States notes, from
10 to Ia. The proportion of custom.
paid in gold coin since January, 1888.
has been less than l per cent, and at
no time since April, 1878, have the pa.
ments in silver coin been equal to once
half OF l per cent. Of the apnpsi res
C. .ipts. i"-'