was $218,818,253, in March, 1888. Then there was a decrease of nearly $13,000,000 the Government had $310,772,202 gold in in the net pold, because there were the Treasury, but had issued against it $55,000,000 of gold certificates issued.. ID $91,953,949 certificates. The largest the last few months the Government has amount of gold certificates in circulation succeeded in keeping most of its gold, by at any time was $163, 178,959, in January, refusing to issue gold certificates. There 1892, which left the Government owner of are now $70,000,000 less certificates outonly $119,574,904 gold, although having standing than in January, 1892, and $24,in its Treasury $282, 753,863 gold gross. 000,000 less than at the beginning of the Between August, 1891, and January, 1892, current year. It will not be surprising in spite of the fact that there was an if Congress takes some step to prevent increase of nearly $42,000,000 in the the draining of gold from the Treasury gross amount of gold in the Treasury, by the employment of gold certificates. BANKING STATISTICS. Abstract of reports made to the Controller of the Currency, showing the condition of the National banks in the United States at the close of business on Tuesday, the day of October, 1894. RESOURCES. Loans and discounts. $1,991,874,272 90 Overdrafts 15,247,918 40 U. S. bonds to secure circulation. 199,642,500 00 U. S. Bonds to secure U. S. deposits. 15,226,000 00 U. S. bonds on hand. 10,662,200 00 Premiums on U. S. bonds. 14,624,279 03 Stocks, securities, etc.. 183,300,072 44 Banking house, furniture and fixtures... 75,183,745 64 Other real estate and mortgages owned.. 22, 708,391 20 Due from National banks (not reserve agents) 122, 479,067 98 Due from State banks and bankers.. 27,973,911 86 Iue from approved reserve agents. 248,849,607 59 Checks and other cash items..... 15,576,975 25 Exchanges for clearing-house..... 88,524,062 17 Bills of other National banks. 18,580,577 00 Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents. 952,932 95 Lawful money reserve in bank, viz: Gold coin. .$125,020,290 92 Gold Treasury certificates. 37,810,940 00 Gold clearing-house certificates. 34,096,000 00 Silver dollars. 6,116,354 00 Silver Treasury certificates. 28,784,897 00 Silver fractional coin... 5,422, 172 58 Total specie.. .$237,250,654 50 Legal-tender notes. 120,544,028 00 U. S. certificates of deposit for legal-tender notes.... 45,100,000 00 402,894,682 50 Five per cent redemption fund with Treasurer. 8,723, 223 16 Due from U. S. Treasurer....... 897,645 20 Total $3,473,922,055 27 LIABILITIES. Capital stock paid in..... $668,861,847 00 Surplus fund 245,197,517 60 Individed profits, less expenses and taxes paid. 88,923,564 50 National bank notes issued.. *$179,412,965 00 Less amount on hand.. 7,080,987 00 Amount outstanding 172,331,978 00 State bank notes outstanding. 66,290 50 Due to other National banks. 343,692,316 63 Due to State banks and bankers. 183,167,779 62 Dividends unpaid 2,576,245 95 Individual deposits 1.728,418,819 12 II. S. deposits.. 10,024,903 62 Deposits of U. S. disbursing officers. 3,716,537 SO Notes and bills rediscounted. 11,453,427 95 Bills payable 12,552,277 78 Liabilities other than those above stated. 2,938,543 20 Total .. $3,473,922,055 27 Number of banks, 3,755. *The amount of circulation outstanding at the date named, as shown by the books of the Controller's office, was $207,451,691, which amount includes the notes of insolvint banks, of those in voluntary liquidation, and of those which have deposited legalender notes under the acts of June 20, 1874, and July 12, 1882, for the purpose or reiring their circulation. SAVINGS BANKS' DEPOSITS AND DEPOSITORS, 1892-'94. Maine Total United States... 