Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-15
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMON
CARRIERS.
An Important Decision of tho Su.
Preme COurt-DIaeVeagh's Resfg-
EasIOn AecePted-A Large Coinage
OF "NlekeIsO 0Edered-The Dee
mand for SILVER Dollars.

WASHINGTON, November 1.-The su-
preme Court to-day rendered an opinion OF
great importance to all railroads. fast freight
lines and shippers of goods, in the case OF
the St. Louis Insurance Company against
the S. Louis, VAndalis, Terre Hsute and
Iod d'euspolls Railroad Company. This was
a suit brought hy the st. Louis Insurance
CompspF, as assignee of Melr & Co., to
recover the value of certain estton shipped
at st. Louis :" Io'S i"t A'e'f'o"' uouei
agreements between Meir & Co. a. 1AS
fast freight line known as the Erie and
Pacidc Despatch. The cotton was shipped
by the Dispatch over the VAndslia line,
thence over the lines of the Plttsburg, Gin
cinnsu and St. Louis, Atlantic and Great
Western ard Erie Railroad Companies 1t
was burned at Jersey City while in custody
OF the Erie Railway. The Vandalia line did
not execute hill of lading, but way billed
the freight from st. Louis to Indianapolis,
and then delivered it In good order to the
Piltsburg, Cincinnati and st. Louis Com
psny.
The main question presented by the case
is whether the Vandalis line was RESPONSE
BILE for the safety of the cotton after de-
liveTing it to another carrier. The court
does not decide whether the Vandalia line
could or could not take the benefit OF
special exceptions in the bin of lading given
by the Erie and Pacific Despatch to Mer &
Co but assumes for purposes of decision
that Meir 81 Co. were not bound under the
proof by any special terms which
that Instrument con aimed. The court
NArE hn Nw4eG G1,
OF established through rates by the railroads
among themselves on the basis Of distance
only is not of itself sufficient to make these
roads partners, or to bind any one of them,
as by special contract, to transport the cot
ton beyond it's own line. The Erie and Pa
cifc Despatch is liable, under it's contracts,
for the safety Of the cotton on the whole
rou e, but each railroad is responsible only
for its Own negligence.
LARGE COINAGE or "NICKELs" oRDEREl.
Owing to the small amount of FIVE cent
nickel pieces in the Treasury the Secretary
has instructed the Director Of the Mint to
cause $l7, $40 In old copper cents and $lO4,-
01S Ia copper and nickel cents now in the
Philadelphia mint to be recoined into five
cent nickel pieces, and instructions have
already been given TO carry out these direc-
tiOns. 1t will be some weeks before the
mint will be ready to commence the recoin-
age of these pieces or to receive orders for
five cent nickel coins from banks aud others.
THE NEW BRITISH MINISTER.
Hon. Lionel Sackville West, the new Min
lister from the Court of st. James, called on
the President this afternoon and formally
presented bis credentials. he was aceom-
panied by Secretary Blaine, who Introduced
him 10 the President. The customary con-
gratulstOry addresses were made.
SOUTHERN PosTMAsTERs COMMISSIONED.
The following Southern POstmasters were
commissioned to day by the President for
term of four years: VIM. G. Pierce, at Mar
shall, Texae; Henry G. Ryan, Corsicana,
Texas; Benz z. Chatfeld, Aiken, s. c.; Jno.
d. Tinney, Vlcksburg, Miss.
THE DEMAND FOR SILVER DOLLARS.
During the week ending November u
442 500 standard silver dollars were placed
in circulation, against 373,99+ during the
corresponding period in 1880.
NACYEAGH's RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Tee President has accepted the resigna-
ton Of Attorney General MacVeagh.
SECRETARY FoLGER QUALIFIED.
Judge Folger qualified this morning, and
assumed the duties OF Secretary OF the
Treasury.