cretary of the
Treasury had discretion.

Other notable features of this law were its provision for refunding the
national debt in two per cent. gold bonds--a bold, but, as it proved,
safe assumption that the national credit was the best in the world--and
the clause allowing national banks to issue circulating notes to the par
value of their bonds.

Our money volume now expanded as rapidly as in 1896 advocates of free
coinage could have expected even with the aid of free silver. July 1,
1900. the circulation was $2,055,150,998. as against $1,650.223,0400
four years before. Nearly $163,000,000 in gold certificates had been
uttered. The gold coin in circulation had increased twenty per cent. for
the four years; silver about one-eighth; silver certificates one-ninth.
The Treasury held $222,844,953 of gold coin and bullion, besides some
millions of silver, paper, and fractional currency.

The Republican victory was the most sweeping since 1872. The total
popular vote was 13,970,300, out of which President McKinley scored a
clear majority of 443,054, and a plurality over Bryan of 832,280. Of the
Northern States Bryan carried only Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. He lost
his own State and was shaken even in the traditionally "solid South."
Unnecessarily ample Republican supremacy was maintained in the
legislative branch of the Government.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE TWELFTH CENSUS

[1900-1902]

The plan for a permanent census bureau was not realized in time for the
1900 enumeration, but the act authorizing this provided important
modifications in prior census procedure. Among several great
improvements it made the census director practically supreme in his
methods and over appointments and removals in his force.

Initial inquiries were restricted to (1) population, (2) mortality, (3)
agriculture, and (4) manufactures. Work on these topics was to be
completed not later than July 1, 1902. During the year after, special
reports were to be prepared on defective, criminal and pauper classes,
deaths and births, social data in cities, public indebtedness, taxation
and expenditures, religious bodies, electric light and power, telephone
and telegraph, water transportation, express business, street railways,
mines and mining. A few titles mentioned in the eleventh census were now
omitted.

[Illustration]
Mr. Merriam, Director of the Census.

The enumeration extended to Alaska. Two men had charge of it there.
Enumerators went