155,333 $53,397,950 $343.76| 153,922 $53,261,309]$346.03 174,654 74,377,279 425.85 169,510 70,616,944 416.59 89, 115 27,262,930 305.93 92,239 27,966,855 303.20 1,189,936 393,019,862 330.29|1,214,493 399,995,570 329.35 142,492 69,906,993 490.60 130,610 69,053,724 528.70 331,061 130,686,729 394,75 335,879 133,967,220 398.95 1,593,804 629,358,274 394.88|1,585, 155 617,089,449 390.50 140,772 36,488, 246 259.20 137,897 34,266,298 248.49 18,613 3,739,484] 200.90 18,264 3,693,311| 202.22 72,667 57.76 *5,149 237,707 46.16 3,522 236,025 67.01 6,112 301,234 49.28 *8,750 416,695 47.62 24,422 5,913, 139 242,12 *23, 246 3,939,976 169.49 *8,494 1,004,765 118.29 *7,196 836, 823 116.29 *1,321 219,448| 166.12 881 175, 115 198.77 1,848 73,032 39.52 $2,590 102,347 39.52 6,507 2,003,854| 307.95 7,786 2,057,845) 264.30 2,583 356,553 138.04 2,450 301,648 123.12 844 123,451 146.27| *14,126 1,778,174 125.88 9,664 1,412,840 146.19 85,614 34,606,213 404.21 77,533 27,403,922 353.45 16,127 4,073,131 252.56| 13,967 3,165, 214 226.62 *84,861 23,498,504 276.901 83,802 22,870,005 272.90 1,164 184,698 158.67 1,219 152,300 124.94 *73,108 26,426,031 361.46 *72,397 26,230,214 362.31 42,212 10,658,564 252.50 38,493 8,954,575 232.63 *2,461 683,620 277.78 *1,732 753,080| 434.80 *11,639 2,217,547) 190.52 22,815 2,935,849 128.68 5,528 963,227 174.24 1,736 423, 248 243.80 1,240 347,476 280.22 885 186,923 211.21 182 37,476) 205.91 *11,595 2,415, 669 208.34 *178,949 138,019,874 771.28 172,225 125,420,765) 728.24 •14,830,599 $1,785, 150,957 $369 55|4,777,687|$1,747,961,280|$365.86 Partially estimated. INTEROCEANIC CANALS, The Nicaragua Canal Construction Com pany, which had a contract with the 000 (which may be doubled), was incor Maritime Canal Company for construction porated under a charter granted by Con of the canal and had done considerable gress in 1889. It had previously secured work thereunder, suffered under the genfrom the Nicaragua Government the ex eral depressed monetary conditions of clusive right to construct and operate an 1892-3, and was obliged first to limit its interoceanic ship canal. On October 8, expenditures, and finally to suspend all 1889, excavation was begun at San Juan payments. This resulted in the appointdel Norte, or Greytown. The total length ment of a receiver, when measures were of the proposed waterway is 169 2-3 miles, at once taken to reorganize the company of which 26.75 miles represent canal in upon a strong financial basis, providing excavation. The minimum depth is 30 for the liquidation of its debts and the feet. From Greytown to Ochoa there will active prosecution of work, under its conbe 15.25 miles of excavated canal and tract, in the immediate future. These 16.15 miles of free navigation in natural measures are now well under way, with basins, with three locks; from Ochoa, every assurance of a successful issue. 121.10 miles of free navigation in the San A charter for а company with a Juan River and Lake Nicaragua; from capital of $12,000,000 has been granted the lake to Brito, on the Pacific Coast, for the purpose by the State of Ver5.50 miles of free navigation in a natural mont. basin and 11.50 miles of excavated canal, The officers of the Maritime Canal Comwith three locks. The great reservoir of pany are: Hiram Hitchcock, president; Lake Nicaragua furnishes an adequate Charles P. Daly, vice-president; Thomas high-level water supply. B. Atkins, secretary and treasurer. QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING. Yes. Yes. Previous residence required. Disqualified from voting. ty. cinct. Yes. Idiots, Indians, lunatics, convicted of crime. Arkansas (a) 1 yr. 16 mos. 30 d. Yes. Insane, idiots, felons, unpaid poll tax. 1 yr. Yes. Same as Arkansas; also Chinese. Colorado (b, d) 6 mos. 90 d. 10 d. Yes. Persons under guardianship, insane, convicts. Connecticut (a) 1 yr. 16 mos. (6 mos. No. Convicted of forgery, bribery, perjury, duelling, fraudulent bankruptcy, theft or other offence subject to infamous Assembly. 1 yr. No. Idiots, insane, paupers, criminals. Florida (b)..... 1 yr. (6 mos. Idiots, insane, criminals, duellists, bettors on election. Georgia (a) 1 yr. 6 mos. 10 d. Treason against the State, crimes punishable by imprison ment, insane, delinquent taxpayers. Idaho (a).. 6 mos. 30 d. Yes. Idiots, insane, ex-convicts unless pardoned, bigamists, Mormons, Chinese, Indians. 1 yr. Convicts, unless pardoned. 6 mos. 60 d. 30 d. Law declared unconstitutional. Convicted of crime. Yes. Idiots, insane, criminals. 6 mos. Idiots, insane, rebels, convicts. 1 yr. 6 mos. 60 d. Cities of 5,000 and over. Convicted of treason or felony, or bribery at an election. 1 yr. (6 mos. 30 d. Maine (a).... 