The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-30
WASHINGTON.
Tho Reward for the Discovery OF tho
Lincoln Assassins-- Consolidation OF the
Divisions Of tho Treasury Depart
ment-Ab0litiOn Of Slavery in
Cuba-TranspOrtation Of
Bonded Merchandise.


WASHINGTON, Sept 90 1870
Tho Great Reninfs.ence OF the RebclliOn-.
Tho Lincoln Assassin Reward.
The litigation concerning the rival claims to the
$50 900 reward offered by the Washington city Cor
porat0n for tho capture OF the Lincoln assassina-
ton conspirarors Is not yet ended For the past two
days 1t has been before the General Term OF the
District Supreme Court here ON appeal from the
Special Term, the question being the right Of d.
vision OF the reward. Tho heirs OF the late Lewis
Baker. the notorious government detective under
Stanton, and two others the plaintiffs while The
defendants are thirty-nine in number. including
Captain Doherty and the soldiers making the
capture OF Booth ana Harold: Prentiss NJ. Clark a
citizen, who claims to have given the Information
and devised the plan which resulted In the capture
OF Mrs. Surratt and Payne and Messrs.
A. Q. Allen and W. M. Kirby, who claim
to have given the first clue as to
the direction taken by Booth ana others. 1t was
claimed by counsel In the court below that the
p0ration had no authority to offer this reward and
consequently tho bill should be dismissed, and also
that the parties claiming this reward did nothing
more than as good citizens they should have done.
The case was appealed to the General Term ana was
taken up yesterday 1t Is contended for the soldiers
that the officers and soldiers are not prevented from
maintaining this action, although iG has been held
that public officer, whose duty 1t was TO apprehend
Offenders, might rewards offered for the ap-
prenenson OF such oenders that II this rule should
be applied this case 1t might affect Baker, but
the soldiers They were not detectives; they were
not paid for this service, nor was 1t part OF
their duty soldiers OF the United States to assist
In the capture OF offenders against the law. They
were officers and soldiers Of the United States ana
not OF the city OF Washington and the city OF Wash
tngtOn can take no advantage or the fact OF their
being Oficers Of the general government The city
Of Washington has not interp0sed that plea, and II
1t were correct as o proposition Of law II would
have no application to this case under the present
state OF pleadings, and the only ground ON which
the claim Of these parties can be rejected apper-
talnng to this branch OF the case Is that the con-
tract is against public policy. The aw.making
power of the United States having ordered payment
to be made upon like contract with the same par
ties for the same service, has decided conclusvely
that it Is not against public policy Under this law
the rewards offered by the President Secretary Of
war-viz.. $75 0Oo-have been distributed the parties
he represents receiving their respective shares. On
the other side, the counsel for Mr.. Prentlss N.
Clark, who claims to have originated the plan which
led to the capture Of Mrs. Surrat and Payne MAN.
tain that persons In the police detective service OF
the United States and officers and soldiers detailed
for such service cannot recover any part OF the
reward offered by the city OF Washington for infor.
nation which led to the capture OF the conspirat0rs
and cite several authorities In support OF This pro-
vision.
Practical Workings Of rho Inv for tho Trans
portation Of Bonded Goods.
The regulations for the transportation OF mer-
chandise without appraisement, under the act Of
July H. 1870, which were issued yesterday were
prepared 10y special agent or the Treasury Depart
ment, whose large experience In customs matters
recommended him for this important duty. What
may be the result OF the new system, designed IL
LIS wen known, 20 take from Now York ana
two other important commercial cities lporton of
their trade a fair trial alone determine. The law
itself Ii very stringent as every one knows the
toms laws must be II the government expects to de-
rive just revenue from that source and II the regu
atons arc considered by the merchants of the cities
proposed to be benefited likely to make the trans
portaton OF their goods without appraisement more
expensive than under the Old system they cannot
complain. In the first place, Secretary Boutwell,
directed that In making the regulations everything
should be allowed that would facilitate the ship
ment OF goods with the least possible delay and that
nothing should be imposed but what the plain In
terests Of the required for the enforcement
railroad companies would be required to furnish
iron cars. but Secretary Boutwell, directed that no
such provision should be admitted into the regula
tions the common railroad box cars known as freight
cars, only being required. AS has already been
stated in these dispatches the law requires the ap-
pointment OF thirteen appraisers at an annual salary
Of three thousand dollars each, and also such num-
Der Of weighers, gaugers, measurers and inspectors
as may be necessary to execute the provisions OF the
act Take for instance, the port OF Norfolk,
rated III the list There have been duties enough
collected at that point for many months to pay the
wages OF an inspector. Louisville, Evansville and
in fact than half the places to ne provided
with additional customs offcers have not availed
themselves OF the privilege OF shipping goods III
bond. What, then, becomes Of the popular idea thar
New York Is to be relieved Of one-half of It's gold
transactions account Of the operations OF the new
system, which, instead OF facilitating the transmits
sion and delivery Of goods, must necessarily DO
attended with more delay thon ever That the prac
teal workings OF the law may be demonstrated
beyond question: Secretary Boutwell, has wisely pro-
vded that In addition to the returns required to be
sent to the Treasury Department, like returns
must be transmitted to the Bureau Of Statistics
within five days after the end or each
month, and VIXEN no transactions have occurred
connected with the immediate transportation
of merchandise under the act creating the
system, that also must be reported to the same bu-
roau. These statistics will DO published monthly and
the amount Of revenue derived set forth against the
expenses Of the government in carrying out the law
In TINS way, 1t s c0ntended, Congress will soon be
familarzed with the cost OF the scheme, and Judge
whether it IL consistent with an economical admins
tration Of the laws Again, interminabe difficulties
are apprehended In the transportation Of goods not
to be compared with the vexatious delays COM
planned OF heretofore. It Is thought by those best
quainted with the requirements Of the
new regulations and the former methods
OF importing and transporting goods that they
viii be found utterly impracticabe, and that
the only remedy will be to concentrate the force
the principal ports Of entry, establish bonded
warehouses, where the goods can be promptly taken