The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-10
WASHING TON.
More Dishonesty Among Gov
eminent officials.
Thirty-fiVe Thousand Dollars Embezzled by
the Post Office Disbursing Agent
Rapid Decrease Of Internal
Revenue.


WASHINGTON, June 0, 1871.
EmbezzIement Of Public Funds-The Disburs-
Ing Oncer of tho Post Office Department .
Defaulter.
1t was announced this morning that F. A. Ma
cartney who was widely known and much esteemed,
had lost his reason and had been conveyed to an
insane asylum for treatment. Later in the day new
excitement was created by the report that much
confusion had been discovered in his accounts as
Disbursing Ofncer OF the Post once Department
Postmaster General Creswell was first informed OF
this state OF accounts on Friday last, and lmme-
diately commenced an investigation OF the matter.
and although he has hot yet ascertained the exact
amount due the government 1t Is thought the deficit
Will not vary from $4,000. Mccartney, on being
interrogated by the Postmaster General, acknow-
lodged the deficit. saying it was caused by blending
public and private business and by speculati0ns In
water power and marble quarry at and above
Harpers Ferry. Mccartney told the Postmaster
General that he did not know the precise
amount he had invested In these enterprises but he
assigned the amount, whatever 1t may be- with his
other effects, to the sureties MS bonds In the
Department of Justice. which is investigating the
subject 1t is the opinion that the government will
not lose cent Mccartney Is a man OF education
and culture, good writer, and successfully filled
editorial positions on several Washington papers.
In 1859 he was appointed disbursing oflcer or the
Post ONCE Department by Mr.. Creswell who had
unbounded confidence In his integrity. For year
or TWO Mccartney has been in very bad health sur
ferng from consumption. He has only lately
realized that he must die with that disease His wife,
also, Is in bad health, and this, with his own
tinued illness, greatly impaired his mental faculties
The fact is recalled that E. B. Omsted, Macart-
ney'S immediate predecessor, as disbursing agent
was discovered to be a defaulter to the amount OF
S65,O0O His lapse appeared to result from aberra-
ton OF the mind, produced 1t stated, by the ex-
cessve use OF opium.
Decrease Of Internal Revenue.
comparative statement OF the receipts from the
several general sources OF revenue taxable under
existing laws for the first ten months of the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1871 shows that for 1870 the
amount collected was $l36, ls66l9, and for 1871.
$117,6S5,4S1.
Protection of Inland Fisheries.
Professor Baird. Of the Smithsonian Institute. an
pointed by the President as Commissioner to carry
into effect the law for the protectlon and preserva-
ton OF food fishes OF the United States will visit
the Atlantic coast and western lakes and rivers
during the present season. He Is to report to Con-
gress at the next session as to what protecting
measures shall be adopted 10 best the differ
ent fisheries in various parts OF the United States
The Liquor Traffic Of the United States.
The returns OF the assessors throughout the coun-
try to May l. 1871. show the spirits In the United
States as follows:-Foreign and domestic spirits OF
all kinds out OF bond 81 700, 72l gallons; domestic
spirits in bona, 6649, $40 gallons foreign spirits In
customs warehouses, 1921 Asa gallons; total,
1891, 100 gallons Twenty-Five Of the least I'M
portant districts are yet to be heard from.
The amount OF distilled spirits In the country
November Is, 1870, was 45,637,o93 gallons from
which it will be seen there was an increase OF
$500 gallons of spirits In the country the 1st
OF May last as compared with the number OF gallons
in the country at the same period Ia 1870.
Captain HnlPs Arctic Expedition.
Captain Hall and his officers were In consultation
to day with the Secretary Of the Navy, who Is pre-
pairing the sailing instructions. The Polarts will
leave washington tomorrow for New YORK, and
thence about the 25th Of June, for the North Pole.
Water Gauges in the Mississippi Valley.
The War Department. having perfected q system
OF weather reports which have proved so valuable
to commerce. has under consideration the estah-
shment Of series OF water gauges the Mississippi
river and its tributaries, at which observations Will be
made and reported on the same plan as the meteo-
Biological reports, to give information required for
the protection OF the alluval lands against overflow
Gauges will be established at Louisville, on the Onto;
near st. Louis Cairo, Rock Island, Memphis,
Helena, Vicksburg, Red River Landing,
Baton Rouge and Carrolton, on the Mis-.
sissippi between the mouth OF the Missouri and
Gulf Of Mexico; at Fort Leavenworth, on the Mis-
souri,; Florence, on the Tennessee; Jacksonport, on
the White river; Little Rock, on the Arkansas, and
Alexandria, on the Red river.
Increase OF Trade mt Duluth.
The increase of trade at Duluth, now port of
delivery with surveyor OF customs, requires the
appointment OF deputy collector The Secretary
of the Treasury has now under consideration the
rules and regulations to govern the entries and ship
ments from that port and VIII appoint deputy col
lector in o few days. At the next session OF Con-
Qress the port Of entry Will be changed from Mar
quette to Duluth.
Reduction Of the Mail Schedule Time Between
New York ana New Orleans.
BY an order OF the Postmaster General lust
issued the great mails between New York. Wash
ington and New Orleans, heretofore transmitted via
Chattanooga, Tenn; Grand Junction. Tenn, and
Canton, Miss, are to be changed from this date to
the route OF the Alabama and Chattanooga Rail-
road, running by an air line from Chattanooga to
Meridian Miss, thence over the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad to Mobile, and thence over the New Orr
leans, Mobile and Texas Railroad, reaching New
orleans twelve hours sooner than by the former
route.