, 1863-03-07

IL ANAa tA0 ~ L. AAk0AAS'J
- WASHINGTON, March 4, 1863.
IMPOSING DUTIES ON IMPORTS.
The following arc the provisions Of bill to
modify existing laws imposing duties on in
ports and for other purposes, which is to b.:
reported to the House from the Committee Of
Ways and means tonight or tomorrow:
Section allows goods in bord over one year
and less than three to b. Withdrawn for consamp-
tio9. npon payment @ ofdu:ies imposed BY the tariI
Section allows cotton and raw silk OF the
growth Or produce Of places beyond the Cape
side Of the Cape OF Cool Hope, TO Be- exempt
from the ten per cent. additional duty uow inl-
posed.
Section allows exemption Of guano for two
Section allows exemption OF ships and vessels
from anything more than m annual Tonnage duty to
ard from ports In Central America
Section L reduces the duty On printing paper to
Section axss as crude petroleum or crude Oh at
Section allows gunpowder to be exempt, and
faetnte ofgnnpowGer when exported.
TIE. COURT OF CLAIMS BILL
The Court Of Claims bills, as reported from
the Committee Of Conference and passed by
the House to-day, provides for two additional
Court to enter up final Judgment, snbject to
appeal 10 the Supreme Court by either party
in cases involving more than 5000, ond By
the Government also where the decision may
affect o class Of cases. This power Of final
Judgment is, however, subject to the proyiso
the Treasury unless an appropriation there
for has been Toted By Congress. It is prob
able that the Chief Justice OF tue new Court
will be the Hon John 4. Bingham, of Ohio,
who is strongly pressed by his fellow Con
Eressmen. There are several candidates from
Illinois for one Of the Judgeships.
PAYMENT oF DISCHARGED rR1yArEs.
The Government is paying of discharged
privates at the rate Of two regiments q week,
and officers who have thrown up their CON.
missions and had them promptly accepted at
the rate Of thirty day. The officers arc Of
that sort that should hare never entered the
service, and whom Gen. Hooker is rapidly
nine-montls beauties who enlisted for the
bounties, and took into the service neither
health, patriotism, nor honesty.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST COMMISSIONERS
uALLOwAY.
The Select Committee, Of which Represeu-
tatiye Sheffield Is Chairman, on the charges
preferred in q pamphlet form bE R. Bets
against the Commissioner Of Patents, Mr..
Halloway, eay in their report that they were
surprised to learn that practice had grown
up in the bureau of reporting 10 Congress
its receipts and expenditures only, lcayino
that body ignorant Of its outstanding 1iabili-
ties: Another embarrassment In the way Of
thc Committee Tns the falsity Of. Hailoway's
response to the resolution Of the House passed
january, 1869 in which the expenditures were
stated y: 1000, when, as added up, they
amount to S40546. Mr.. Halloway cxpIaIns
this By attr;buting the discrepancy 10 the
clerks who furnished the data. The Com.
mittee also ind that, while the Commissioner
caused to be printed ten copies Of specitica-
tiOns, drawings. &c of Inventions occord{ror
TO law, at a cost Of $17,0s7, he procured
twenty additional copies ut a cost OF BIT -GM.
without the authority Of law. As to the ex.
penses Of temporary clerks, the Commit
IF IL psy psst aFf i've about the
IL business 81 has now i {silcn Of far4easS neaGl9
hity per cent. The practice Of the Bureau
Of 1e ting original papers on fle 70 out into
Ihe Eands q temporary clerks meets with the
Gonnittee's censure. They find sustained
mendcd the payment Of q claim Of Henry T.
Davis to the amount Of $5,720, after it had
been twice or more rejected By his predeccs-
eors IN Office. They are not satisfied with his
explanation. They further say that he has
un1aW1aliy una reduced salaries. There was not
sufficient proof to sustain the other charges,
which we're Of minor character.
The Committee conclude By reminding the
House Of the relative importance Of the Pat
cnt OiEee in its connection with The inlustri-
u 1n1clcs1s, and say Its administration re-
quires the highest qualifications Of intclli
gencc, business habits, and industry. The
Committee find that the Commissioner en-
ploycd as clerks two ladies, whose husbands
are IN the South, and that he Is now paving
half salary to one Of them, though she has
gone South, and is now there with her hus-
bard.
The House has adopted the report, and
passed a resolution that it be printed and a
copy thereof sent to the President Of the
United States.