New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-06
WASHINGTON.
n, Extra Duties Quesfion-Letter ,rom "en ,..s
20 the PresideBt-Georse La" -rioH"" hA""
Is9erson Dayis-PensiOn Frauds

a. Kxfrn Duties QuestiOn-Leher rom "en. ooo''
"a the PresideBt-George La"-florua ihuia"s-
Jefferson Dayis-Pension FraHos'
s'''''"'' WASHINGTON CITY. "Wednesday, May 4, 1855
wss in error Yesterday in saying that the amount TO
aid under the construction othe laws relative TO the
xrbution Of the 20 per cent extra duties Tor Wnlch
ssssrs Maxwell BOkee and others contend, Will reach
| enormous amount 1t seems that these Collectors
s,yn Officers and Port Surveyors only are lnterestedn
Aadecision of the question who may hold or may nave
"a paees in the last few years at points having much
sreiGn trade The fct that the question does not IN
I've large amount Of money may operate lavorably for
/ b. claimants apprehend The question IN when the
M million is involved is that OF the claim Of the measu-
rn. &c commented upon in your columns last
/ inter and emphatically legslated against by
Congress shortly afterwards. Nevertheless IL IS again
Ieipg strongly urged st the Treasury Department
Aoud not be surprised if Secretary Guthrie mad TINS
rricular case in his eye when so promptly reversing
e decision of Mr. Meredith the subject Of the allow
nee 10 the Collectors Of small ports 70 make their pay
smal 10 the maximum amount allowed them by law as
30 doing he has practically decided against the greater
claim Ii seems that when this Aforementioned Collect
o,s claim WAS first mOOted AttOmeyGeneral Johnson
~ ubo,n the legal question involved referred, de-
tded that the common law repealed the ACT OF 1875,
ubseouent statute having left nothing for That statute to
act upOn Mr. Meredith conceded with tins decision so
ihe Collectors claims were not allowed The failure
10 allow the Collectors claims involved construction
If the revenue laws favorable to the claims of the
msasurers and other subordinate revenue officers which
Was accordingly brought forward, though asking as high
wS25G00 per annum compensation Tor Oihcers VINO
we're prohibited by law from receiving more than
maximum OF 81 800. The accredltatOn OF this claim
based on the decision Of Mr. Meredith (whO at the time
nould not have known the differences which would be
1rawn from it) alarmed Mr. COrwn, who again referred
he question 70 Mr. Attorney General Crittenden Mr.
cttendeB rendered opinion sustaining the previous
eVnion of Mr. Attorney General Reverdy johnson
Sme aver that it drawn up rather by Judge BIB
aan by Crtenden, however C0rwin still hesltating
verred the whole subject TO the President with advice
ang acquiescence in the correctness of these multi
Ia opininiOns Of Attorney Generals, President Fill
re ruled as COrwn recommended but before c. could
wm that ruling the last Administration died. Sccre
In Guthrie therefore merely adopted the policy of his
JHtcessor in giving the Collectors OF small ports the
ISIS maximum.
n in constituting law The intention OF the law-maker
sas be considered surely il cannot be that any IT, s.
Revenue Officers Of the grade of Measurers and Weigh
en- are entitled to fees reaching $4,000 each per an
nun This simple fact assures me that no influences
can be brought to bear which will induce the reversal OF
Cuhrie late decision in the Collectors above re-
krred TO- though strenuous efforts to effect that end are
Gen Winfield Scott has certainly written to the Pres
dent asking for Breyet Col Henry L. SCOTS appoint
ment TO the vacant lnspectorG and the Pres
dent would like much have thus gratihed his late com
petitOr have reason to believe, however, that he Is
Impressed with the idea that Brevet Lieut. Col Steptoe
hbest fitted for the post that u.s. of all who are app
ptt cannot in ustceO the service be made from among
eAers than Field Officers which cuts of Col Chas A.
MAS well as Scott and Septoe leaving but four OF the
syhcans from whom to choose, viz: Lieut. Col Erylng
dArlery Lieut. Col Sumner OF % Dragons Lieut..
Oh AbercrOmbie of I'd Infantry, and Lieut. Col Loren
Thomas who is now next to Adutant General Cooper
ibis branch of the service.
Mr. George Law is here, and il is said is helping Col
Sumner in this matter, the President having ruled out
Breyet Lieut. Col May application above explained.
Int mi lal lima = fuaauf
will Of course make Brevet Lieut. Col May a full Major,
As be the head of the list of Captains of the Second
Regiment of Dragons lt strikes me that the Presi-
dent hndng that he can appoint neither Scott nor Step
Zoe, will be very apt TO oblge Mr. Law, and call it
quits between them, he would far thus ind-
rctly promote Mr. LIS gallant and gentemanly sOn-n-
hw, than promote any one of his Qir. LIS various
schemes or enterprizes Summers appointment by the
BY, would be the best for the public interest also
The Florida Indians, il is judged at the War Depart
men to give nfnty of trouble again costing
sAandsome addition to the $400000OO of public money
already spent on them
The authorities here believe that there are about 500
them in all, including 100 warriors Ii is anticipated
that the Democratic Governor of Florida will at
oe proceed TO carry out the State law for their expu
nn, which his Wing predecessor ignored by refusing to
call out the militia 10 that end feel satisfied that he
salnot be checked by the War Department in so doing
George COpway (the Indian lecturer) has asked to be
appointed Special Commissioner to negotiate with them
Sd Judge Hicks Cherokee may be- as he is credited
sere Tor the possession of much horse sense late
special Indian Agent in that quarter has file here an
~er TO Get them all out West by hook or by crook at
eStot 800 per head This would cover ali the cost
ee war. which he would Of course have to make upon
aem. LIS acceptance (Which is out of the question:
wed form moral precedent in the history of the
aAtary policy of the United States.
Secretary Jefferson Davis is confined to his house
tah neuralgia lie is aScertaned that MeSsrs. Fowler
ed Stephens Of Georgia, to be considered support
n oftae Administration of Pierce They are dresdGlly
feased with il sofar
The iOrgeries and fraud on the Pension Bureau for
which lawyer of Syracuse recently arrested was for
ssun not exceeding $50 The Pension Bureau are sat
sned tat Walter Taylor being tried on FIVE ndict
%enls or the forgery Of Pension papers at Hartford
Sonn'' MI be convicted all of them going TO the
nson Tor his lifetime. He obtained about $1,000
sISs, a.a when arrested had similar claims pending
winch amounted to about 100000, in all
MONrMORENCl