3 mos. 13 mos. 13 mos. Cities only. Minors, aliens, paupers, persons under guardianship, In dians not taxed. 6 mos. Under 21; convicted of larceny or other infamous crime, Massachusetts (a).. 6 mos. 30 d. unless pardoned, persons under guardians, lunatics. Paupers, persons under guardians, non-taxpayers. 3 mos. Indians holding tribal relations; duellists and a bettors. Convicted of treason or felony (unpardoned), insane, un- 2 yrs. civilized Indians. Illiterate, idiots, criminals, insane, Indians not taxed. 1 yr. 60 d. 60 d. In cities or counties of 100,000. Inmates of asylums, poorhouses and prisons. Montana (a) 1 yr. 30 d. 30 d. Yes. Unpardoned convicts, idiots, insane, aliens not full citizens. 6 mos. 40 d. 10 d. Cities of over 2,500. Lunatics, convicted of treason or felony, unless pardoned; U. S. soldiers and sailors. Idiots, insane, convicts, paupers. No. Aliens, paupers, persons excused from tax at own request. Paupers, idiots, insane, unpardoned criminals. Yes. Convicted of infamous crime or felony (unless pardoned), Yes, bettors on elections, bribers and bribed at elections. Convicts. ship, convicted of treason or felony unless restored to rights. Yes. 1 yr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Previous residence required. Coun. Pre- ty. cinct. 30 d. 20 d 30 d. 6 mos. 60 d. 1 yr. Ohio (a) 1 yr. No. South Dakota (b).. 6 mos. 16 mos. 3 mos. In some counties. No. Idiots. insane, convicts. lists, soldiers U. S. Army. ery at election, embezzlers of public funds, treason, doned by Legislature. ony, or bribery at elections. citizens. crimes and unpardoned. a Citizen. b Citizen, or one who has declared intention; c Or naturalized for 90 days. d Or declared intention 4 months before elec- THE NATIONAL ENSIGN. INTEREST LAWS AND GRACE ON SIGHT DRAFTS. 3 d. States Grace or Territories. Interest. Contract. No grace. (Per cent. Per cent. Alabama 8 .. Yes. Alaska None. None. None. 7 (Any rate. Misdemeanor Arkansas 6 10 Forfeiture of principal and int. No. 3 d. Connecticut None. No. Delaware Forfeiture of contract. No. 10 Yes. No. Georgia 8 Forfeiture of all interest. 13 d. Idaho .10 18 Loss of interest by tender.. No. Illinois 7 Forfeiture of all interest... No. Indian Territory 10 15 Not recoverable by law. No. Indiana 6 3 d. Iowa 8 Forfeiture of interests & costs No statute. Kansas 10 Forfeiture of excess of int.... Yes. Kentucky 6 Action at law..... No. No. 3 d. Maryland Forfeiture of interest. Yes. Yes. Forfeiture of principal & int.. 3 d. 7 13 d. Mississippi 6 Yes. 8 Int. goes into School Fund.. 13 d. 13 d. Nebraska 10 Forfeiture of int., paym't cost No. No, No law. Three times legal int. collec'a 3 d. New Jersey Forfeiture interest and costs.. Yes. New Mexico 12 Forfeiture twice am't, $100 fine No. New-York. Misdemeanor; punishable..... No. North Carolina. 8 Loes of interest.. Yes. North Dakota.. 12 Loss of interest and law suit to recover twice amount.... Yes. Ohio 8 Forfeiture of excess. 3 d. Oklahoma 12 Forfeiture of interest. No. Oregon 10 Forfeiture of principal and int. No. Forfeiture excess of interest.. Yes. Yes. Yes. South Dakota. 12 Forfeiture interest nd prin'i. Yes. Tennessee 6 Forfeiture excess of interest.. No. Texas 10 Forfeiture of interest........ Yes. Utah Any rate. None Vermont 6 Forfeiture usurious interest... No. 6 No. Any rate. None West Virginia. 6 6 Liable to loss excess charged. No. Wisconsin 6 10 No, 12 13 d. 0000-0000-0000000. No. Yes. *When mentioned in contract. Law in State where contract made. SILVER CERTIFICATES. Attorney-General Olney on February 20, surrender of such certificates. If they 1894, rendered the following opinion in can be regarded as money at all, it is regard to the legal status of silver certifi only because the United States agrees to cates: "Silver certificates are just what receive them for customs, taxes and all they purport to be on their face and by public dues,' and only to that extent and for those specific purposes. In my opintheir terms-that is, they attest the fact ion, they are not 'lawful money within that the United States has on deposit so the meaning of Section 4, of the Act of many silver dollarg which will be paid June 20, 1874, and Section 9, of the Act of to the holder upon the presentation and 1 July 12, 1882." |