Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-01-10

days; provided, that notes, drafts and
bills drawn or issued for agricultural
purposes or based on live stock and
having a maturity not exceeding six
months may be discounted in an
amount to be limited to a percentage
of the capital of the federal (regionaD
reserve bank, to be ascertained and
fixed by the federal reserve board"
The elastic" Element.
The new treasury notes, which are
to furnish the elastic element in the
currency system, and to add to the
country's circulating money in time of
need, will come into use in the follow
ing way:
The notes will be printed by the gov
eminent, with a distinctive style for
each regional reserve bank. One of
the three directors named by the fed
eral reserve board for each regional
bank will be known as the federal re-
serve agent for that bank and a sup
ply of the notes will be placed in his
custody.
Should a regional bank desire to
pay out more money than it's cash re-
sources will permit, the law provides
that it may put some of it's rediscount-
ed commercial paper into the hands
of the federal reserve agent" and re-
ceived in return the new treasury
notes.
For each note that it puts out into
circulation, the regional reserve bank
must set aside in gold 40 per cent. of
the value of the note as a guarantee
for it's redemption This gold, with
the commercial paper held by the
federal reserve agent is the pro-
lection behind the new money; but
these notes will also be guaranteed by
the government and may be redeem
ed in gold in the United States treas
ury.
Reserve Required.
Each regional bank, under the act
must keep a reserve of 35 per cent of
the deposits it has received besides
the 40 per cent. gold reserve behind
the treasury notes it. issues. If the
gold reserve behind the notes falls be-
low 40 per cent. heavy tax is i'm
posed on the bank, which in turn adds
the tax to the rate it charges member
banks for rediscounts. This was de-
signed to stop an over-expansion OF
currency. In times of sudden stress
the federal reserve board can suspend
these reserve provisions, in order to
| nifty.
One regional bank cannot again pay
out the notes of another, except under
a heavy tax. These notes are expect
ed to return to the regional banks and
be withdrawn from circulation when
the need of their use passes.
Take Up Bonds.
None of the existing forms of cur
rency except the national bank notes
will be disturbed by the new law. The
United States bonds, now used to Sc
cure the issue of national bank notes,
are to be taken up at the rate of $685.
100000 a year by the regional re-
serve banks and new treasury notes
or short term three per cent. bonds
will take their place. National bank
currency is expected gradually to re-
| tire.
The federal reserve board will exer-
| else final control over the entire op-
| Grafton of the system. 1t can compel
| one regional bank to loan to another
| in time of need; can suspend all re-
| strictions surrounding the reserves
| which regional banks must hold, and
| can remove directors of regional re-
| serve banks whenever it is believed
necessary.
Banks In Control.
While the banks retain control of
| the boards of the regional reserve
banks, their connection with the fed
| eral reserve board is only through
| an advisory council, made up OF one
representative from each federal re-
| serve district. This council will meet
| in Washington to confer with the fed
| eral reserve board ION general BUSH
| ness conditions" and to make recon-
| mendations and suggestions concern
| ing discount rates, note issues, and re-
| serve conditions
An important change in national
banking methods embraced in the new
| low will permit all national banks ex-
| cept those in New York, Chicago and
| St Louis to make direct loans on five
year farm mortgages up to 25 per cent
of their capital and surplus. or up to
| one-third of their time deposits
Another provision in the law per
| mits national banks having a capital
of 81 100000 or more to open foreign
| branches Similar authority is given
| to the regional reserve banks, the pur-
| pose being to facilitate the develop
| meat of American trade abroad