Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-30
PER CAPITA CIRCULATION.
senator Plumb Shows How II Has Been In
creased I'm Recent Years.

senator fiurnb SHOWS How II Has Iseen IN
creased I'm Recent Years.
special Cor sspondence OF The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, KsSs.. Sept. 2s, 1891.
During he past year and half the alliance
and peoples party leaders in Kansas have de-
lighted to quote Senator Plumb on the per
capita circulation of the country. More than
year age the Senator. in speech in the
Cnited States Senate, stated that the per capita
circulation was about s8 or $40. This state
ment was made public, and from every ros-
trum and stump 1t was he ralded by people g
party leaders as evidence from republican
high in authority. At nearly every republican
meeting last wear speakers were asked to recon-
cile this statement with that Of the treasurer Of
the United States. which showed about S2i In
circulation for every man. woman and child In
the country. When the republican speaker or
editor insisted that Senator Plumb was mis-
taken and tina. tho treasurer was correct, Il
was hootei at as political CANNON and charged
that the statements sent out by Treasurer Hus-
ten were lies made of whole cloth TO counter
act the opinion given by Senator Plumb
A few DAYS ago farmer Of Batter county
Who carries Senator Plumb's silver speech
around in his pocket to show the vide dlscreP-
sncy between the Senator'S statements and
those of the United States treasurer with rel,
srence to the circulating medium Teopened
this discussion Senator Plumb heard OF 1t
and 10 put himself Alright wrote letter, which
h published in the FL Dorado Rep,biicaaa, eK-
planning his position a. follows:
IL did say in a speech made in the Senate,
and for the purpose of securing favorable
action upon the proposition to increase the
amount OF circulating medium outstanding,
hat the quantity OF currency subjectto manual
delivery at given time was or might be very
email, probably ss small as the sum which he
uamed. say Is 10 go per capita
slx, n IL he n rIr1Ia 90
ideration the currency had been contracted
by the Cleveland administration TO the extent
Of per cent Of its volume by the unnecessary
end wicked withholding in the treasury Of
money which had been collected from the
people in the shane OF taxes and which the law
Intended should be paid out in the discharge of
the public debt; first, in order that Interest
might be saved. and, secondly, that the money
should be returned as quickly as possible 70 the
channels Of trade. 1t would be egotistical for
me to say that my speech had anything TO DO
with subsequent results in the way OF leSlsla-
ton, but the last Congress passed a bill which
not only provided fo- a continued permanent
addition to the volume Of money outstanding
OF about 5000 900 per month. but il also pro-
vided for the disbursement out of the treasury
Of nearly go, 600. 600 before that time held
there for purpose which Congress deemed
unnecessary And. in addition thereto,
Mr.. Window. as one Of the very first
things he did after coming into Office, paid out
over $50, 900. 900 which the democratic admin
istration mad unnecessarily boarded, and by
reason of his action and she legislation spoken of
more than a hundred million dollars was almost
Immediately added to the volume OF money
In the country, and the permanent monthly
increase which have referred to is very con-
sidersply in excess of the increase of popula-
ton. The amount OF money per capita in this
country ID today larger than il ever was before.
and it Is constantly being added TO at the rate
of e5, 0OO, 600 per month by the issue of legal
tender notes based upon the purchase OF silver,
and in addition to the extent OF about so, co.,
0O0 per alnum by the free coinage OF gold, and
these sums viii undoubtedly be considerably
added to in the near future by the payment to
our people of gold and silver for the surplus
crops which they will sell to foreigners"