The Portland daily press., 1862-12-03
From Washington.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2
The Star has the following: The War De-
partment has caused the arrest of Maj. Spauld-
ing, of the 50th New York Engineer Voun-
teers, and the other officers who were with him
in the recent transportation of the pontoon
train from this point to Falmouth Va. 1t is
alleged that Maj Spaulding started with the
train two and half days later than he should
have started, and was five days longer on the
road than was necessary"
1t seems to be well settled that Caleb b.
Smith will shortly resign his position as Secre-
tary of the Interior, to accept the vacant Dis
trict Judgeship in Indiana.
In some circles it is asserted that Senator
Browning will succeed to the vacancy thus
created
Nothing is known here confrmatory of the
report that Gen. Burnside has been relieved of
the command of the army of the Potomac.
The President has sent to the Senate for
confirmation the nominations OF Brig. Gems.
Sykes and Butterfield to be Major Generals,
and sixteen Colonels to be Brig. Generals.
The estimates of the Treasury Department
are unavoidaby delayed. The Committee of
Ways and Means, therefore, have no data
ON which to frame the general appropriation
bills. The Secretary's report will be ready
some time this week.
An official document shows the number of
seamen registered in the several ports of entry
during the year ending with September last to
be $780, of whom 123 were naturaZed. OF
the total number Maine is credited with l435,
New Hampshire %, Massachusetts 1880, Rhode
Island 65, Connecticut q, New York 155, New
Jersey 457, Pennsylvania 1862, Florida 80, Ore
gon /, South Carolina 6.
Acting Assistant Surgeon Campbell has been
ordered to Port Royal for duty ON board the
steamer Com. McDonough. Acting Master
Washburne has been ordered to Cairo for duty.
Acting Master Shankland has been ordered to
the command of the Preble. Acting Vol. 1t.
w. III. West has been ordered to New York
for command of the Massachusetts, Acting
Master f. Kimball has been ordered to Hamp-
ton Roads for duty on the Galena.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has
made the following decisions Railroad com
panies making cars and locomotives to replace
old stock or to increase their equipment, must
pay tax upon the whole value of such man
uiactures il their annual products exceeds
5000, even though the articles are manufac-
tured for their own use. Carpets, when pre-
pared by dealers in carpets and upon special
orders, are not regarded as manufactures, nor
liable to taxation rs such. Sails, when made
upon order and to suit 4 particular vessel, are
not regarded as manufactures within the
meaning of the excise law, and they are CON
sequently exemptfrom duty. The tax on dia-
monds aud emeralds, when previously cut and
prepared Tor setting. VIII De isseSscu only on
the value of the setting.
1t is estimated that the amount of Custom
House treasury notes now outstanding is less
than fourteen millions, and not sixteen mill
lions. as stated. L. is thought that by the mid
die of January this amount will be absorbed
when the government will be in receipt Of
gold from customs.
A telegram from the headquarters Of the ar
my of the Potomac tonight from the reporter
of the Associated Press represents the wealth
er clear and cold, but there was nothing of in
terest in relation to military matters worth
communicating.
TIE testimony in the Mcdowell Court Of In
quiry this forenoon was to the effect of his hav-
ing granted protection to some ground sown
with grain belonging to a Mr.. Holman, of Bell
Plain, man neutral in politics. as also to Sc
curing for the sustenance of his family and
servants small quantity of corn still in his
possession, and which had not, as yet, been ta-
ken for the use of our army. The testimony
showed receipts were given to Union men for
property taken, but not those known as rebels.