The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-16

c,.rk. % answer the inquiries OF Congressman and
others ,ou hing great variety ofsubects Information
u constantly given concerning persons who have been
long st TO the knowledge OF relatives friends
THE Ew YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
The House Comm ttee on Commerce has reported bill
facilitate tho colleo ION OF customs in New York and
establishing the Office O Solicitor Of Customs the cons
Iteration of which is postl ohea.
COINAGE AT THE MEN YORK ASSAY OFFICE
Mr. Wards bin and repor, from tbs Committee on
Commerce, reference oomge at the Assay Once at
New York. will meet with desperate opposition from
members In order TO have control Of tho
b and action upon it, Mr. Ward desired 1t TO be
recommted to the Committee on Commerce after Il has
been printed strong but unsuccessful eSrt has been
made get the bill out OF the hands OF the COMMITTEES
Commerce, and TO have 1t slowed away In thu Comnt
tee OF Ways and Means It remains now under the CON-
troll Of the committee by which il was originated, and
may be brought up whenever there is o chance for
immediate action.
HARBoR AND SEA COAST DEFENcEs.
The report of Mr. Blair from the House Military Conn
mittee Permanent Fortncations and Sea Coast De-.
fcnces exhaustive OF the subject. Il Is OF the
most interesting documents laid before Congress.
comprises complete history OF all the defencss Of the
country and the various systems that have from time 10
time been adopted Appended to the report Is herevsod
report Of tho Board Of Engineers on defsnces Of
message Of tho President with reports Of the Secretaries
OF War and Navy tho subject OF defences made In
1886 the report or the Secretary OF War; system Of
national defence. made in 1840 which also includes
memorial Of General Gaines upon military discipline and
defences; report of General Horny w. Halleck then
Lieutenant Of Engineers, upon OF national de-
fence; and report Of the Secretary OF War ON
tho subject OF Notifications, made in 1851, with
accompanying documents. These reports are the
of Thorn very This volume will be Of the
most valuable compilations given to the public In
the bill accompanying tho report the committee provide
for tho organization OF board. TO institute perfect
system of permanent national defences.
VOTE OF THAMES TO THE CAPTORs OF NEW ORLEANS.
The President has recommended to Congress tho pas
sage of Of thanks TO Captain Farragu, and also 10
thirty other officers, by for their gaantry and SER
vices the capture Of forts Jackson and St. Philip and
the city Of New Orleans and the destruction Of various
rams and gunbcats
NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.
The Navy Department has appointed the following
Acting Masters Matcs:-Ben +. Ritter, Philadelphia;
John L. Robins, Hampton Roads; James Hoggnud, John
L. Staples, Washington and Frederick F. Baursy Boston,
FRAUDS IN THE PAY OF MILEAGE OF CoNGREssMEN.
The Investigations OF the House Committee mileage
Of members has developed the fact that number Of
the choicest OF the patriots have extravagant ideas Of
the distance necessary to be travelled from their homes
to roach Washington For the first time many years the
committee have undertaken to estimate the real distance
travelled saving Of ty thousand dollars in this item
is the consequence. The committee will probably be.
foro the close Of the session. bring bill reducing the
rate OF mileage allowed and making il conformabo to
tho Increased IA .ilities for locomotion.
THE WASHINGTON AND GEonGErOwN RAILROAD.
There has been immense lobby, including the Tribune
people, touching the City Railway BILL which passed TO-
day The small obbytes that have been wriggiing all
winter got into the bill corporators.
are oiIed but It ID anticipated that the big operators
from Northern cities will oil tho stock Tho bills
provides that the stock shall all DO subscribed for in I've
days, and twenty i've per cent be paid in cash.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULrURE.
Tho desire generally expressed that the person who
shall be appointed by the President to DO chief OF tho
new Bureau OF Agriculture shall b educated man,
and one who thoroughly oomprsheuds the theory and
practice Of agriculture.