The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-04
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Special kilograms 10 the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, August 3, 1870

LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Special kilograms TO the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, August 3, 1870
The Appropriation Bill.
The Legislative and executive appropria-
ton bill passed by Congress in July last
CONSTITUTES the fifth section of the act of
March 5, 1871, known rs the " storage COM
pcnsation,' entirely different from the con-
struction given by the Supreme Court some
years ago, and allows extra pay to customs,
surveyors, and naval officers. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury submitted to the At
torney-Gencral a letter of inquiry from
CommisSioner-of-Cust Sargent asking
IN opinion upon the matter, and also whe-
ther Congress can oycr-rule and set aside a
decision of the Supreme Court in its con-
struction of 4 law and if SO, if they can
make them retrospective, etc.
Attorney General Alderman to-day rem
dercd his opinion on the subject. He says !:
:. No doubt this eighth section was intend
ed to have effect rctfoSpcctiyely, and must
he so regarded. 1t does nothing more in
its retrospective operation than to give ma
val officers and surveyors greater compen-
sation for past services than the law rs eX-
rounded by the Supreme Court gave them
when the service was rendered. There is
nothing in the Constitution or the practice
| of the Government prohibiting such dona-
tions. In all cases where accounts are still
omen these officers should he allowed to re-
| ccivc the credit allowed by the act of 1870,
and in all accounts for future services the
same credit should be allowed. No account
closed should, however, be again opened to
pay this extra donation. Hundreds Of ac-
counts of surveyors and naval storekccpers
have not been closed during the past forty
Years because the Government officials
would not allow these officers the two
thousand dollars year additional pay, and
the latter nearly always withheld it from
trent and storage receipts, etc.
| Commissioner Sargent says this raises the
salaries of all these places throughout the
country from $500 to $500, and that il
will take half million dollars to settle VI
the past accounts.
MIR. DAVIS was aware of the operations
of this section, aud promised to have II
changed, but failed to do so.
| Attorney General Akerman
will remain here during the month of Au
gust, and in the early part of Septembel
Twill 90 to Georgia, to spend several week
with his family, and will turn over 10 the
gentleman who succeeds him as United
states district attorney for that State all TIT
business, papers, ETC., connected with thai
office.
| MIR. Alderman thinks his opinion on thu
absent sections in the appropriation bill
will not interfere to any extent with TIT
workings of the Departments, and that thu
. law can be changed and the blunder
rcmcdicd when Congress reAssembles.
Sale OF Stamps.
The following is the number of stamp
sold, and the amount received for them
for the month of July: Tobacco stamps
Is, 952. SCI; value, $2,742, 67l.57. Distilled
spirits stamps, 390,950; value, $3,137 ,015
Beer stamps, 2,GGl OPS; value, SIS, 533
Miscellaneous stamps, 81 ,G32,3lG; value
Isl, Oh ,S50.G7. The total number of stamp.
sold were 1861 ,l55. The total revenue
thcrcform was s. $50, 1924.
National Banks.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue
decides that bank having declared divi
dend on the 18th of July to be paid on thu
LIST of August, Il tax of five per cent. mus
he collected instead of two and one-hali
Der cent. The two and one-half per cent
law goes into effect ut the expiration Of thl:
month.
Personal.
The Secretary of War will accompany Tho
President us far as st. Louis; he will thel
proceed to his home at kcokuk, Iowa, ant
will return here i'll September.
WALLACE.
Various Items.
| WASHINGTON. August 81. Il. Suit has
been elected president Of the Washington
and Boston Steamship Company.
| The revenue receipts to-day were Over
81, 200, 900.
Bank dividends declared July 18th
though payable August 1st, are taxable
The total Treasury disbursements fol
July, exclusive of interest, were over 81,
100000.
The President will be here few hour:
tomorrow.
The steamer Guard, recently returned
from the Darien canal survey, has beer
ordered off Labrador to protect American
fishing interests.
Strenuous efforts are afoot to secure the
pardon of the Fenan " General" ONeil.
The Northern Pacific railroad has dcpos
tied the first mortgage bond, thereby Sc
curing the issue of bonds to it. A 50 ,ooC
revenue stamp was attached to the lnstru'
| mcnt.
| The French Minister to-day officially i'll
formed the Government OF the existence ol
| ,,n,, hntuoou Eranrp and Prussia,