The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-18
PRICE TWO CENTS.
WASHINGTON NEWS

| ..
| lHE DELIVERING OF LETTERs-THE CANADIAN REcIP-
RoclTY TREATY-MR. MCLANE's RErURH-THE
GHINQuI COAL FIELDs-THE PRICE OF THE PUBLIC
| PRINTING.
n NO decision has yet been made by the Post Office
department upon the point whether charge of
1ne % cent Is to be made for collecting letters from
I'M uu stations and boxes in large cities Mr. Holt
hnt ;tbhnid sne opinion that the law requires it,
out wltnnolds hnal action in order IN discover Il
some mone may not be devised by which the nnblic
VIII not be subjected to this Involvement and snd
den change. The suggestion of detailing some of
the subordinate clerks for this special saTv;ce ond
paying them from the general commissions = re-
ceived with favor in the Department. In Boston
the charge has always been cent for delivering
letters, and no cost for collecting. In Baltimore
heretofore, two cents have been CHARGED for deliye
ry, and one for collection. Now ont cent is
charged for delivery under the recent law. In New
York and Philadelphia it is two cents for delivery
and no cost of collection. The Department has
not required uniformity because each city has its
pecuharitles, and the rule in might not be ap-
pmcaole to another. As the new act was to take
enect after the 30th of june and has not vet been
enforced, 1t will probably become dead letter.
The Attorney General has given an opinion to
the Secretary of State of considerable imnortance
to those engaged IN commercial affairs with Cana
da 1t is in relation to Consular fees under the
act OF March 3, 1859, for certifying invoices of
goods made duty free by the Reciprocity Treaty
Judge Black holds, first, that no more than fifty.
cents can be charged for the entire certificate,
without reference to its form; second that Consuls
ds We'll as tue consul General, are subject to this
restrlctlon and third that the act applies to Con-
suls in all British North American provinces in
cluded in the provisions of the treaty. This con-
struction of the law will relieve commerce of some
OF its burdens, while it will also materially reduce
the perquisies of the Consuls. Considerable en-
NIFTY to reciprocity, arising from causes purely
local. has been manifested here recently, but as a
general policy it meets the commendation of all
commercial men and statesmen.
Mr.. McLane's return in the Breoklyn doubtless
looks to his withdrawal from the mission as there
is no prospect of any such immediate change in
Mexican affairs as may demand his presence He
asked for leave to retire time ago. and intend
ed to return in case the treaty was rejected When
that event happened, and before the reconsidera-
tion was subsequently, moved, Mr.. Cass telegraphed
him, via New Orleans, to remain at bis post and
wait for instru ctiOns which were prepared to meet
the contingency that had then occurred. Since
then there has been no development of Importance,
except the resignation of some of Juarez's best
advisers, and Mr.. McLane has become thoroughly
disgusted.
The Secretary of the Navy has designated Captain
Frederick Engle, of the Navy, to take charge of
the examination of the Chriqui coalfelds aud har-
pors- The War Department has detailed Lieut.
James St. Clair Norton of the United States En-
gneer Corps, as member of the commission in
charge OF the surveys. This is an important posi-
ton, and is high compliment to the talent of
Lieut. Morton. The geologist has not yet been
selected. The expedition will leave in about two
weeks, and is expected to be absent only three
months. The results of this examination involve
an expenditure by the government of three hun
dred thousand dollars, and hence the importance
of selecting competent officers to conduct it. Both
Engle and Morton stand deservedly high in their
respective branches of the service. Attorney
General Black decided to-day that the act which
was passed in the expiring hours of the last ses-
sion, reducing the prices of printing 40 per cent
did not apply to work ordered before that date
This decision therefore gives the full prices to every
order for printing in both houses, and has caused
great enthusiasm among the lobby, while Mr.. Bow
mar holds his head up. After all, the retrenchment
was rather imaginary than real.
The State Department is in the receipt of the
first official communication from Mr.. Merceier, the
new French Minister, informing Government
that his Imperial master had, in conjunction with
England, declared war against China, and giving
assurances that neutral goods except those con-
traband of war. would be protected; ALSO that all
Cinnamon residing in the English or French terri
tory would be protected in their individual rights
and property, and when found ON captured ships
would be treated as if on French or English soil
The communication was happily replied to by Mr..
Trescot, who returned the thanks of the Govern
ment for the information given, promising to make
he same public at the earliest convenience.
The President has decided the Washington Aque-
duct appropriation of half million dollars to be
contingent on the employment of Captain Meigs
as Superintendent.