New-York tribune., 1871-08-25
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.

THE INTERNAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS IN Ihb
SOUTHERN sTATES-THE LAKE HURON LIGHT
HOUSE GRANITE-THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT
VISIT THE CAPITOL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUNB.l
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Aug. "a, 1871
The secretary OF the Treasury recently appointed
number Of temporary clerks under the Fifth Auditor OF
the Treasury TO audit the accounts OF Commissioners
and Collectors OF Internal Revenue in the southern
States These accounts consist principally Of receipt and
record books in which collections were noted during the
early days of the internal revenue but in giving re-
ceipt many Of these officers were very careless, and
frequently omitted the name Of the person pay
ing the tax, the serial number the kind OF tax ana
sometimes made entry AT all, not even the amount OF
money pad on the stub Of the receipt books One re-
ceipt book sometimes accompanied four or hve record
books and the clerks experience much difficulty in
tracing some Of these payments through these DOCKS
the number OF the books not appearing on the stub OF
the check book The Secretary supposed the clerks a
pointed for the purpose would do this work in rev
months but it appears il will not be finished inside oi
three years, and will probably require longer PERIOD
Frederick schey ex Collector OF Internal Revenue OF
the IVth District Of Maryland, was here yesterday 10
effect an adjustment Of his accounts. His books ana
papers were destroyed by the Rebel Army when 1t made
it's raid into Frederick CITY, In consequence Mr schley
was unable TO determine the amount Of uncollected
taxes then on his list Congress passed bill Tor MS re-
lief by which he expects TO lie able TO satisfy the ac-
counting officers that the balance OF $1,000 appearing
against him on the books from taxes which had not
been collected at the time of the raid
About 100000 OF the s54OOOCO authorized for the
National Banks in the West and South have been alb
sorbed the West having received most OF its quota
Nearly all Of the remainder VIII be distributed in the
South.
A 12-horse power steam-engne, TO work fogsignai'
will at once placed at Eaton's Neck Lighthouse sta
on on Long Island at the east side Of the entrance 10
Huntington Bay During thick, foggy, and snowy
weather this signal will be sounded giving blasts oi
nine seconds duration, at intervals of IS seconds.
The United States steamship Iroquos was put in com
mission at Philadelphia YESTERDAY She is destined for
the Asatc feet The storeshipt Relief, which recently
arrived NewYork from Europe has been ordered 10
the Washington Navy-Yard TO discharge her cargo.
Thomas NJ. NewsOn OF Duluth, Government con-
tractor has applied TO Secretary Boutwell, 10 be relieved
from the his contract TO furnish granite for the
new lighthouse Lake Huron, because he cannot sup
ply the stone without great pecunary loss MT. New
sons name has been brought into much prominence IN
Congress Representative Farnsworh and others on
account Of the rejection year two ago OF his DID,
which was the lowest furnish granite for the Custom
House at St Paul MINI. The supervising architect re-
eced the bid the ground that at the rate proposed II
was apparent that the granite could not be taken from
the quarry and events show that the charge OF Improper
conduct on the part OF the architect was UNJUST
Messrs. OutOn, Lee, and Wilson, recently appointed
Government Commissioners OF the southern Pacluc Kali
road having accepted their appointments have been in
structed TO proceed Immediately with the examination
of the second section Of 20 miles OF said road.