The New York herald., 1862-03-18

orhiancy 10 evening parties and recepsons
PARTIES BEFORE THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON
THE TAX BILL.
The COMMITTEES Of Ways and Means sustained . hard
siege to-day from parties who appeared before them with
arguments against details Of the Tax bill which affect
their particular interests The Boston newspapers
represented by advocate who represented that the
bill becomes law the provincial papers will be nearly
ruined
proposition is submitted to the committee behalf
OF the manufacturers OF New England and elsewhere that
Instead OF taxing manufactures three per cent all
sales Of articles foreign and domestic should be taxed
by ad valorsm stamps uniform rate OF per cent,
less the stamps to be sold by all postmastsrs
guard against frauds bill Of sale TO be legally
ceipted without stamp bearing the signature Of the
seller Any purchaser paying bill without such stamp
shall be liable to repayment and hne in addition. It
is urged that this plan would place equal burden upon
all interests and prevent the disturbance Of the relations
betwent the different trades, which have naturally ad
justed themselves each other which the present bill
would produce Other advantages named such the
diminished expense Of collecting the duties and the
avoidance Of the necessity Of modifying the tariff &C.
Meanwhile the House is progressing with the Tax BILL
which has been passed to the eighteenth section The
only material amendment made this afternoon was 10
strike out the mileage Of assessors.
THE WAR DkPAkTAENT CONTRACTS.
Commissioners Holt and Owen appointed by Secretary
Stanton to audit the claims against the under
contracts with the War Department. 70 occupy the
suit of rooms formerly used by Mr. Stanton q law
Office. The appointment Of this commission has oces-
stoned an immense deal Of growing among contractors
An almost fabulous said have boon subscribed
for the purpose OF testing the legality Of this order The
Western men complain bitterly. They have eigh
tecn millions of dollars thus suspended. They
represent that the transportation claims are for prices
It a reduction Of onethrd less than charged by the
Eastern roads, and that many Of the contractors for
stock produce will be utterly broken up the delay
They argue that il this should be pursued, and
their claims be passed through outer vestbue
the usual circumlooution ofce 1t will hereafter be
difficult 70 get any responsible party to take govern
ment contract at anything like . reasonable price,
APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS IN THE REGULAR
ARMY.
large number OF applications have been made by
volunteer officers to be appointed in the regular army
but these have been unsuccessful Among other
is the difficulty of discriminating a. 10 the relative merits
Of the applicants.
MILITARY COMBINATIONS By THE SENATE.
The Senate four hours in executive session to-day,
and confirmed the following nominations for Brgadier
Generals Of volunteers:-
Major william F. Barry, Chief Of Artillery, attached 70
Gen. McCielan's stan.
Willis A. German, OF Minnesota.
Colonel Schuyler Hamilton.
Thomas L. Price, member Of Congress- rom Missouri
Major James N. Palmer, Fifth cavalry.
Lieutenant Colonel VIM. H. Emory Sixth cavalry.
Major Andrew J. Smith, Fifth cavalry.
Marceua L.. Patrick. OF New York.
Isaac r. Quimby. OF Now York
Orris d. Ferry, OF Connections.
4iram Parry Maine.
The following Brigade Surgeons, al Of Ppansyivania
we're confirmed
James D. Shawbridge
r. b. Mckay,
George L. Kemble.
j. H Taylor.
George L. Pancoast
CT H. Campbell.
FIJI. Gross.
Washington J. Duree
PAYMAsTER BUCHANAN, or TIE NAVY.
Tho conduct Of NcKean Buchanan. Paymastsr, United
States Navy on board the fgale Congress during the
attack Of the Mcrrmac is tho subject OF highest praise
at tho Navy Department While the eight was progress
ing, although he know his brother command OF
tho Merrimac he volunteered TO Lieutenant Commanding
Joseph R. Smith for duty in either Of tho upper decks.
lie ordered to take charge Of the berth deck whore
he acted with marked gaantry throughout the action
audins to this order, says:-I promptly obcyod. and
thank God did some service 10 my country"
The nomination Of General Sckss was rejected, and
that Of General Cochrane laid Quartermastor Paul
r. George, of New Hampshire, rejected. Tho Mil
tary Committee. TO whom was rocommitted tho nomns
ton OF General Asboth reported II back favorably,
TERRITORY OF COLORADO.
Tho bill for the establishment Of branch mint At Den.
ver City, in the aforesaid Territory, likely to pass
it does it will have tendency to develope tho mineral
resources of tho country. We two thousand miles
from any mint assay Office, and the trsnsporta Is
very expensive-about Ave per csn-as also dangerous
from irresponsible parties. The entire circulating med-
um in the Territory is gold dust, and this has 10 b.
weighed out in scales making il very nconvcnent and
absolutely loss to ths wqa the dust. The govern
ment has to pay the Indians In tho Western Territories
coin This the government has to transport to them,
which great expense. This expense would be
avoided f a mint established at Denver City. II
would transportation OF coin West and dust East
the first TO the Indians, the last to the people.
The yield Of gold thcrs will be 81 900 for this fiscal
year. So 100 900 for the last fiscal year, and it
was 81 600 900 for tho fiscal preceding This last
ratio Of will be kept up for time come.
as tho OF the Territory mi
neral point OF view.
There one hundred and hfty quartz mills In
active operation within the Territory this year for tho
first tmc
THE SECRETARY OF NEW MEXICO.
j. H. Holmes, Secretary o( New Mexico, leaves wash.
ngton to-day his return to that Territory He expects
to reach there in about three weeks.
IMPEAcuMENr.
learn that movement foot relative 10 ths i'm
peachmeut Of all those Judges who have, iu any FORM
shape manner aided abetsd the interests Of
solution (Which be will offer at the rst opporsune
msnt to instruct the Committee the Judiciary To
inquire into this matter Of general impeachment and
report at carly dste, BY bill or otherwise.
ST. PArRrcK's DAY IN TIE TENTED FIEL?.
This bons st. Patricks day. unusually lively in
the camps Of the Irish regiments In this city and
the Potomac. The Of Erin could not forget their
patron saint camp out Of camp The occasion was
duly celebrated with all the honors.