The Portland daily press., 1874-12-04
Washington News and Gossip.
THE yIRGINrus CASE


The interest in our relations with Spain deep
ems as the.time approaches for the publication
OF the diplomatic correspondence. 1t is ascer-
tanned that while Spain has attempted to trav-
erse the complaint of the United States under
the fourth clause of the Fish-Polo protocol for
the purpose OF obtaining reciprocal reclamations
by arbitration, our Government has insisted
that such reclamations shall be acted upou in
dependently of the questions arising out of the
Virginius case. These reclamations are under
stood to be claims on the part of Spain for
alleged damages arising out of aid extended to
the Cuban insurgents by citizens of the United
States. Our Government holds, however, that
as we have conscientiously carried out the
terms OF the protocol, so far as they could be
carried out, it is now the duty of Spain to do
the same before the question Of arbitration, to
which Secretary Fish has no serious objection,
shall be considered. If Spain accedes to this
the indemnity for the massacre of American
citizens at Santiago de Cuba will be paid, after
which the question of reciprocal reclamation by
arbitration will become the subject of further
negotiations, subject to the constitutional rati
fication Of the United States Senate. The
opinion of Attorney General Williams regard
ing the right of the Virginius to carry the
American flag is quoted in support Of this po-
sition. In that opinion, it will be remembered,
the Attorney General declared that the inter-
ference with a vessel on the high seas carrying
the American flag was an act which deserved
reprobaton, and demanded immediate satisfac-
tion.
THE woRKINGMEN's FINANCIAL POLICY.
The United Workingmen's Association, a Sc
cret political organization, have, through their
Executive Council here, decided to use their
influence in favor OF initiation legislation at the
coming session. This organization processes
to have much political influence, and claims to
he able to control some prominent men. The
Secretary of the order here states that tn ere
are 7O,s00 lodges in this country. The financial
policy OF this association demands the aboli-
tion OF the national banking system, and the
issue Of legal tender currency which shall
have the national wealth for its basis. They
would make OF the Government land-mort-
gage bank.
VARIATION IN CUSTOM HOUSE APPRAIsALs.
In consequence of the complaint of number
of New York merchants, that the Chicago dry
goods houses were underselling them in New
York market, an investigation was instituted
to get at the facts by the Treasury Department,
which has revealed curious state of affairs,
It seems that the appraisers of merchandise at
Chicago interpreted the custom laws differently
from the appraisers at New York, and in con-
sequence, several Chicago firms, including j.
v. Farwell & Co., a leading member of which
is member of Congress, were enabled to i'm
port certain goods at one-half the duty exacted
of the New York and Boston merchants, and
to undersell the latter in their own market.
The Department has now issued an order re-
curing all appraisers to send their interpreta-
ton of laws to Washington for examination, so
that all mistakes and differences may be recti-
fled and uniform rates established for all Gus
tom house Officers Washington Despatch.