The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-25
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Proceedings Of Congressional Committees and at
tho Departments Postmaster Generals
Reception The New Election Laws
subsidies for Steamship Companies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %. 1871.

THE NEW ELECTION LAWS.
The House Judiciary Committee agreed yesterday
10 the bill amendat0ry Of the enforcement act passed
ut the last session. 1t is regarded as
very sweeping measure, and VIII In encct
reyoluti0nize the whole system OF registrar
ti0n and the holding OF elections. Onlcers
Responsible to the United States are TO be
appointed by the Judges OF United States Courts,
whose duty twill be to supervise all elections at
which members OF Congress are chosen. general
eupervisor OF elections is to be appointed by the
Suges OF the United states Circuit Court and unuer
hun are to be sufficient number OF nspecors, whose
uuCes are described TO be to attend the sitting5
O boards Of registration In the respective precincts
TO which they may be assigned. The bill provides
that every registration made under the laws Of any
Btate Territory for any State other election at
which representative delegate In Congress shall
BIO chosen, shall be deemed registration within
The meaning OF this &C. and also within
tho meaning of the act to which this
ts supplementary, Notwithstanding the same shall
also be made for the purposes OF any State, Terrific
rial or municipal election These alp0werfu in
speotors also authorized to challenge any vote Of
fered, to De and remain where the ballot boxes are
kept AT all times after the polls are open until each
and every vote cast at SAID time and place shall be
counted. the canvass of all votes poled be wholly
completed and the proper and requisite certificates
Or returns made, whether said certificates be re-
uuired under any law of the United States
or any Stale, Territorial or municipal law. In Short
these inspectors to take virtual control Of the
registration and tho polls on the day OF election
when Congressman is to be voted for, and TO look
Into every name registered and every ballot cast,
whether II be for Congressman or for State and
municipal officers. The State and municipal officers
of election are to be supervised and inspected ad
trrtta ctato nfJa Iarf
are 10 be backed by all the power OF tie govern
menk
PROPOSED TRANSFERS IN TIE ARMY.
1t has been decided at the War Department to
transfer the surplus lieutenans OF the artillery to
the infantry, and the second ieutenants or the
latter Of the will have opportunity Of
expressing their wish for transfer, If they have any,
before the transfers are mado. 1t appears that the
infantry Is wanting In oiicers OF the lower grade
and that the President has expressed himself as
opposed to appointing men from civil life to I'LL the
vacancies while there is q surplus of artll-
iery officers that can as well be assigned
ami save the government that much additional ex-
pese From the tenor OF the letters received at the
War Department tits evident the young eutenants
are not di3Dosed TO ask to be transferred, they
prefer the dignity OF The artillery service to that OF
the Infantry. Should not sufficient number desire
the change the commanding officers of the artillery
regiments Will then be called upon to recommend
such as in their opinion, can best be spared.
A SUPPLEMENTARY ARMY REGISTER.
TEe War apartment has In press a list of the
Commissioned officers Of the several regiments of
the army on the 1st Of January consolidated and
feorganlzed under the acts OF Congress approved
Marcn B. 1862 and July 1870, with their respective
dates of commission.
THE AMERICAN MEXICAN COMMISSION AT WORK.
yesterday In the case OF Thomas Devyer vs.. Mexico,
Commissioner PalacIo announced the opinion or the
Commissioners awarding the claimant $4,000 In
American gold coin, with interest at six per cent
per annum from the 10th OF May, 1864. In the case
OF Mary Brinconrt vs. Mexico, Commissioner Wads-
worth announced the opinion OF the Commissioners,
rejecting this claim for want OF jurisdiction.
ISSUANCE OF MARINE DOCUMENTS.
The Secretary of the Treasury has ruled that upon
the surrender oil temporary marine documents other
documents OF like character may be granted by
collectors OF customs to vessel away from her home
port
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
1t appears from the report OF the Librarian of Con-
gress that the library contains total OF l97 66S
bound volumes, besides about 10000 pamphlets.
The operation OF the copyright law has increased
the library during the past year to an unusually
large number, lz.:-BooSs, 274; pamphlets and
periodicals. 8, 1l0 musical compositions, 1881; en-
cravings photographs and chromos LIS; prints,
l. 426; maps and charts, 146 Total 11,512 Upwards
OF 5000 copyrights have been recorded in the
librarians Office during less than six months
ABATEMENT OF REVENUE TAXES.
the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue, in a letter
to the Chairman OF the Committee on Ways and
Means, states that since the passage Of the
laws authorizing the Commissioner to abate taxes,
about ten millions Of dollars have been abated
in CONSEQUENCE OF the insolvency or ao-
scondng of parties assessed, and that
but small percentage OF these taxes
has been collected after the abatement He believes
that il the collectors OF internal revenue were
allowed a special percentage to examine and COL
lect taxes abated large percentage of the same
would now be collected. in consequence Of parties
against whom the taxes were assessed having since
became solvent. He recommends the passage OF an
act authorizing The allowance OF commissions not
TO exceed twenty-five per cent for this purpose.
STATISTICS OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION
Monthly report No. OF the Bureau Of Statistics,
now in press, shows the. statistics of our foreign
trade for the month ended October 81 1870, and for
tho ten months ended the same, compared with the
corresponding periods of 1869. The following
synopsis has been furnished by Mr.. Young Chief Of
the Bureau
Mont, end end Oct sssSSs
Ten end Oct31,'7U 41US4i05 S59S2O,235 24eO4S51
Teu end. oca 69 S9s5i6o2l 2Sa,s5.s45 251s4,SIs
The proportion of the total foreign commerce
carried IN American vessels, respectively, during the
ten months ended October 81 1870 was as fol.
iowss-
Dom site Exports. Foreign
Imports. NJ led Values Exports.
American vessels. $3.50 $4,000 &lA2et30 Si2s29,98
Foreign yessels..... g79S9S,S91 2o9lt01S 1iT4,i5S
MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 81, 1869.
Domestic Foreign
Irnpoyts Exports Erp0,te
American vessels. 834 4i5 55 S12l030l7j $lJ0a2 sos
Foreign vessels.... 27510i a66 24o,2i329 lll72,0lJ
The entrances and cearances OF vessels engaged
In the foreign trade during the twelve months ended
October 81, 1870, were as folows:-
~-EnkrsL--- ,---Clsdrd.---
Ntuair. Tons. Number. Tons
Foreign vessels 1888 $685. 5Ss 1850 5iyass9
Total. 2s.42o e,ls4,s4s 2sseo eM7g75