The New York herald., 1865-03-31
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

wAsnrsoros March 80 1865
COLLECTOR DRApER's REPORT REGARDING THE COT
TON CAPTURED AT sAvASSAH.
Mr. Simeon Draper has arrived here from Savannah,
and s stopping at Wizards He has made an inter-
estng and elaborate report to the Secretary Of the
Treasury OF the facts connected with the Savannah
cotton. Thirty eight thousand FIVE hundred bales,
of which six thousand island, cap
tured in all This had been gathered Savannah
from various parts Of the confederacy prevent fall
ing into tho hands Of Union radng parties but princi
paly TO facilitate Its shipment in blockade
Most Of it belonged TO the rebel government and
found stored in different sections Of the city In regard
to the stories about the private marks the cotton hav
ing been removed, Mr. Draper states that after Gene
raj Sherman took possession of the cotton many
people went into the warehouses whore 1t
stored, and marked large number Of bales Some Of
these marks represented persons who dead. The
who had marked the bales and proessed to be
genuine claimants Of the cotton the legitimate
living representatives Of the former Upon these
facts becoming known order was made TO prevent
unauthorized persons from entering such warehouses
Another assigned for this order by Mr. Draper h
that was necessary prevent the agents Of the rebel
government from setting it fire. which was several
times attempted He denies that private marks, which
upon the cotton when into the possession Of
the government have been oblterated removed and
pronounces the statements which have been made to
that effect untrue The rebel government brand
was removed from . large number of bales by
the rebos at the time Of the evacuation. their intention
being to claim the cotton themselves. Undoubtedly
among the bogus claimants many OF those persons
A great portion Of the baggng destroyed in
moving the marks New baggng was necessary, which
was furnished by Quartermaster General Meigs. Not
private mark upon bale Of the cotton obliteraed
by the United States officers agents. Mr. Draper
nounced in public notice. that any statement that any
party desired to make concerning tho cotton known at
Savannah would be received by agent designated for
that purpose In accordance with this notice many
statements made, and have been placed e, and
will at the proper time receive due consideration from
the Secretary of the Treasury 1t Is auhortatively
nounced that the cotton will be disposed of ut auction in
the city OF New York. at such time shall hereafter bo
designated by the Secretary of the Treasury
THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE BROOKLYN NAVY
YARD.
Commodore Charles H. Bell has been ordered to the
command of the Navy Yard at New York, in place of
Admiral Pauldng the order to take effect the first OF
May
PRISONERS OF WAR RECLARED EXCHANGED.
Official notification has been received Of the following
exchanges of prisoners Of war-A United States officers
and men prisoners Of war, not heretofore declared
changed, who delivered parole at Savannah Ga,
and Charleston, s. c., during the months Of November
and December 1884 and all not heretofore declared
changed, delivered parole on the James river Va,
from the 25th Of November 1884 to tho 25th day of
March, 1885, both days inclusive and all navy prisoners
delivered at any points up TO March 10, 1895.
THE TRIAL OF MISS NARY HARRIS.
This afternoon Miss Mary Harris who shot J. Bur-
roughs clerk the Currency Bureau Of tho Treasury
Department. of the halls Of the Treasury Building
the 30th Of January last arragned in the Criminal
Court for trial, on indictment for murder She was
accompanied 70 the court by Mr. Beac the Warden
Of the prison. Mr. Fayman, one Of the gusrds and Mrs
Beac. She yelled that only the lower part Of her
face visible Quite sensation produced in the
court by the entrance Of the prisoner The usual pre
mnaries were gono through with, and to the charge,
that she did, with malice aforethough the Both OF
January fire the fatal shot, the prisoner pleaded guilty
She then remsnded to Jail. Tho time for her trial
has yet boen fixed Tho counsel for the
Messrs Joseph II Bradley, W. 8 Fondail Of this city
and Hon. D. w. Voorhees,, Of Indiana.
THE TAX ON CIGARETTES.
Instructions will be sent 10 the internal on
to the effect that after the rst Of April
cigarettes will be taxed follows-Thirty i've cents per
pound upon the smoking tobacco Of which they are
nade and the completed cigarettes Ave per nd
vaorem Cut tobacco may be inspected In boxes before
packing o. the place OF tts MANUFACTURE.
NATIONAL BANKS.
has been asccrtancd at the Currency Bureau that
the State banks OF Massachusetts, and New York
rapidly being converted into national banks Those OF
Rhode Island have commenced avang themselves Of
the enabling recently passed. and banks oil the
country manifest q similar disposition The law allows
national banks to issue onesixh OF their circulation in
notes Of less denomination than five dollars The Cur
rncy Bureau has received Of such money, which
will be issued the banks the order OF their
ton
sHIPs-oF.wAR TO BE LAID UP.
1t is under consideration by the Secretary OF the Navy
TO retire about half OF the vessels In commits
sion, and the surplus and andsmen employed
board for land service This will add about twenty
five thousand TO the effective land forces The capture Of
all rebel ports will enable this important reduction to be
made in the naval force and large saving expense
that branch OF service.
IMPORTANT TO INVENTORS.
Congress- at last session, passed act providing that
any person, whether inventor assignee, for whom
patent ordered to upon the payment OF the final
fee, but who had failed TO make payment thereof shall
have the right TO make application for patent the
in the OF original application, provided
snch application be made within two years after the
date Of the allowance OF the original application and
nothing herein shall be construed hold RESPONSE
BILE in damage any persons who have manufactured
used any article thing for which the patent aforc
said ordered to issue This act applies to all
in the patent ofce and also to such may here.
after bc fled
CONTRACTS FOR HIDES, TALLow, ETC.
The contracts for the purchase OF hides alow &C
OF animals slaughtered for the OF the government In
the District OF Columbia awarded by Captain
Bridges Assistant Commssary, at the rate OF twelve
dollars and sixteen cents per head.
FORTRESS MONROE.