Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-03

o the stockholders, and safeguard to the
public.
The only franchise conferred BIZ this sys-
EN-, that cannot be freely enjoyed by private
Iansfrs uuGer State iaT, is the power O issue
circulating notes. TIis 1t is conceded Is a
franchise conferred by the government, but
il Is not in the nature OF monopoly. It
may be exercised by any FIVE persons who
have the means, aud will comply with the
law.
Whether The power to Issue circulating
notes should be granted to private corpora
tons or Ua exercised only by the government,
Is purely a question OF public policy and pub
lie Interest. Ia behalf Of q circulation Is
sued by The government, it IS claimed that
interest = saved to the public on the full
amount OF the notes issued. To this 1t Is re-
piled that the issue of such notes necessarily
involves their redemp tion in coin, and this
can be secured only b. coin reserves and the
ordinary machinery of banks. Ii the banks
issue notes they expect to derive profit from
their loan, but TINS profit is diminished by the
burden OF redemption, by the large taxes i'm
posed upon the franchise, aud by the risk
aiTays incident to the issue Of circulating
notes. These are considerations which will.
no doubt, enter into the question Of the per
mauency Of the national blukinp system
but as the JlGss Of this So tenn are each or
gained under the law for twenty years, and
none Of them expire until June, ISs3, It Is
respectfully submitted that 1t Is good policy
TO continue the experiment until that date,
when the public mind viii be better prepared
to consider the questions involved.
CLAIMS.
The attention OF congress IS again called 10
the necessity Of some legislation as to the
adJu1lcat1on % claims winch are now within
toe jurisdiction az this department
While the department is well organized
Tor the lnvest'gation q accounts accruing IN
the ordinary course Of current business, 1t l.
not adapted 10 the examination 0i Old and
Disputed claims Of a different character.
For tae proper Investigation Of suln claims
the methods adopted IL all our courts for as
c5rtalulug the truth, ars undoubtedly ne
besl F1r TINS purpose a tribunal, whica viii
/ require tue best evidence Of which the nature
/ OF the case viii admit, the production Of Crll-
ma, papers rather than pretended copies. the
/ swora statement Ol the witness tim,el!
to facts IN his Own knowledge aud not the
/ h5arSay %. third plrtlys, the exauIuall. q. gai
/ cross examination ,t the witness, Rot 30 ISL s.r
parts statement privately taken, lu .c
/ hearing, and public record OF proceedings
/ open to inspection, IS essential.
these are some OF the safeguards which
/ the experience OF The wIsest Legislators las
/ placed around the Judicial investigation OF
/ questions Of law anu iec-.
/ It's evident tU8- TINS department cannot
furnish these safeguards: agJ &, provision OF
| ia~ which wall relieve tie apartment Of all
I important disputed GU stio-z ol law aud fact
Is recommended. The court OF ci aims IS A
tribunal wsi. qualified for such jurisdiction.
It has the prestige of court " iasfgca. ~
judges are appointed Tor lie, and transact
their business deliberately, systematically
and publicly. They axe gov rrrG b., the or
duary rules Of law, la- thsiU decisions are
| Of record, with aU appeal 10 proper cases 20
the supreme -lsC IL tha Jnited States.
Ia tals connection, yoCr attention IS Invited
I IN tE.a
ton CT time within which claims against in
dIvlduais and against the gov mmsnt shall
/ be prosecuted, or, for wat OF such prosecu-
iron, he forever barred. Such limitations,
which form part Ct the c3.es .f al civilized
nations, rest partly upon the theory that the
PubiC peace demands an ed Of litigation
hut manly upon the well founded asscmp-
ton that a delay hes Oud q reasonable II nc to
prosecute clam, furnishes q presumption
that It IS untoIadsd.
Even as to real estate, an acCuiescence in 4
! known adverse possession for twenty wears
ia most OF our states furnishes a conclusive
oar 10 the Claim o. any person ont Of possess
sion. The limitation o! SIX years after the
clam against the government first accrues,
established by law ia the court Of claims,
seems TO be reasonable.
With regard t. the claims IN favor Of the
government, especially those who have exc
Cuted eocd5 As sureues, 1t seems lust that
; some provision should be made for the
protection Of the defendants. Cases fire.
q1entiy arse where suits are brought against
a surety upon bond, upon the revision of
l some account which has been apparently
finally Sc tied for many years, where tie
: principal and other sursties have died or are
lns0lyent, and where the government should
have enforced It's claim while they we're alive
and solvent. Ia such clses the only relief
which the secretary can extend Is uader the
general law authorizing compromises, q rem
E HtV EliIHct II rlnrl gGG1ttf and
: ment.
All Legislation upon this subject should look
TO the quoting OF old claims, whether against
or IN favor OF the government. 4 decision,
! made as final by the accounting officers or by
the secretary OF other officer OF this depart
; ment having jurisdiction, snouid DE- regarded
as final, both Ii the Department and IN ala
other tribunals; aud all propositions provid-
' ing r the revision, Ia t2e c0ur1 OF claims or
, I elsewhere, OF such decisions, axe opposed To
Z the true principles Of legislation.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION.
: Daring the past year, there have oeeu IN
p spected 4i5I stean-vesssis, Of IN aggregate
!, I tonnage CT l,0II.43203 tons. and licenses
3 have been issued 10 IA 4S9 officers.
: The total receipts from The Inspection Of
: vessels and licensing Of Officers amounted TO
1912, 7O3 s., aEd the total disbursements for
salaries aud travelling and other expens es
> were S2lo,2 i9 So, leaving a surplus Uuex-
= pended Of S56, "a 20.
THE MARINE HOSPITAL. SERVICE
The surgeon-general Of the marine hospital
j service reports L, 223 sick and disabled sea-
T men cared for during the year ended June
U 30, 1S7S-the number exceeding by 1915 the
d largest number relieved IN any previous year
/ As ii the preceding year, there was again q
Il small surp!ls OF receipts over expeudlt ures es
: shown Dy the statement Of the register Of the
} treasury, the receipts covered into the treas,
: NV being S3l9 .Gl5 81, and the expenditure.
g $500, ~ %. leaving CarEpeudeG 1885, Y
& On the basis OF expenditure, rs here stated
: the average pr capita cost Of the relief fur
=. nlshed was $50 OF. which Is less by q 1:
}, than the lowest average cost for any preyl
d Gus year, and sl8 81 less than TIE aversz.
d for 1870. AZ the same time the chaIaCtel
y OF the relief furnished mas steadily improved
r The national quarantine act. with the exc
/. cuGOl Of whlcn the sUrgeOa-.easIal Is
= charged, was passed 50 iateIn the last session
S Of congress that the appropriation necessary
: 70 carry out ITS provisions could uGt Ce made
d Notwithstanding this Tact, everything has
: been done under the act wEICh C-C.G bs EC-
= conDl,shej without the expenditure o.
money.
5 B. the aid Of voluntary contributions, IN
4 investigation Is 10 The cause Of the yellow
e fever epidemic Of 1873 has been undertaken.
n under the direction OF the surgeon general
q 10y commission of exp,rts, whose report vii
= be submitted to congress. The attention Of
a congress IS called 10 the eLpediency OF re-
, curing. ty law, an examination of the Off
> GERS CT this service as requisite to their ap-
: pointmenc. The secretary renews the recon-
J mendauon several times made to that e.
q feet.
The metric system of weights and meas
g ures has been adopted for medical and phar-
i maceuslcal purposes n the service during
g tde year. No embarrassment has resulted