The New York herald., 1868-04-03
MISCELLANEOUS WASHINGTON NEWS.

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WASHINGTON April 2, 1883.
No Business Transacted in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives.
The House met at twelve O'Clock. leave OF absence
was granted to several Of the members. Mr. WASH
burne Of Illinois, suggested that II should be the un-
derstanding daily that no business should be done
ON the return Of the House to its chamber
unless the Speaker notified the House In
the morning that business would be done In the eve
ming Mr.. Niblack suggested that he would move
for some badge Of honor, red feather or something
OF that sort, to be worn by the Chairman OF the
Committee Of the Whole, as to distinguish him m
the Senate. The House then proceeded in the usual
order to the Senate chamber TO attend to the i'm
peachment trial.
Tho Tobacco Tax.
The new Tax bill will not contain any provisions
altering the existing rates OF tax on tobacco all
reports to the contrary Notwithstanding. Whatever
change may be made in the present provisions af-
fecting the article will apply solely to the grade
Of manufacture, embracing stems and other re-
fuse, which will be so framed az to pre-
vent 70 large class Of frauds which have
long been successfully perpetrated 1t is believed in
official quarters that the Committee Of Ways and
Means will not in view Of its action on the whiskey
tax, recede in any degree on an article from which
twenty-five millions Of revenue is anticipated
RumOred Removal Of General Emory by
General Hancock.
It has been rumored within the last day or two
that General Hancock intends to relieve General
Emory from the command OF the Department Of
Washington and, notwithstanding the authorita-
tive denial to the contrary, still insists that
General Gordon Granger is to be his successor.
There Is good reason to believe that General Granger
is designed for some special mission, the time for
which has not arrived, and his prolonged presence
here, together with his frequent interviews at the
White House, would seem to strengthen such belief.
General Hancock, however, has not yet ordered any
changes in departmental commanders and has not
intimated that any such changes have been contem:
plated.
General Hancoclk's Headquarters.
Major General Hancock has not perm anently
established his headquarters He Is still remaining
in the same building with General Emory. Very
little business has yet been transacted by him,
and no changes have been made in the different de-
partmens embraced in the Division Of the Atlantic.
The Case of Samuel Strong.
Some days ago Samuel Strong was arrested here,
on the instance of the Governor OF Virginia,
charge of having obtained signatures to writings
under false pretences with intent to defraud. Hav
ing been brought before Judge Fisher, he was dis
charged the ground that Virginia was not State
in the Union and therefore Governor Pierponts
requisition could not be recognized. Subsequently
General Schofeld, commanding the First Mill
tary District OF Virginia, addressed q requisitiOn
to Chief Justice Cartier, of the Supreme Court,
of the District of Columbia requiring, in the pursu
OF the provision OF the constitution and the laws
of the United States, that Strong be apprehended and
delivered to authorized agent, TO be delivered to
the First Military District, to be dealt with according
to law The argument in the case having been heard,
the District Attorney said that to-day he desired to
Executive in the State OF Virginia. either civil mill
tary. The principal question was whether the afflda
Wit as necessary and properly held to be one
in addition to the Indictment. Counsel for Strong said
it was important TO know in an authoritative way
whether the requisitOn was proper after the party
was waiting only different process. Counsel did
not regard this military requisition within the law
OF Congress. The District Attorney thought there
should he thorough investigation Of the case.
The point whether Strong should be
surrendered on the requsition. Judge Cartier
said this was very important question, not particu
ary to the matter before him, but as a matter of
principle The District Attorney thought the requsi-
ton clearly within the law. Judge Cartier said
the point whether mere demand entities the sur
render OF the fugitive had been fairly made.
The decisions, more or less, had been influenced by
political considerations. He desired until tO-mor
row to took further into the question.
The Alleged Frauds mt the Brownsville,
Texas, Custom House.
The Treasury Department has received advices
from Brownsville, Texas, where frauds were recent
y perpetrated stating that nearly all OF the Customs
officers have been arrested and q number OF ndict.
merits found against them; the deputy of the office
is incidGed IN the arrest Owing to these circum-
stances mich confusion prevails in business
circles. specia, Deputy Field has been sus.
pended from onice by order of the Secretary
Of the Treasury The nomination Of Kellean V.
whaley for Collector Of the Port has I9t ys' oeen
acted upon by the Senate. 'V"
Affairs in Japan-Lette~ ,-or, ,,,r;u,.- w..
%. (. . x'Sgs ..ikenOurg.
Thc fQp""".hg telegram relative to the internal
arairs of japan received this day at the Depart
ment Of state:-
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN JArAN,)
HioGo, March .. !
VIA SAN FRANCISCO, April l. 1868. J
To Hon. w. III. SEWARD, Secretary OF State:--
The Tycoon was driven from Osaca after five days.
lighting on the 4th OF February the Japanese at
tackled, with rifles, the foreigners at this place. One
American sailor and two Frenchmen were wounded.
They were pursued by American and other
Iuarines and sailors and dispersed. The town is for
tilted. On the Sth the Mikados envoy arrived and
peace was restored The foreign ministers demand an
apology and the capital punishment OF the officers
ordering the attack. The demand was acquiesced
in and the execution is expected to-day. The Ty-
coon has abdicated. The Mkado is sending troops
towards Jeddo. Notices OF neutrality have been
issued by all the foreign representatives.
have the honor to he, sir, your obedent servant,
r. b. VAN VALKENBURG.
Political Agent of the Swiss Confederation.
Mr.. John Hetz who has for some time past very
acceptably represented here the government OF the
Swiss Confederation as Consul General, presented
yesterday the Secretary of state his credentials as
political agent of that government.
Customs Dues mt Havnnn-Dcfcctivc Mani
tests.
Our vice Consul General at Havana has just OBJ
tained the remission of very heavy penalty imposed
upon the schooner Thomas Booz for entering the port
OF Cuba with manifest defective In showing larger
cargo than that actually board, the vessel having
been inadequate to carry the whole cargo intended to
he shipped and entered upon the manifest Such cases
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