The New York herald., 1872-10-13
WASHINGTON.


The Bids for HeadstOnes for the Ma
tiOmal Cemetorfes.
The bids for cemetery headstones were opened at
the Quartermaster Generals once at noon to-day
Secretary Belknap commencing the proceedings,
ana In short time relinquishing his post to Quar-
termaster General Meigs. The reading was contin-
ued without cessation for over i've hours. when
ll5 proposals being read, short recess was taken
At half-past the reading OF the remaining sew
enty-two bids was resumed and continued until
finished. Several New York firms In the marble
business were represented The Secretary of War
has not yet determined whether he will give out
contracts to the amount of the appropriation
$2o0, ,OOO-now ON hand, or contract for the
whole work, subject to the right Of Congress
to grant or withhold the means Of payment, or
whether further legislation shall be awaited before
entering into any contracts at all The legislation
under which the whole proceedings arise Is UNDER
stood to have been procured from Congress In the
interest OF the owners Of what is known as the sand
blasting process by which the inscription and or
namentation OF the headstone can be effected at
trfing cost, but It was noticed that some Of the
bids which proposed to letter the stone by manual
process were as low as those OF the sand blasters.
Boutwell, Calling Has bureau Officers to
Account.
Secretary Boutwell, has called upon his bureau.
rentyear, together with suggestions for the admns-
sration OF their Offices for the year next ensuing AS
most OF the officials confident OF retaining their
places for another four years they disposed to
be painstaking in exposing the workings Of their
bureaus and exemplifying such changes as they
consider necessary. There are lntimations that the
Secretary himself, In anticipation Of retiring into
the Senatorial chair of the Vice President expectant
will advocate the separation OF the financial and
commercial concerns OF the present Treasury De-
partment, on the ground that the public business
has outgrown Its organization, and that one Secre-
tary cannot exercise q sufficient supervision over
such multifarious duties as now pertain to the
office.
The Book or Estimates for the Incoming
Fiscal Year.
The book or estimates, so called, exhibiting the
sums needed for the various purposes Of the gov
ernment during the approaching fiscal year. with
the sums appropriated for the present year and
the probable unexpened balances at the end OF
the year, is now under preparation In the Secre-
tarys office for the early use of the Committee Of
Appropriations.
'sShutting UP Shop"
The Greeley headquarters In this city has been
closed and the documents on hand sold as waste
paper The Republican Congressional Committee
are also preparing to retire from the canvass
Progress OF O1O FfOD0O1A1u1cBs
The Signal Bureau has just had another success
in adapting It's probabilities" to the wants Of
agriculture. 1t was nearly two days in advance OF
the frost, the visitation OF which has been very
extensive within the last twenty-four hours. 1t is
believed that the utility OF the weather reports In
premonishing severe frosts will enable hortlculrur-
lists and farmers generally to save much Of their
products from untmely blight, and greatly enhance
the value Of the ''pr0babIlities' with the entire
rural public.
Neglect ON the Part OF Revenue
Officers.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has addressed the
following to Collectors Of Customs and others-
Tdis Department is in receipt OF complaints Of
negligence on the part Of customs officers in the
execution OF their duties pertaining to the nspec-
tion OF boats, canoes, &C., arriving from
traffic is encouraged, damaging to the trade
Of honest merchants and causing loss to
there is often an omission to report to any GUS
toms officer or the false pretence that nothing
dutiable Is imported. Collectors and their depu-
ties in charge or divisions OF district directed
hereafter to enforce strictly the provisions OF the
acts OF March 2 1871 June q, 1854, and July IS,
ported for inspection and payment OF duties at the
office Of the Collector or Deputy Collector nearest
waters by which any dutiable article is brought
into the United States nom the foreign territory
aforesaid
Treasury Balances.
The balances In the Treasury OF the United States
at the close of business to-day were as lollows:-
Currency So 11s,74l 49, coin, s75,591 492 Is nclud
ing $2 900 In coin certificates: special deposit
OF legal tenders for the redemption Of certificates
Of deposit, S19,s7O,OoO.
Weekly Currency Statement.
Amount of fractional currency received
from the printing division Of the Treas
ury Department iOr Inc week ending TO-
day. S11G1, 200
Shipments ...................... l,0OO,400
Treasurer Spinner holds security for
national bank circulation. 1884 AIS, 900
And for public deposits. 15143,0 900
Internal Revenue Receipts.
Internal revenue receipts to-day ....... S3l7, ,049
And for the month TO date. ............. 376S.922
And for the fiscal year to date. 3s 1882
National bank notes outstanding at this
date. $40, 1882
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.