The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-02
The Commissioner and the Secretary in
a WOrdy Discussion.
NEW TREATY WITH NICARAGUA.
The Transit Route to be Free to
the United States.
Movements OF Our Foreign
SquadrOTs.
PIRACY IN THE CHINESE SEAS

PIRACY IN THE CHINESE SEAS
.G WASHINGTON, Sept. l, 1868.
Increase Of the Public Debt.
1t IL estimated that the forthcoming public debt
statement will show an increase Of several Millions
probably five or six millions. The disbursements
during August on account OF the War Department
expenses have been very heavy, which, taken with
the Alaska payment and disbursements on account
OF the public debt and other accounts, will swell the
total.
Interview Between Secretary ATcCulloch and
Commissioner Rollins.
The promised Interview between Secretary McCu-
loch and Commissioner Rollins, from which a legion
of office seekers have been drawing large draughts
OF hope, was held to-day. The conversation at the
meeting would probably be more appropriately de-
scribed by calling it discussion rather than an in
terview, for the whole time was consumed in argu-
ing the justice and prOprety OF deciding the dis
puted question in exact accordance with the wishes
OF each other. Nothing was accomplished in the
way Of appointment but the result Of the discussion
is that the Secretary and Commissioner Will meet
daily If possible, or at all events as often as
their other official duties will permit, for the
purpose OF continuing the discussion. The name OF
each man nominated by the Commissioner will then
be taken up in regular ORDER and his merits and
deserts canvassed. Thus IL is supposed that several
Of those already nominated will be rejected, and
others agreed upon who are more acceptable to the
| Secretary. Whether the list Of Supervisors who
shall be appointed at these meetings will contain u
majority OF democrats or republicans seems to rest
altogether upon the eanestness and persistence
with which either of the Official advocates shall
present the claims of his favories One thing, how
ever is very ciear which is that the whole number
OF Supervisors cannot be agreed upon within the
present week. as the warmth OF the contention over
each name will necessarily restrict the number ap
pointed TO one or two at each interview.
Inconsistency of Commissioner Rollins In De-
Gliding Revenue Law Points.
IL has been several times stated that the President
becoming somewhat impatient at the unreasonable
length Of time consumed by Mr.. Rollins In his efforts
to find successor suitable to himself has been col
lectng the odds and ends OF charges and complaints
made from time to time against Mr.. Rollins and his
sub0rdinates, ana Is engaged in putting them to-
gether. IL IL understood now that the President has
an ''ugly rod in picke'' for the obdurate Commits
sioner, and among the mysterious matters on
file waiting TO he explained away Is the following
account OF Mr.. Rollins decisions on revenue law
points. Messrs. Swift & Courtney, match manufac-
turers in Wilmington, DEL, wrote to the Com
missioner inquirng in regard to the legality Of their
method Of stamping matches, to which the Com
missioner gave the following reply
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.,
f.I OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE!
WASHINGTON. Feb. %, 1857.
GESTLEMEN--Your letter Of the goth inst. has been
received In which you state that friction matches
are put up In boxes holding less than llfty matches
each, and that two such boxes are glued together
and stamped with one centetamp put on where the
boxes are joined together so that one stamp only
affixed to both boxes, and you inquire II matches
thus put up and stamped are properly and lawfully
In han tn hat ha lax.
quires that there shall be placed every parcel or
package Of friction matches containing one hundred
parcel or package contains more than one
hundred and not more than two hundred
matches two cent stamp, and for every
| an additional one cent stamp. The law In this
spect is plain and explicit. The stamp must he put
upon each parcel or package, no matter what num-
Der 1t contains whether more than one hundred or
less. The practice OF glueng together two or more
parcel or package but a bundle OF parcels or pack
ages and the law requires that each parcel or pack
age Of such bundle shall be stamped. The stamp Is
defines what the value OF the stamp shall be, gradu-
aed according to the number OF matches contained
therein when such number exceeds hun
| dred. Matches put up ia boxes In the manner
described by you and the boxes glued together with
but single one cent stamp so attached as TO partly
different parcels or packages are not properly
stamped NJ provided by law; and any party who
manufactures and sells exposes for sale, sends out,
removes or delivers matches put up and stamped In
the described Is liable TO the penalty imposed
bg the 2i3th paragraph complied edition OF the In.
ternal Revenue law, for evading part OF the duty
| chargeable upon such matches And any person
who offers exposes for sale matches thus impro-
perry stamped is subject TO all the duties, liabilities
| and penalties imposed by law on domestic articles
sold without the use OF the proper stamp or stamps
| denoting the taxes paid thereon, under paragraph
30 compiled edition or the Internal Revenue law.
Yours respectfully, Il. A. ROLLINS,
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue.
This nrni, finding that the Star Match COMPANY or
Portland Me-, was putting up and stamping
matches in precisely the same manner they them
selves had been doing, called the attention OF the
Commissioner TO the fact. Upon the reception Of
this information the Commissioner ordered the
seizure OF the goods thus put up and sent out from
the star Company. The company then employed a
brother OF Commissioner Rollins, who practices law
in Portland, TO proceed to Washington and defend
the company from the charge OF fraud The visit Of
Rollins the attorney, resulted in the following letter
to the star Company
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
WASHINGTON, April 20. 1867.
SIR-Upon the verbal representations made by
You 80 this ONCE relative TO your mode OF putting
up and stamping matches am satisfied that you
honestly entertained the belief that you were FULLY
Complying with the requirements Of the law when
you mad Affixed one cent stamp upon every one
hundred matches though the same were packed In
two boxes glued together, each containing 1fty or
less matches.
This mode Of putting up, or rather Of stamping, is
deemed and held TO be insufficient. Nevertheless, IA
there no Intentional fraud In this case. but
merely Misrepresentation OF the requirements Of the
law, shall order release OF the matches which
have been seized and allow the sale OF the matches
which have passed out OF the possession OF the CON-
pany, without requiring any additional stamps to be
affixed and without rendering parties holding these
matches liable TO any fines. penalties or forfclturcs
on account Of such sale and exposure.
The company Ia at liberty to make usc OF this letter
In any way which their interest In the sale OF their
matches already put upon the market may demand.
Respectfully yours,
r.. A. ROLLINS Commissioner.
J. =. FERsALD, general agent Star Match Com
pany, Portland, Me.
Supervisor for Now York City.
Commissioner Rollins has recommended 10 the
Secretary Of the Treasury for appointment Spencer
Kirby az Supervisor under the new Internal Reve-
nue. law for New York city; but the President is In
favor Of General T. W. Eagen fog tbst posyiN.E
Now Trade REGULATIONS Betvvu4S Ho<lYYork