The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-06-19
IN GENERAL.

IN GENERAL.
Tho various contracts for the European
mail service has been 30 timed that they will
all expire together OH December 3lst., and the
postmaster general will endeayor to make ar
rangements for the ensuing year in such n
manner az to provide four mails per week for
Europe from New York city on four separate
days.
Under recent act of congress creating
secretary Of the treasury has made the follow
ing appointments DR.. John NJ. Woodworth
j. b. Saunders, j. Fred Meyers, Chas. Cone,
j. H. Piper and Helen NJ. Barnard. The last
mentioned il to be assigned the duty of re-
porting upon the treatment OF women and
children on board the emigrant ships. DR..
Woodwork will exercise the general super
vision OF the Atlantic seaboard. Another
commissioner will 60 to San Francisco to in
vestigate the condition Of the Chinese and
Japanese emigrants, and others will be sent to
Europe to make inquiry and prepare full
reports.
An important decision has been rendered
in the case of Walter d. Spratt, OF Mississippi
to the effect that claimants who purchased
cotton from agents of the confederate govern
ment knowing at the time that tho proceeds
would be used in the prosecution of war
against the federal government, acquired no
title to their purchases and therefore hayo no
right OF action against the United States for
the subsequent capture and sale of such cot
ton. This decision governs and excludes claims
to the amount OF about three million dollars.
An appeal was taken to the supreme court.
The secretary OF the treasury calls for the
redemption Of sixteen million coupon bonds
and four million registered bonds to be paid
September 9th. The bonds called in embrace
those dated May 1st, 1862, as follows: Coupon
bonds of fifty dollars number l., POI to 200 in
20, 900 inclusive; five hundred dollars number
3,001 to 10, 700 inclusive; one thousand dollars
number 6,734 to %, 600 inclusive total 10000
900. Registered bonds of fifty dollars number
| !, 1,234 to / 800 inclusive one hundred dollars
number 8,804 to $500 inclusive; five hundred
dollars number 5,3Gl to $500 inclusive one
thousand dollars number 20,GS1 to 23,300 in
elusive five thousand dollars number 6 Oi3 to
| 1900 inclusive; total A, 100000. Grand total
| 90, 0O0, 000 The bonds Of the third series, en-
bracing the above numbers, were printed in
black and have the words "Thrd Series " on
the bonds and "Third ON the bond or each
coupon or both. The bonds Of the fourth So
ries were printed in black with red numbering
and have the words "Fourth Series" or
Fourth" on them. United States securities
forwarded for redemption should be address
cd to Loan Division, secretary's office, and all
registered bonds should be assigned to the
secretary OF the treasury for redemption.
Tho law directing the secretary OF tho
treasury.to pay the net proceeds of cotton un-
lawfully seized after June 80, 1865 was ap-
proved May IS, 1872, and required that all Pc
titions should be filed within six months there
after, on or before Nov. 18th, duly signed and
| sworn and placed in the mail before November
| 18th, did not reach Washington until after that
dato. They were, however, sent to the secro'
tary with record OF tho date when received
In reply to inquiry and argument of the. point
involved, vhother in two important cases sc
filed, the petitions be regarded as filed in time
the secretary has decided that no petition OF
claim under the act Of congress which was moi
received in the treasury department, on or be-
| fore the 18th OF November, 1878, can be re'
garded as having been filed within six months
after the passage of the Act, and that any
| such claim received in tho department aftel
November 18th, cannot be considered by. tho
secretary. Tho opinion of the best informed
lawyeIs here, is that the time for filing the po
titions both in the cotton cases before the sec
rotary OF the treasury, and for stores and sup
plies before the southern claim commission
will be extended by the next congress.