The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-30

The CRUSADE AGAINST THE STEAMBoATs-Tm
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.-It seems that the Secre-
tary ofthe Treasury sanctions the recent annoying
and pettifogging crusade that has been commenced
against the steamboat interest in this region, and
which originated in one of the United States
Offices In this city, and in the prosecution of
which Mr.. Prescott Hall, the newly appointed
United States District Attorney, lent the influence
Of his office. One of the persons who had been
mulcted in fine, for not following the letter of the
old law of l792-who paid the fine for not having
the name Of his vessel painted In certain way On
the stern of his vessel, took a receipt for the
twenty dollars which he was compelled to pay,
and sent it to Washington, enclosed in an ap-
picatien tor remission Of the fine. The following
is copy Of the receipt
Received, New York, August 16, 1s4o, Of L. Elting,
Esq, twenty dollars penalty incurred for not having
name painted on stern Of the barge Berkshire.
$4,000 JAMES RlDGWAY, for the U. s. Atty
He received the following reply from Mr.. Mere
dith, Secretary of the Treasury
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 18th Aug 1870
Sir Your letter Of the 10th inst, is received in
which you state you have been fined $40 for
psnee with the law, which requires the of
sci TO be painted on her stern and complain
Of the enforcement Of the law which you passed
by some half century ago. and has not been
enforced for at least fourteen ysars This law Is
stantly enforced far practicable, and any dsre
gard Of it, Is uniformly visited with fine when brought
to the notice of the officers Of the Customs With this
you have circular, issued by the Department ON the
18th October, 1s43 which will indicate to you the pro-
per steps be taken in order to obtain relief The De-
partment cannot consistently act on the matter 1t
is now presented Respectfully, &C,
w. Nj. MEREDITH, Sec'y Of the Treasury.
Mr.. l.. ELTISG, New York.
r And annexed to Mr.. Meredith's letter, Mr.. FL
ting received the following circular:
CIRCULAR.
TREASURY DEPARTMANT, October is, lS43
Sir I'm all cases of application to this Department
fixture or disability, accrung in certain cases men
toned in the act Of Congress- providing for mitigating
or remitting forfeiture penalties and disabilities,
passed the Sd March, 1897 when the ne penalty for
feiture, disability shall not exceed fifty dollars
amount or value the following rules and mode of pro-
ceedng prescribed under the authority of the act
Of the l4h July 1882 amendatory Of the first above
mentioned.
Of the facts which his application is founded DO
verified by the oath or affirmation Of Others in
where he may be able to furnish the same must be
lodged with the collector the for the district
within which the Gaze shall occur.
The collector will give immediate notice Of the app
cation SO made, to the claimant claimants of the
smount In question: or any part thereof and will
oeive any statement or testimony, under oath
nation he or they may Offer which statements test
mony he will Immediately transmit to this Department
together with the application and papers connected
tberewith and his statement and views of the case
and where the collector deems 1t advisable take the
opinion Of the district attorney Of the United States
the district and the can be obtained without in
FURIOUS delay he will and transmit il with
other papers.
J. G. sPENCER, Secretary of the Treasury
Now, it appears to US, that this is very narrow
and contracted view, which Mr.. Meredith has
taken OF this subject. lie treats it as if it were
law beneficial to the interests of steamboat busi-
ness, instead Of being directly the reverse and one,
as We have shown, that is causing great deal of
annoyance to that branch of our industry. Mr..
John G. Spencer took more comprehensive view
of the matter, but even he did not act In liberal
manner. Both he and Mr.. Meredith evInced ac-
quaintance with the law, and when they saw, as
they must have seen, that its provisions, If en-
forced, would cause great deal Of annoyance to
an industrious and enterprisng class OF our popu-
lation, why does not MIR Meredith suspend pro-
secution under 1t; or, why did not Mr.. Spencer
do so, or recommend Congress to repeal it A, The
truth is, it is small affair throughout, and reflects
no credit on any one.