The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-01


DR.. Linderinan. the Chief Director OF the Mint,
who ofricIay enters upon his duties tomorrow,
has also prepared circular for the guidance OF
public Officers and others, showing the standard
and least current legal weight OF all gold coins OF
the United States, In single pieces and quantities
OF one hundred, i've hundred, one and I'VE thou
sand dollars, with due reference to the date OF
coinage, which are made legal tender at their
nominal value, and which may be received as such.
The section above quoted has been found by
Treasury orlcias to be seriously detective, and
safe construction OF these provisions win not per-
init the indiscrminate receipt by customs ofncers
and others at o valuation In proportion to their
weight OF coins which fall below,the legal weight
and tolerance with due reference to the dates of
coinage, and yet such coins are made legal ten
der at such valuation. All customs officers will
be directed to receive them, when presented In
payment Of public dues, giving only conditional
receipt therefor showing their nominal and esti-
mated value In the aggregate and after registering
the amount In book to be kept for that purpose.
forwarding 1t to the United States Mint at Philadel-
phia or San Francisco, whichever Is most conven-
lent, with statement to the person from whom and
on what account the coin was received. Upon
their receipt the superintendent OF the Mint will
at once ascertain their true value, and deposit
from the bullion fund OF their offlces with the
San Francisco, in the name Of the officer forward
ing the coin, ana account OF the proper source,
an amount equal to such value OF coins OF legal
weight, forwarding the entire sets Of certificates
OF deposit to be issued by the Assistant Treasurers
in duplicate to the customs ofilcal by whom the
gold was forwarded. The deprecated coin will
take the place In the bullion fund OF that depos-
tied and to be recoined at the earliest practicable
moment Upon the receipt Of the certificates OF
deposit the original will be disposed OF as usual
and the duplicate handed to the person who paid
the coin.
In receiving coin Of this description the Score.
tary OF the Treasury directs that Customs oflcers
will in no case allow importations to be withdrawn
until the certificates Of deposit therefor shall have
reached them. No csin of less than the least cur
rent weight will hereafter be permitted to be dis
bursed by any government oficer. Assistant
Treasurer Hillhouse has been instructed to assert
and separate light coin, and hereafter to make no
coin disbursements except with new coin and
such as is OF unquestionable legal weight. Chief
Director Linderman advises merchants In his forth
coming circular to purchase only $40 gold pieces,
as they are oil within the legal weight, while
the annoyance as well as possible loss
OF perishable cargoes will compel import
ers to be certain that the gold paid in Ia
OF the legal weight The Department explains the
ton OF the Customs revenue, otherwise the
sweating process'' could be resorted to with
much profit to those whose business 1t is to d.
minish the weight of coin. The circular Of DR..
Linderman wifi be invaluable to brokers and ex-
change dealers, containing, as h will, his valuable
experience as director for many years Of che
Philadelphia Mint. How long 1t will take to- x-
exhaust the present coinage In circulation falling
below the standard has not been calculated.
Orders have been given, however, for providing
every Custom House In the country with coin
scales, and as far as possible the Department win
endeavor to prevent unnecessary delay and incon-
venlence in enforcing the regulations made neces-
sary by the recent act Of Congress.
An Awful Snub to Smith.
The Smith family were IN tine ascendancy with
this administration until to-day. An Assistant
Attorney General, the Supervising Inspector
General OF Steamboats,, Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs and the Private Secretary of the Secretary
of the Navy all rejoice in this ancient patronymic
1t was a Virginia Smith whom the President "went
back on" He had been confirmed by the Senate
as Collector Of the Richmond district having
served as Assessor for several years. was endorsed
by Senator Lewis and congressman elect, but the
President concluded to-day that the present in
cumbent was as good an oficer as the service
need have, and declined to issue commission to
the new appOluCee. his ID the nrSJ ClQo the
President has weakened on confirmation.
Henry Wilson Returns His Back Pay.
Vice President Wilson's slumbers have been
greatly disturbed by conscientious scruples on the
subject OF the Senatorial back pay, voted by Con-
gress about twenty-four hours before his resigna-
ton as Senator. He has. therefore, resolved to
wash his hands OF the iniquity by returning the
money He addressed, on the 9th inst, letter to
Treasurer Spinner enclosing an order on the Secre
tary OF the Senate for about four thousand four hun
bred dollars, the amount Of the back increase less
his mileage with the instruction that II be appro-
priated towards the payment Of the national debt
Vice President Wilson, actuated by his usual
modesty, requested the Treasurer that the matter
be kept secret, and his Injunction was strictly
obeyed. Mr.. Wilson can but lily spare such an
amount, and this act OF disinterestedness done in
an unostentatious manner, is, therefore, all the
more c0mmendable
The Government and the Pacific Rail-
roads.
The Treasury Department, in Withholding GER
tain moneys from the Union Pacific and Central
railroads, is acting under the following provisions
OF law OF Congress The Secretary OF the Treas
ury liz directed to withhold all payments to any
railroad company and its assignees on account OF
freights or transportation their roads OF any
kind to the amount OF the payments made by the
United States for interest upon the bonds OF the
United States issued to any such company and
which shall not have been reimbursed, together
with i've per cent Of the net earnings due and un
applied as provided by law. Any such company
may bring suit in the Court OF Claims to recover
the price OF such freight and in such suit the right
OF such company to recover the same upon the
law and facts Of the case shall be determined and
also the rights OF the United States upon the mer
fts or ALI the points presented by IL in answer
thereto by them and either party to such suit may
appeal to the Supreme Court. and both Courts
shall give such cause or causes precedence OF all
other business.
The Senate Committee Transport
tation
had meeting to-day and resolved to go to New
York April 8, there to take the testimony OF the