Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-04
NOTES AND QUERIES.
Origin and Extension. of the Na-
tional Bank system.
ARMIES AND NAVIEs OF EUROPE.
Accounting for the Expression That
Jersey Is Cut of the Union.
OTHER ODD BITS OF INFORMATION


rwRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.I
The platforms of the parties for this cam
paign call attention to the national banking
system. It is a system adopted In 1868 and
improved in 1854, under which all of the
banks of issue in the country operate. It
was adopted at a time when the Govern
ment needed vastly more than the ordinary
amount of money coming to it. To get this
money it was issuing bonds, and to create q
demand for them and at the same time to
provide . larger amount of circulating
medium, the National Bank act was passed,
becoming q law June 8, 1864 1t was in
tended to provide national currency, Sc
cured by pledge OF United States bonds,
etc.
1t created Comptroller Of the Currency,
and empowered associations with capital
Of 500, 900 Cn small places capitals of $780,
600 were allowed) to form themselves into
banking companies, which should put at
least 30 per cent of their capital into United
States bonds, which bonds they should de-
posit with the Comptroller, who should de-
liver to them not more than 80 per cent of
the bonds SO deposited with him in national
bank notes." receivable everywhere except
in payment of customs duties. There were
various details as to the redemption of the
notes, etc. To make it an object for the
banks in existence to obtain charters as
national banks, and for new banks to be
formed under the act, heavy tax was laid
on all notes issued by banks acting under
State laws, and various exemptions from
taxation were allowed
The act was long one, carefully drawn,
and based very largely on the New York
State banking act. 1t provided for the con-
tinuance of the national banks during
20 years. and expired in 1884. In that
year, however, National Bank Extension
Act" was passed, extending the lives OF the
national banks to 1904, under the same
regulations as the original act imposed 1t
has been proposed to let the banks issue
notes up to the full amount of the bonds
deposited with the Comptroller, thus in
creasing the amour: of the notes in circu-
lation, and enabling the banks to make 8
little more money; for the business of the
banks Is not 80 remunerative as it was and
the amount of bank notes now in circula-
tion is less than ever before; but the propo-
sition has not yet been acted upon.
Will you tell me something Of the sizes of
the various European armies and navies; and
who would win in another an-French
war? CONSTANT READER.
Giving the countries alphabetically, Aus
tria- Hungary leads, with an active army of
$4,000 men, first reserve (men who have
served their time with the colors'D of
290, 900 men, and second reserve of men
who have served their time in the first re-
serve of 866, 900; the grand total is 2, 2,032, 400
officers and meE. France has a war force of
4,169, 472 officers and men; 1, 124, 900 are in
the active army, $40, 900 in the field reserve,
956, 900 in the first reserve, and 1,176, 900 in
the second reserve. Germany has 2,913, ,599
officers and men, of whom $40, 900 are with
tine colors, 405, 900 in the field reserve, 9OO,-
900 in the first and 799. 900 in the second re-
serve. Great Britain has a regular army
of 1864 men, field reserve of
68, 500 men, o first reserve of $4,000.
second reserve of about 224, 900
and a total on paper of 1,179 $50.
Italy has 925, 900 men under arms, field
reserve of POI 900, first reserve of !, 1896, 200,
a second reserve of 1900, and total of
1922, 314 Russia has the largest standing
army, 1895, 900 men always under arms,
with field reserves. of 1,124, 900, first re-
serves amour ting to 1, 191, 800 men. 4, 900, 900
in the second reserve. and total of 7, 914, 900.
Turkey keeps 155, 900 men with the colors,
but has an estimated reserve of GIT, 900
men.
As between France and Germany, some
critics expect France to beat Germany.
The French have matched every improve
ment made by the Germans in military
matters; and they will fight for revenge,
which is feeling that will help them. It
will be great war when it comes.