Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/571

Rh court. In urgent cases, these tribunals had the power to secure the persons of suspected individuals when their escape from justice was apprehended.

A corporation of brokers, Colegio de Corredores, was established in 1842, with a governing council of a president and four associates, whose duty it was to arrange differences arising between brokers and merchants, examine the books of members suspected of irregularities, and pass candidates for entrance into the profession. In 1854, a commercial school or business college was inaugurated.

Previous to the independence, no banking establishment, properly so called, existed, and the first bank founded in Mexico was the banco de avío, before mentioned, in 1830. It was short-lived, however, and in 1837 a national bank was established. More lately several banks have been established to meet the requirements of the increasing foreign trade, and banking houses have been opened, and saving banks founded, in most of the important cities. Several life and general insurance companies have also opened offices in the capital.

The postal service for many years after the independence was conducted in a most unsatisfactory manner, the mails being irregular and correspondence