Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-08

be wound up, and the sooner it is DONE the better
for the public good. In fne let the law be
amended to suppress the circulation of all Bank
paper of less denomination than five dollars. The
propriety of the passage of law ike this, is so
clear and obvious to ALL that is not necessary again
to repeat the arguments in its favor
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 81
By joint resolution adopted March 3d. 1854,
the Coy of the State authorized to appoint
suitable person as Superintendent of weights and
measures. In obedience TO this resolution, Mr. John
Herges has been appointed Superintendent to take
charge of the weights and measures, furnished
by the Federal Government under a resolution
passed June the 14th, 1886. Since his appoint
ment as Superintendent, the weights and measures
have been received and are now under his control,
and by him have been deposited in one of the
of the Capitol set apart by the Commissioners for
that purpose. The weights and measures all in
good order and now subject to inspection by
both branches Of the Legislature. The resolution
authorizing the appointment of Superintendent of
weights and measures made no provision for any
compensation to him. for the time and labor neces-
sary for their preservation. 1t cannot be expected
that the Superintendent can lose his time and labor
without some reasonable consideration therefor.
The resolution also authorized the Governor to
have made under the direction of the Superinten-
dent a set of standard weights and measures for
each county in the State. Not without some diff
fculty and trouble, the manufacture of set of
weights and measures for each county in the State,
has been commenced, and five sets have been
pleted, which in workmanship will most favOraby
compare with those furnished by the Federal Gov
eminent. The five sets completed are deposited in
the same room with those furnished by the Federal
Government, and both branches af the Legislature
respectfully invited to examine and compare
them with those furnished by the Government and
determine for themselves to the accuracy and
workmanship with which they have been prepared
Before the Superintendent menced the manu-
facture of the weights and measures, he visited
Washington City, where the originals made
and several of the States which had prepared weights
and measures, by the standard furnished them by
the Federal Government for the purpose of getting
the best pattern aud Gscertaning the most ecOnom-
zeal terms upon which they could be made. 1t was
then believed from the most reliable data that could
be had that it would cost two hundred dollars per
set TO manufacture them. After taking every step
for the purpose of obtaining accurate information in
regard TO the cheapest and best mode of supplying
all the counties in the State, contemplated by the
resolution referred to, it believed that the
weights and measures could be manufactured in
Nashville of equal quality to workmanship and
material, and upon economical terms those
which have been manufactured in any OF the other
States. Entertaining this opinion, steps have been
taken and the experiment has been family made IN
the five sets already manufactured, which has prov
that the average cost will not be more than one
hundred and hfty-nine dollars per set, whereas all
former estimates made them TO cost not less than
two hundred dollars per set. The work has been
co umenced and the experiment has been made, and
in the of the next twelve months it is belev-
ed that every county in the State be furnished
with a complete set of standard weights and mea.
sures, which will favOiably compare with any in
the Union, at a cost of not more than one hundred
and fity-nine dollars perset. Sound policy and the
urgent demand of almost every county and the best
interests of the State require the completion of this
work at the earliest day practicable, thereby bring
ing about uniformity in the weights and measures
throughout the State. 1t is regretted that it has not
been in the power of the Governor to have provided
every county in the State with set of standard
weights and measures as authorized, before this
time. l will add that there should be law passed,
the laws now in force should be so amended
TO fix definitely and mtelgibly what is the standard
of weights and measures, aud to annex such penal
ties will most certainly insure compliance With
its position.
TAX on MERCHANTS
In my message to the last Legislature, the atten-
ton Of that body called to the subject Of mer-
chants taxes, and as action then taken upon
it, again submit that portion Of my message to
your consideration:
"There is some complaint with the mercantile
interest, in consequence Of the unequal and dis
eliminating operation Of our revenue laws rcgulat-
ing merchants license. The complaint is not With
some foundation and good cause their part.
The law, it now stands requires all wholesale aud
retail dealers in mercl andise in this State 10 first pay
into the Treasury of the State half Of one per
cent. on the invoice cost of all goods veudcd by
them The main cause of complaint, as ! under
merchant, by the revenue law, is required to first
pay into the treasury the half of one per cent. or
fiity cents on the hundred dollars After the is
paid By him into the treasury, the retail merchant
then purchases the same goods Of him and takes
them 20 another establishment, in or out of the
county where purchased, the may be, and
vends them again; for which he Is required to pay
one half OF one per cent, fifty cents the hum
drcd dollars into the treasury which is per cent.
paid to the State for the goods thus sold BY this
process il will be perceived that the State lays
double the goods purchased from the whole
sale dealer within the limits Of tie State The bust
NESS retail dealer has difficulty in understanding
the operation and finds il to his interest 20 be-
yOnd the limits of the State to make his purchases,
and thereby save the one-half of one per cent in
the purchase % his goods fifty cents every
hundred dollars. Il be obvious 10 all business
men, that II the wholesale dealer is required frst 20
pay the tax into the treasury, that when the retail
merchant buys of him he must pay il back, and Ihen
when he makes sale Of the goods, be must pay
ike amount into the treasury; which IS practically
A. ~.