St. Paul daily globe., 1884-04-22


week which ended April 10, was 1854, 9SS.
For the corresponding period last year S109,
499
FREE NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.
The bill introduced by Representative Hen
ley, to encourage education in the statas and
territories provides that all newspapers here
after published in the several states and ter
ritories, in any language whatsoever, shall
be carried free of postage through the mails
within the limits of the United States and
Territories.
NoN-CoNCURRENCE.
At meeting Of the house committee on
appropriations Representative Randall was
instructed to report back the naval appro-
priation bill with recommendation that the
house non-concur with the senate amend
ments. The amendments increased the ap-
preparation over 100000
Representative Townshend was also in
structed to report back the postoffice appro-
priation bill with a recommendation that the
house non concur in the senate amend d.
ments. The amendments increased the ap-
preparation about SO, 500, 900.
SOLDIERS HOMES.
The house committee ON military instruct
ed Representative Rosecrans to report favor
ably joint resolution for the appointment
Of William B. Franklin, Connecticut; John
C. Black, Illinois, and Thomas. W. Hyde,
Maine, to fill vacancies in the board of man
ayers of the national soldiers house.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrison, chairman,
Mr. Rosecrans was instructed to lay before
the present board of managers, complaints
made by prominent men in Dayton, Ohio,
against Governor Patrick. Of the soldiers
home at Dayton. If the board does not deem
its complaints against him sufficient to justi-
fly his removal, the committee will ask an in
yestigation of the management of the Day
ton home by the home.
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The house committee on Pacific railroads
to-day continued consideration Of the pro-
posed amendment to the Thurman sinking
fund act. The committee agreed to report
amendments to bring within the provisions
of the act in addition those roads already In
cluded, the Kansas Pacific, Sioux City q Pa
cifc, and the central branch Of the Union
Pacific roads. and to increase the net per
cent. of earnings of all roads that are to go
into sinking funding from 25 to 3715 per
cent. The secretary of the treasury in the
third amendment, is empowered to make an
investment of the sinking fund on the first
mortgage in any of the subsidized companies
or in government securities.
BANK STOCK DECISION.
A decision also rendered by the court to-
day, in the National bank stock case of
Henry Jas. Anderson, receiver Of the First
National bank of Allentown, Pa, against the
Philadelphia Warehouse company. The
question presented by the case is, whether
corporation, which has taken National bank
stock as collateral security for loan, has
the right to nominally transfer the certificate
of that stock to an irresponsible person in its
employ, and have the certificate registered
in liability which would attach to such cor
poration as stockholder of the bank in case
of the banks failure and insolvency, the
court holds, the nominal transfer
here brought in question was
made in good faith, when
the bank was in good credit and paying
large dividends, and years before its failure,
or even its embarrassment So far as the
company is concerned the transfer was not
made to escape pending calamity, but to
avoid incurring liability which it was unwill-
ing to assume, and at perfect liberty to
shun. The judgment of the circuit court is
affirmed. Opinion by Chief Justice Waite.
Justice Miller read dissenting opinion, in
which he said, If, in any case between pri-
vate persons. .one of them had placed property
in the hands of minors, servants or other ir
responsible persons, for the purpose of es-
Gaping the responsibility attaching to the
ownership of such property, while securing
all the advantages of such ownership, it
would be held 10 be transaction
which could not be supported on
any legal or equitable principle The trans
fer in the presentcase, if not actual fraud, was
fraud upon the banking law, and was so in
tended to be, by both the original holders of
the bank shares and the officers of the ware
house company. Justice Mathews joined in
Justice Miler's dissent.
WATER WAYS IMPROVEMENT DECISION.
The court also decided the case OF John T.
Blair, plaintiff, in error VS.. the county Of
Cunning in error, circuit court of the United
States, district of Nebraska. This was a suit
upon coupons of a series OF bonds amount
ing in the aggregate to $1,000 issued by
Cunning county, Nebraska, in behalf of West
Point precinct in that county for
the purpose of improving the water power
of the El<horn river. The county now
refuses payment on the ground that the
bonds in question are not its obligations,
but the obligation of West Point precinct.
The court holds that, "bonds issued by the
county commissioners of the county in be-
half of precinct of that county, to aid
company in improving the water pawer of
a river, for the purpose of propelling public
grist mills, are issued to aid in constructing
work of internal improvement within the
meaning of the act of Nebraska, February
Is, 1869, as amended by the act of March 3,
1870, and that the suit on the coupons of
such bonds is properly brought against this
county" The judgment is reversed with
costs, and the cause remanded, with direc-
tion to overrule the demurrer to the petition
and to take such further proceedings in the
cause as may be required by law, and as
shall not be inconsistent with the opinion of
this court
THE PATENT LAWS.
The senate and house bills, relating to the
practice in patent suits, both of which were
upon the senate calendar, and which has long
been especial order'' awaiting its turn after
the bankruptcy bill for consideration, have
been, upon motion of Senator MCPHERSON,
recommitted, no objection having been made
by the members of the committee on patents.
This action is based upon numerously signed
petitions, embracing hundreds of names Of
prominent inventors, manufacturers, mer-
chants, bankers and others, who ask that
they be afforded an opportunity to
appear and point out what
they consider the mischievous features
of the bill. A widespread sentiment in op-