San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-18
The National Bank Charters.

The National Bank Charters.
Under the National banking act
charter lives only twenty years. Tba
was the life as the old United State
bank law. Our first national banks
were chartered in 1868, and right along
every year since, until now there are
about two thousand of them. Those
chartered in 1868 will be compelled to
wind up their business next year unless
congress passes new act or amends the
one so ps to extend the time OF expir'
alton. .... ....... '..-..
The subject is now before congress,
and il is evedent that the banks have
not rs many friends as they had nine
teen wears ago. A motion was made
the other day in the House, to suspend
the rule and take up the national bank
bill out of it's regular order: 1t re-
duired a two.thirds vote, and falling to
receive that, the motion was lost. This
shows at least two things: First,
that large number of congressman
don't regard the consideration of til
banking bill of more Importance than
some other matters that are now before
the national legislature; and second,
that it is intended to discuss this mea-
sure thoroughly before it is acted upon
finally '' '--.L Too
We look upon both these phases as
very favorable and healthy symptoms.
1t will give time to congress and also to
the people to review the whole subject
and consider it in all its bearings.
Banking in itself, is a proper, legiti-
mate and useful branch of business.
1t grew out of the necessities of COM
merce, and It's beginning dates far back
in the past. The Athenian banker was
an important parsonage Money
changers were before the Christian era.
They were the original bankers. They
supplied traders and travellers with coin
for convenience in dealing with differ
ent tribes and nations. They gradu-
ally became useful agencies in affairs
of states; and two centuries before
Christ state banks were known. The
lending Of money for usury is OF very
ancient origin. Banks of issue and
circulation were established later. OF
this latter class the Bank OF Venice,
founded in iii, was the first in Europe.
1t continued in existence about six
hundred years. Its circulation was
based on deposits Of funds which could
not be withdrawn, which fact gave its
currency value steady and permanent.
The Bank of Venice was destroyed when
the Venetian government was over
thrown by the French army in 1897.
The Bank of Geneva followed in 1345;
then came the Bank of Barcelona in
14O1; the Bank of Amsterdam in 1909,
and other nations followed from time to
time. The Bank of England was found
ed in 1894; the Bank of France in l7l6,
and within the last one hundred years
banks have become common among all
nations.
1t was their value as fiscal agencies
Of government that operated most
in establishing our national
banks. What gold and silver coin there
was in the country was withdrawn from
and with great war on
our hands, with nothing but our credit
TO use for purchasing and paying ma.
,erial, it was believed that system of
lational banking which should aid in
giving the people currency that would
always be of value equal to our govern
nent notes, would be useful and econ
Omical establishment. These banks
we're creatures of the troublous times
If war. That they served the purposes
IF their creation well, perhaps not
many persons doubt. But war meas
Tres are not always equally good in
peace. Now, that we are nearly twenty
Iears away from the wat, with our over
lowing treasury, and Il good prospect
or the unbroken peace, it is well worthy
whether We cannot get
long without the aid of these banks.
is this true when we reflect
hat the banks are becoming a source
# danger as well as of support. Only
wo years ago some of them threatened
conduct which would have given the
people q great deal of trouble, had it .
,een generally adopted. Wedont need .
nv Of these destrutive agencies now. .
rhe people need and demand a safe, I
and convenient currency, and .
he time is at hand when we may wisely .
nd safely determine whether the gov .
rnment cannot establish a currency .
,ased on the gold and silver of the
,eoples pockets, and their mountains,
7ithout assistance from any power
-hich may at any time swell into dan
erous proportions.
TuE coffee plant has the general ap