The New York herald., 1879-02-03
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

wAsHrSGroN Feb. ., 1879.
PREVENTION OF YELLOW FEvER-LETTER OF
MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON 20 THE SPECIAL
COMMITTEES ON Epidemic DISEASES.
Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson has sent the following
letter for the prevention of yellow fever:
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., Feb. l. 1879.
To THE COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES UpoN THE SUBJECT or EPIDEMIC Dis
EAskS:-
GENTLEMEN--The conclusions of the Board of
Experts. authorized by Congress to investigate the
yellow fever epidemic of lS7S.' fully Justify my
most sanguine anticipations OF the advantages to
be derived from tn ,a the prompt sfqdy OF the
great confidence that / look forward to the
deliberations OF Congress this subject, and. with
out presuming to offer any suggestions on broad
questions of national and international legislation,
anxious to direct special attention to the facts
our only prophy hylaetc. Science may help at once
il not reniss, and 1t is to be hoped that i'm
mediate action will be taken, that. at the earliest pos
sible moment in the ensuing summer, the disinfec
ton OF ships may be rendered practicable at New
Orleans.
sor John Gamgee. of London England, are far adj
vanced at the Navy Yard, but it will require at
least three months from the date of signing con-
tracts construct this fe-saving ship and its
chinery. 1t is to be hoped therefore, pending the
discussion Of larger questions that Congress may, in
its wisdom, fit to pass such measure will
give to this country whatever protection artificial
frost may afford.
Ine Board OF Experts declare tnat 'Sn1pS are eSpe
cally dangerous and ''remnin sources Of infection
for months after having been infected with the
poison that .yellow fever poison is not able to
Withstand the influence OF FROST and when exposed to
u freezing temperature it is rendered lnnocuous aud
is probably destroyed; that "if the apparatus and
experiments projected for the utilization
treme cold for this purpose should be found to be of
practical application to the disnfection Of the holds
and other parts OF vessels their would prove
to bo o sanitary acquisition of inestimabe value
The losses to this country by the yellow fever
.have been varously estimated at sums ranging
from S10000O 0UU TO 5000 900 0OO, aud il has been
computed that New Orleans alone suffered to the
extent Of $15, 900.
Millions have been spent in ships of war. and
earnestly hope that the opportunity We now have Of
testing natures great preventative for yellow fever
cold-inay be taken advantage Of with promptitute
respect, your obedient servant.
ELIZABETH THOMPSON
NEW YORK APPoINTMENTs-MR CoNKLING SAID
TO BE LOSING GROUND.
There have been animated conversations in the
hotels and other places to-day respecting the future
action of the Senate on the New York Custom House
nominations. II is reported tonight from demo-
cratic that far support from that party
in the Senate is concerned Mr. Conkling is losing
ground. prominent Southern Senator is said to
have stated that number OF democrats who have
heretofore been thought to hold doubtful positions
to their votes on the pending nominations would
now vote for their confirmation.
THE POTTER SUBCOMMITTEE FOR NEW YORK
HITCH IN THE CHAIRMANsHIp.
The Potter subcommittee appointed to take test.
mony in New York did not leave tho city tonight as
was arranged. difficulty having arisen with regard to
the chairman. Mr.. Mcmahon, who was appointed to
that post. declares that his duties at Washing
ton are such to prevent him leav-
ing at present, it was decided to request
General Hmnton to take his place. The General
been received. 1t is thought. however. that he
was a member of the Electoral Commission he may
object take the position of chairman. and it will
then fall upon Mr.. Stenger, who acted chairman of
the subcommittee that sent to New Orleans. In
this case Mr.. Blackburn will take the place of Mr.
Mcmahon, aud the committee will leave Washington
on Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
NEGOTIATION OF COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND
THE PUNISHMENT OF FRAUDS THEEEIN-RE-
PORT OF THE HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
ON MIR. HEwITTs BILL.
Representative Bliss. of New York, in behalf Of the
Committee on Commerce. has submitted to the House
of Representatives the following report upon the
bill introduced by Abrsn S. Hewitt last session
facilitate the negotiation of bills of lading and
other commercial instruments and to punish frauds
.hcroin:-- nr
merchants in commercial centres The facility
fraud in obtaining advances credit by bills Of
exchange. or otherwise on bills of lading. warehouse
receipts and kindred instruments is now great
to require o remedy. Chambers az commerce and
boards OF trade in various States have taken
proposed in this BILL and tho State OF Maryland in
1876 passed very similar act intended IT, confer the
same benefits within its jurisdstion. ln New York
1853 and S6 attempted the thing but its opera
tion partial and far from satisfactory. The obicc-
eA,.,, In .f,x..
tween the States and with foreign nations. lies to
state enactments on the subject and IL is every
preferable that Congress should pass act which
may apply throughout the country. than that we
should be left 20 laws by thrty-cght different states,
all relating o the same subject but doubtless iscor.
and perhaps ambiguous and necessarily limited
TO their own boundaries. number of cases decided
In the courts will illustrate the evils complained Of.
The case of Dows National Exchange Bank of
Milwaukee, reported In the first volume of Otto's
United States supreme Court reports is in point.
There Dows Co., in Now York, were consignecs OF
cargo of wheat shipped to them by reputable mcr-
chants in Oswcgo who sent them the bills OF ladng
therefor and drew upon them ON account of an ad-
the wheat. Dows Co. paid the advance.
received and offered the wheat for sale all in tho
regular and usual course OF business. But tho
wheat was repievincd by the milwaukee, bank which
claimed to have made advance ON IL there, aLd
had bills of lading tor 1t to Oswego. where 1t WIS
transhipped TO New York; the consgnecs in Oswcgo
were Smith Co., selected by the bank or its agents
and intrusted with the wheat. Smith Co. ought to
have sent the wheat to another address. aud not
70 their 'SS dus asAw tn sRe m ' Smith ~" seo
II to Dows n Co. and drew against il. and they ad
vanced upon 1t without any notice Of any equities in
favor of the bank IL only just that the fraud
pcrpetrated by Smith Go. should fall upon those
who trusted the wheat in their hands who caused TO
be delivered to them property having ear
mark or apparent lien and gave them the means to
deceive others Hut as the law has heretofore stood
the Court Ind, in effect, to decree that bows Co.
should stand this loss instead of the bank which had
trusted the wheat to Smith Go.
The of the Bank of Toledo Shaw (61 N ",
3Oi. where smnr fraud was porpctrated upon an
incorporated banking company by means Of u ware
house receipt, led its managers to 20 out of business
aud wind 1t up. they thought there too great
insecurity in making advances to warrant its contin-
uancc.
where cotton rcplevned in Liverpool and taken
AWAY from the bankers who had in regular course Of
business accepted bills of exchange drawn against it
without notice OF any prior equities, and the United