The New York herald., 1872-07-14
The Treasur7 Department Denies the Illegal
Registration Of Foreign Vessels.
TEE CUBAN F1LIBUsTER PIONEER.
The Attorney General Orders an
Investigation.
WASHINGTON. JuIy IL. 1872.

ing:-
statement has been circulated In the public
prints that series OF daring and successful frauds
upon the general government has been practised in
the matter OF the registry OF vessels that COM
menced about the year 1865 since which time 1t is
alleged that hundreds of vessels have been regis
tered as American bottoms when IN reality they
were built abroad. This is said to have been done
under cover OF the provisions OF the act Of Congress
OF the Treasury to grant an American citizen
register for fOrelgn-but vessel, II she shall have
been wrecked In the United States and III be proved
to him that the repairs upon her equal three
fOurths Of the cost or such vessel when repaired.
The alleged process has been to produce false evil
dence OF the wrecking and false estimates OF the
amounts OF repairs for foreign vesscls not entitled
to such registry The records OF the Treasury De-
tom The Vessels is TO eary nnder the
act OF 1852 In all the ports OF the United States and
sailing under the United States flag In April, 1870,
as appears from report to the Senate by the
Secretary OF the Treasury of the Goth OF the same
month, were all told but ninety. Since that date
nave been admitted to registry under the same
act, so that since 1865 the total number
OF vessels OF foreign build, wrecked, repaired and
admitted to registry does not exceed 100. Suits
for forfeiture have been demanded against six ves-
sells at New York out of this number and fourteen
more only are reported as suspected. In view Of
the penalty OF forfeiture Incurred by every vessel
registered under false representations, the danger
to the American commercial marine for the Illegal
registration for American bottoms does not seem
formidable from the number Of frauds likely to be
perpetrated under cover of the act Of 1852.
investigating the Record OF the Pioneer.
The Attorney General, to whom has been re-
ferred the case Of the Pioneer by the State Depart.
ment. has called upon John A. Gardner attorney
OF the United States for the district OF Rhode
Island to investigate the circumstances under
which the Pioneer came into our waters. From
evidence at the Treasury Department it appears
that she took out register on the SOth March in
New York, showing Lambert Norton, of New York.
to be sole owner and f. L. Norton, MASTER and sailed
under the name OF the Resolute. The register, SO
far as the Treasury Department knows, has never
Deen surrendered, and her name never properly
changed. II this should prove true, under the act
OF May 9Th, 1854 the vessel is forfeited to the Gov
ernment that being the penalty for changing the
name of vessel, or attempting to conceal 1t, de-
ceive any 0lcer agent OF the United States con-
corning 1t.
Taxing the New York Central Railroad.
The case OF the New York Central Railroad Com
pany comes up for final decision on Tuesday next,
when Acting Secretary Richardson will announce
the intention Of the Treasury Department, should
the company decline to pay the amount OF tax due
on their scrip dividend.
Harbor and Ballast Instructions.
The State Department has received copy OF tho
tors and Ballast Masters at Caibarien Cuba, and
anchoring place at Key Francis. The slight depth
of water and want OF proper care have rendered
them imperative. written order will be neces-
sary hereafter to ballast unballast. Neglect to
take out order and carelessness in taking In bal
last, that 1t falls in the water, are subject to
heavy fnes The same fines are also to be imposed
on all captains or patrons OF lighters who infringe
the regulations In any anch0ring place along the
coast even though naval authority reside there.
Awarding Naval Medals OF Honor.
The Secretary OF the Navy, in a general order,
announces that medals OF honor are awarded to
the following persons in the naval service, who
have distinguished themselves in battle by other
commendable acts OF heroism:-
Hugh King ordinary seaman, United States
steamer Jr0quois who jumped overheard In the
Delawarp River september 7, 1871, and saved one
OF the crew OF that vessel from drowning; George
w. Cutter, landsman, United States steamer Pow
hatan, who jumped overheard at Norfolk May
81 1872, and aided in saving one of the
crew from drowning; Richard Pile, ordinary seaman;
John Johnson, seaman; John O'Niel. boatswains
mate; John HILL chief quarter gunner; Austin Den
ham, seaman; James Smith, seaman of the United
States steamer Kansas-all of whom, on the occa-
sion Of the drowning of Commander A. +. Cr0s-
man and Others near Greytown, Nicaragua, April
II, 1872, displayed great GOODNESS and self-pOsses
sion, and by extraordinary herOism and personal
exertiOn prevented greater loss OF life. John An
Benicia, who, in passing the forts in Corea June J.
1872, was stationed AT the lead, standing on the
gunwale OF the Benica's launch, lashed to the
gerOus position, and gave his soundlnss with cool
ness and accuracy under heavy nre.
A Postal Treaty with Ecuador.
OfIicial proclamation is made OF the postal cons
vention between the United States and Ecuador.
The letter postage from one country to the other
is twenty cents and the two Post ONCE depart
ments may, by agreement, provide for the trans
mission OF registered letters in the mails and ex-
change between the two cOuntres the register fee
being ten cents.
Extension OF Mail Service in Colorado
and Nebraska.
The Postmaster General to-day ordered the fol-
lowing extensions OF mail service:- the Denver
and Rio Grande Railroad, from Colorado Springs to
Pueblo, Col, forty-three miles, commencing July
o. at 81, $50 per annum, and on the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad, rom Harvard to Lowell,
Neb., forty-six miles, at $1,000 per annum, COM
mencing August l.
New York Custom House Appointments
The appointments OF Albert Gilbert as assistant
appraiser and Richard Gibbs examiner In the New
York Custom House, were conferred to-day by
Secretary Boutwell,.
Internal Revenue Appointments.
Commissioner Douglass has appointed Thomas F.
Grey assistant assessor of the Third New York dis
trict and George W. Fitzroy and Victor b. Cropley
assistant assessors ofthe First Missouri district.
Smallpox in the National Capital.
The smallpox is disappearing In Washington,
only two cases having been reported during the
past week.
Extending tho Capitol Grounds.
Congress at the last session appropriated s25O,ooo
to buy certain private property for the extension
OF the Capitol grounds; but the total valuation OF
the ground and houses Is stated by the appraisers
to be $o5OOO0.
Currency Statement.
Amount OF fractional currency received rom the
prtnters for the week ending to-day. ST. 07s,400
Shinments of fractional currency ......., 6S3,0O0
Shipments OF notes. 611,000
tiona bank c,rcuJst,on 1881, los, 300
And FOR deposits OF public money. 15,S59,0o0
this date ten. sae,274772
National gold circulation issued to date. 1060,000
Receipts from Internal Revenue.