2. How does the government "borrow?" Does the government owe you any money? If you have a "greenback," read its face. If the government is unable or unwilling to pay a creditor, what can he do? What is the "credit" of the United States? How much does the United States government owe, and in what form is the debt? How came it to be so large? Is the government paying it up? How much has been paid this fiscal year? What rate of interest has the government to pay? What is the current rate for private borrowers? How is it that the government can borrow at so low a rate? What is a "bond-call," and how is it made?
3. Has congress power to prohibit commerce with one or more foreign nations? Has it power to regulate commerce carried on wholly within a state? Can you buy lands from the Indians? Can the state? Has congress imposed a tariff to be paid in going from one state to another? What has requiring the engineer of a steamboat to secure a government license to do with "regulating commerce?" When did congress under this clause prohibit American merchant ships from leaving port? Under what provision of the constitution does congress impose restrictions upon the railroads? Does congress exercise any control over railroads lying wholly within one state? Why?
4. How can an alien become naturalized? Who are citizens of the United States? (See Amend. XIV.) Is a child of American parents, born during a temporary absence from this country, a citizen or an alien? An alien living in this country has children born here; are they citizens or aliens? A child is born on the ocean, while its parents are on the way here to found a new home and intending to become citizens; what is the status of the child? Are you a citizen? How may female aliens become citizens? Why should they desire to do so? How did citizens of Texas at the time of its admission become citizens of the United States?
What is an insolvent law? Has this state such a law? Can this state pass a bankrupt law? Can any state? Why? Is there any United States bankrupt law? Has congress ever passed such a law?
5. What is money? Is a bank bill money? Read one and see whether it pretends to be. What gold coins have you ever seen? What others have you heard of? What silver coins have you ever seen? What others have you heard of? What other coins have you seen or heard of? How are coins made? Where is the United States mint located? Where are the branch mints? How much value does the stamp of the government add to a piece of gold? Is there a dollar's worth of silver in a silver dollar? Why? (See Jevons' Money and the Mechanism of Exchange.)
How are national banks organized? (See appendix.) Under what constitutional provision does congress exercise this power? Are any banks organized under state authority? What is meant by "legal tender?"
Are foreign coins "legal tender" at the rate fixed by congress? For the value of the principal foreign coins, see appendix. Can congress punish counterfeiting of these coins?
Is there a standard pound in this state? A standard bushel?
6. Look on the back of a greenback for the law about counterfeiting. Is there any law against passing counterfeits?
7. When was our postoffice department established? Who was placed at the head of it? Who is the postmaster general? What is meant by "presidential offices" in speaking of postoffices? What are the present rates of postage in the United States? How much does it cost to send a letter to England? To Prussia? To Australia? When were postage stamps introduced? Stamped envelopes? Postal cards? In what four ways may money be sent by mail? Explain the workings and advantages of each method. What is the dead letter office?