The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-07
MONEY IN CIRCULATION.

MONEY IN CIRCULATION.
A table presented by the Secretary OF
the Treasury, showing the amount OF
money of all kinds in circulation each
year from 1878 to the present time, is of
interest. 1t appears that the amount of
national bank notes in circulation has de
creased during that period STA, 100, 729,
OF which S37 799, 800 is chargeabie to the
last year The withdra val of bank Cir,
culation will necessarily continue under
existing conditions. 1t is probable that
the adoption of the suggestions made by
the Comptroller of the Currency, viz:
that the minimum deposit of bonds Tor
the establishment of banks be reduced,
and that an issue of notes to the par val
ne of the bonds be allowed, would help
to maintain the bank circulation. But,
while this withdrawal of bank notes has
been going on, there has been a large in
crease IN the amount OF gold and silver
coin in circulation and in the issues of
gold and silver certificates.
The total coming of silver
dollars was, on November /. 1882 s343.
63S. COL, of which $3.50. $50. 521 were in
the Treasury vaults and $50 ,095, 430 were
in circu lation. OF the amount in the
vaults, $217, 319, 944 were represented by
outstanding silver certificates, leaving
So, 49, ST. not in circulation and not rep
resented by certificates.
DANGERS OF INCREASED COINAGE.
| think it is clear that, if we should
make the coinage of silver at the present
ratio free, we must expect that the diff
ference in the bullion values of the gold
and silver dollars will be taken account
of in commercial trans :ctions, and fear
the same result would follow any consid
cradle Increase of the present rate of
coinage. Such a result would be discred
liable to our financial management and
DISASTROUS to all business interests. We
should not tread the dangerous edge Of
sach peril. And, indeed, nothing more
harmful could happen to the silver inter
ests. Any safe legislation upon tbs sub
Ject must secure lie equality of the two
coins in their commercial uses.
have always been an advocate of tho
use OF silver III our currency. We are
large producers OF that metal and should
not discreGit it. To the plan which will
be presented by the Secretary OF the
Treasury for the issuance OF uutes or Gel,
titicates upon the deposit of silver bull
lion at it's market value have been able
to give only "a hasty examination, owing
to the press of other matters and to thu
fact that it has been SO recently formu
lated. The details of such a law require
careful consideration, but the genera
plan suggested by him seems to satisfy
the purpJse-to CONTINUE the use OF silver
in connection with our currency, aud Ill
the same time to obvate the danger OF
which | have spoken. At later day
may communicate with Congress upon
chs subject.
A SHORT CHAPTER ON TRUSTS.
E trnest attention should be given by
Congress to a consideration of the ones
zion how far the restraint OF those com
olnations of capital commonly called
trusts" is matter of Federal jurisdic
ton. When organized, as they often are,
TO crush out all healthy competition and
to monopolize the production or sale of
an article OF commerce and general ne
cessty, they are dangerous conspiracies
against the public good, and should be
made the subject Of prohibitory and even
penal legislation.
OUR NATURALIZATION LAWS
should be revised SO as to make the in
quiry into the moral character and good
disposition towards our government of
the persons applying tor clJlzcuship more
thorough.
This can only be done by taking fuller
control of the examination by fixing the
times for hearing such applications, and