, 1863-04-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
Improved Prospects of Our Con-
troFerSy With Great Britain.
IMPORTANT REVENUE DECISIONS,

IMPORTANT REVENUE DECISIONS,
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1
WASHINGTON, april -, 1861
The report telegraphel to some Of the New
York papers that our cavalry had taken Cor,
donsyillc, and thus turned the left flank Of the
rebelarmy, is at least premature, Il not wholly
nnfouuded. The city is full Of rumors about
cavalry movements, but as Jet there Is Moth
ing definite. The roads are drying rapidly,
and there is every indication now Of solid
weather.
Robert D. Owen and Dr.. Howe Of Boston,
and Major McDay, Of the army, arc under
stood to have been appointed Commission
to Investigate the condition and necessities of
the contrabands, aud report on the best means
Of transferring them into eelcsustaiuipe
1aborcr5. It is said one or more of them will
visit nayti to observe how the problem thus
set before 1heEl was there wrought out, and
how far its lessons are applicable in our case.
Secretary Chase went to Philadelphia ycs.
terday, and will stay several days. He may
extend his visit to New York.
Over seventy applications from all paris Of
| the country for authority to establish banks,
under the uniform national currency bill,
lave been made.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has
| made the following decisions with reference to
taSes imposed upon various products Of iron
| found1ies:
First-All steam engines, whether marine,
locomotive or stationary, are subject to duty
OF three per cent. ad valorem.
Sscond-Cast iron SHIFTING is liable in all
cases to specific duty Of one dollar and fifty
cents Per ton, Under the art of March Sd, 1868,
Wrought Iron shafting, If held to be manufac-
tured within the meaning of division No. II, Is
liable to ta1 Of three per cent. ad yalorom.
1hiTa-Railroad car wheels arc taxable in
all cases, one dollar anu fifty cents per ton.
AL other castings Of iron exceeding ten
pounds in weight, not otherwise provided
Tor, are taxable one dollar aud fifty cents per
ton, hy act Of March a1st 1863.
Fourth-Casting5 Of all descriptions made
exclusively for instruments, articles, or
machinery uron which duties are assessed
and paid, arc exempt from duty under section
second, act Of March Sd, 1868.
FJt1-Castings not exceeding ten pounds
in weight, which are SO well known, and so
generally used as to have commercial value
IN themselves, are taxable three per cent. ad
Talorem, when not otherwise provided for.
sizfh-Castings used for bridges, buildings,
or other permanent structures, arc taxable
ono dollar per ton. Permanent structures arc
Interpreted to mean bridges, buildings, mon
uments, and edifces Of all descriptions Lamp
posts, wafer and gas pipes, are not held to be
permanent structures; but all such castings
are taxed at the rate Of one dollar aud Fifty
cents per ion.
tss,cmth-stoEcs and hollow ware arc taxed
at the rate Of one dollar and fifty cents per
ton of two Thousand pounds.
E:yA+Casua1 and ordinary repairs are not
taxable, but the renewal Of any part of an en-
ginc, as, for instance, q boiler, cylinder, pis-
ton'rod, valve motion, or governor. Such
parts being considered manufactures in them-
selves, arc Unable, when made to replace q
corresponding part Of IN engine, broken OF
worn out, and thrown inside. The samc Is
true Of cars, and all machinery, when new
parts arc supplied.
The Agricultural Department is preparing
instruction, forms Of application, and other
papers, embracing the machinery for the
establishment Of agricultural colleges, under
the act Of Congress Of July 7th, 1862, Nine
states, Iowa, Rhode Island, Maine, Kansas,
Illinois, New York, Kentucky, Vermont and
Missouri, hare complied already with the :.
conditions Of this law, and have secured their
grants Of public land. The offer remains
open two years longer to States which have
not Jet accepted it. Within hye years from
tho passage Of tho law, tho colleges arc re-
quiEcd to be in operation.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-All the civilians
lately released from Southern prisons and
sent North on their parole, hare been ez-
changed.
It Is understood that the case Of the steamer
Petcrholfis to be left to the jurisdiction Of
the Court having 1t In charge, without inter-
yention from Washington.
Gen; Shields was, several weeks ago, or
dercd to report 10 Gen. Wright, for service in
the Department Of the Pacific.
Coy; johnson, having nearly. completed the
official business which brought him hither,
will soon return to Tennessee.
Hon. Robf. J: Walker has gone TO Europe
partly on behalf OF the Quicksilver Mining
Company, to assert its claim in suit against
Baron Forbes, who represents the Company
now In possession Of the mines. lie will also
act IS agent for this. Government, for the
purpose Of efecting arrangements to secure
uniform weights and MEASURES Of corn, SO
tar as to be equal In weights and measures be-
tween the United States and Great Britain,
and thus cqualize exchanges, for the convcui-
ence Of commerce, as recommended in the
annual report Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury.
new YORK, April 1s.-The New York III.
6un%'s Washing ton6pecial, tclegraphs: "Those
who are in possession Of all that Is known on
the subject OF our relations with Great Britain
feel that they have reason to be more hopeful
Of pacific solution Of the pending questions
than they were n few days ago. They think
waye, md that she will, either through the
agency Of courts, or By some other means,
stop The fleet now being fitted out In her ports
from going to sea. All the evidence Of Late
| points in this direction.
The Monitors hereafter to be built, and, SO
far as practicable, those now building, will be
required to be constructed in accordance with
the terms Of m additional specification drawn
for the purpose Of obvistiDg certain defects Of
comparatively unimportant character
brought TO light during the recent contest at
Tie President, ashe Secretary Of War and
Provost Marshal General were again in consul
tation today over the appointments under
the Enrolment act. It Is now believed that
although there Is no official iut!matiou on the
subject, thoec for New York aad Pcnnsylya-
mia, Mt least, will be announced next week,
Gen. Ahercron1bic Is to assume command Of
the concentrated forces for the defense Of
Washington south Of the Potamac. Gee, Casey
retains his position as commander and organ
fzcr OF provisional brigades, with his head
quarters at Nashiugt under Gen.
Hcintzelman-
FROM CINCINNATI.