The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-11-17
WASHINGTON.
MAsH1NaroN. NoH. Is.

VI hA6d4N9IOGg ENDNs 4Os
Supervising Architect, Mullett, has
submitted his report on the condition
of the public buildings under his su-
pervision for the year ending Sept. S0th,
1868. The business is now greater than
at any time since Its organization. The
report mentions, among the causes of
embarrassment in the completion of
the many buildings In the course of
erection, Is the eight hour system on
l4ioVernment work; which the super
visIng architect condemns strongly,
ana states that It has greatly increased
thsicost and retarded the progress of
the buildings under the charge OF his
Office. Herecommends thata sufficient
i portion OF the Battery at New York be
| purchased as a site for appraisofB
atorea. and ultimately q now Custom
| House, The present building being
crowded, and the increase OF business
making additional room necessary.
he also calls attention TO the difficult
ties OF indiscriminate bidding for
Government contracts, and recon-
mends that some restrictions be placed
upon n Under the present plan the
most worthless and Incompetent bid
der having the right to insist upon the
acceptance of his proposal, even
though the department may be conf
dent II cannot be enforced. All efforts
to collect damages for breach of con-
tract have heretofore failed.
Conmissioner Rollins has issued a
circular calling the attention of all
the othcers of Internal Revenue to the
regulations Tor the marking and brand
ing of casks or packages of distilled
spirits. A strict compliance with which
is enjoined on all officers, especially
gaugsrs. Complaints are made that
there ~ a great lack of uniformity
among Rnugers in carrying out regulR-
lions and IL Is charged that in some
districts tue regulations are persistently
and deli6erately disregarded- An Of
hcers are Notified that they must be
strictly complied with. Il is also re-
ported that the stamps for dlstslled
spirits are insmost instances negligent
~ and insec1rely attached, this Is
almost entirely the result of Careless
ness on the paft of the Rauger and
undue haste in afhxing the stamps.
Care must be takento attach the stamp
securely and smoothly to clean sur
face and the gauger must take time 10
do SO. After it is SO amxed IL should
be cancelled as prescribed, then cover
ed with Transparent yarnish. This is a
matter for which the gauger will be
held responsible, and a desire to do the
space OF time Will not be accepted asan
excuse for failure to do work well.
Collectors and other receiving officerh'I
are instr ucted to detain or seize any
and all casks or packages OF spirits
after the receipt OF these instructions
which are not marked and branded aB
required by the instructions, series 40,
No. Z, and the supplement thereto, and
forthwith report the facts to this office.
The owners Of the spirits will ind it to
his interest to insist that the gauger
does his work correctly. Any neglect
to mark or brand spirits as required by
the regulations or any case of negli-
gence or carelessness in attaching
stamps. should be at once reported to
this ofice that proper steps may be
taken for the dismissal of officers so
doing, and collectors Will also be juslf-
fed in declining to assign any gauger
TO duty who shall be found guilty OF
such negligence, carelessness or disre-
gard OF regulations.
The Comptroller of the Currency has
concluded his annual report, which
has been sent TO the public pI inter. He
recommends the redemption of the
National Bank notes OF New York, and
prohibiting the payment Of interest on
bank balances by banks of that city.
The report Will contain the usual sta
testioal information showing the con.
dItion of banks; amount OF taxes paid;
amount OF lawful money reserved, etc.
The number of banks organized since
number closing is twelve; the number
which have failed Is four.
a dispatch from San Francisco dated
the 10th says, passengers and mails by
the Union Pacific Railroad are now
carried to Argenta, Nevada, the station
for the Reese River Mining district, SS5
miles east of Sacramento. The track is
laid 65 miles further east. The earn
ings for October exceeded $500, 900.