The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-14
MAKING MONEY
FIT BUSINESS
When Times Are Active the Sup
ply lncreases--contraCtion Fol-
lows Seasonal and Periodic
Slackening.

New York. - Demonstration that
complete elasticity has been impaired
to the currency in the United States
by the Federal Reserve System de-
spite assertions to the contrary is Civ
en- in the American Bankers Associa-
tion Journal by W. Randolph Burgess,
assistant agent at the New York Fed
eral Reserve Bank.
"Of all the money in circulation in
the United States, Federal Reserve
notes now make up almost one-half,"
he says in part. SIN 1920 they were
20 per cent. The increase in curren-
cy which the war and high world
prices made necessary was provided
almost wholly by Federal Reserve
notes. Just as the increase was who'll
ly through Federal Reserve notes. so
again the decrease was altogether in
Federal Reserve notes. Reserve notes
in circulation decreased from $3,30O,-
100000 in November, 1920, to s1,700,-
100000 in March, 1925. Between the
same dates other currency increased
from $1,5O0,000,00O to $4,000, 000, 900.
due to an increase in gold certificates.
There are still some few who pro-
duce theoretical arguments to show
that for some reason the Federal Re-
serve note is not elastic. These va
rious arguments raise interesting
questions, but they make little head
way against the facts, for the facts
show that the Federal Reserve note
has been elastic.
How Currency Changes Volume
"The amount of currency the coun-
try requires reflects changing prices.
wage levels, employment and volume
OF trade. AS an example, retail trade
at Christmas time is always larger
than at other times. This results in
considerable increase in the need for
hand to hand currency. Currency
Withdrawals and receipts at the Fed
eral Reserve Banks illustrate the way.
this special demand was met. Prior
to Christmas there was paid out about
$500 100000 of currency, all of which
was returned to the bank within the
two or three weeks following Christ
mas.
"The mechanism Is that when Fed
eral Reserve member banks need cur
rency for their customers they draw
1t from the Reserve Bank Member
banks can secure additional currency
by borrowing at the Reserve Bank.
Conversely, whenever currency in cir
culation becomes larger than Is re-
quired by business it begins to return
to the banks and they Immediately
utilize it to pay off Indebtedness at the
Reserve Banks, on which they are pay
ing interest.
'The Federal Reserve System has
made all types of currency, except ma
tional bank notes. elastic because an
except those notes can be issued III
amounts required and they all tend Il
flow back to the Reserve Bank when
they are not required. There is an
other phase of currency elasticity A
500 Federal Reserve note may repre-
sent only $40 in gold. because a gold
reserve of only 40 per cent is required
against Federal Reserve notes. On
the other hand a $10Qgold certific te
must represent 500 in gold. Thus
the Federal Reserve Banks can Issue,
in response to commercial demand.
two and one-half times as many Fed
eral Reserve notes as gold certificates
before the reserve ratio reaches the
legal minimum
Secondary Stretch
This secondary elasticity was II
Illustrated during the war, when in re-
Spouse to war demands Federal Re-
of SO, 100000. The Federal Re-
serve System could have issued more
than 100000 900 additional without
lowering the reserve against notes be-
low 40. per cent, or the reserve against
deposits below 35 per cent In any
emergency the power to issue these
notes increases by $50 per cent the
amount of cash which might be sup
piled to the country.
Federal Reserve currency has
proved itself flexible in war expan-
sion and in postwar reductions. Since
the establishment of the System the
currency has been responsive to the
seasonal and emergency needs of
business. The Federal Reserve Act
obtained currency elasticity by plac-
ing the country's reserve cash in insti-
tutions not organized for profit, from
which currency might be withdrawn
or to which it might be returned in
response to the country's needs.
While the existence Of the Reserve
System gives fiexihility to almost all
forms OF currency. the Federal Re-
serve notes, secured in part by COM
mereial paper, provides possible sec
ondary expansion in readiness for en-
emergency"