The New York herald., 1874-10-10
w. A SHIN q r ON.

WASHINGTON. Oct 0, 1874
| n DEDUCTION Of the Debt Of the District Of
Columbia-The Funding OF the New
Bonds to he Issued.
The District Commissioners have reduced the
| Indebtedness Of the District 70 within 100000.
OF the amount disbursed above $500. 600 has been
! paid to New YORK banks and about 100000 TO
banks in washington. The nity-year bond author
lzed by Congress for funding the debt incurred In
i'm proving the city WIN ~ issued the latter part
OF this month and there Ia already much specu-
lstion as 10 the price IL will bring The leading
bankers here have not estimated It's value
above seveny-three cents on q dollar. AS Congress
provided that bonds OF the denomination OF fity
and five hundred dollars only should be issued the
| question is now raised, what provision Will be
made for those having odd amounts or certificates
nnoer fity dollars. The Board OF Audit is not
aui horized 10 receive or pay O single dollar Of cur
rency, and the impression has become general
that limiting the bonds to fifty and fye hundred
dollars was done IN the interest OF spectators
and moneychangers, into whose hands the tax
ridden citizens OF the District have been compelled
TO put their small claims.
The Post Once Department to Transact
No business with Claim Agents.
Postmaster General Jewell yesterday, on no.
ticing tnat certain payment was about to be
made to The Erie Railroad Company through a
claim agent In this city. teegr aphed to the Pres-
dent OF tnat company as follows:-
desire to discontinue the system of claim
agency relating TO business In or with the Post
once Department. Such agencies, to q greater
or less extent, reflect upon the good iaita and
BUSINESS with the department should be con-
ducfed by and claims due pald to the persons
or parties directly interested. and not with or TO
claim agents. Is this your wish, or do you wish
them to go through third handsP Please state
frankly what commission you pay your agent.
President Jewett replied by telegraph. stating
that the company had no claim agency employed
a comm ssion, but that for it's convenience and
Tor the speedy despatch Of business it had
employed one at stipulated sum per
annum for such services as might be rem
dered. II, however, such an employment woud
in any way infringe upon such system
as the Postmaster General might wish to adopt.
the railroad company, desiring TO conform TO his
views would withdraw II. In response the Post
master General to-day sent the following telegram,
and 1t may be considered an authoritative express
sion OF his views, which will be immediately en-
bodied in the department orders:-
1t is my desire that agent shall stand be-
tween TINS department and any parties with whom
it mas business II any neglect IN transac ing
our business or making payments ID perceived by
your company beg you will promptly inform me
OF It. and viii try to see that your interest pro-
tected, but cannot permit claim agents to come
around the department; BY tnis 40 not me mean N
come here TO transact their business or 70 &C
celerate their claims, but cannot and will not
tolerate claim agents
The Statistics of Importation and Ex-
portation Balance FavorinS the
United States.
In accordance with arrangements made by the
Chief OF the United States Bureau OF Statistics with
the Commissioner OF Customs OF the Dominion OF
Canada DR.. Young has lust received from Ottawa
q detailed statement OF the imports from the
United States into the Provinces OF Quebec and
Ontario during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874
The value OF the merchandise imported into
Ontario amounted TO $30,599,o o74; into quebec,
$12 900, ,ee9-total $43, 2S9, 773-whte the returns
made by the United States Bureau OF Statistics
show the value Of the exports to those two Prov
inces in the same period aggregate but $32 $685. 627
an omission OF $lo724.146 This omission
arises from the fact that large part Of
our exports to those Provinces crosses the
boroer at Suspension Bridge, N. Y. st. Albans
and Island Pond, VT, lin cars" and 1t Is impos-
sibie to obtain accurate accounts Of merchandise
! so carried. there being no law to detan land We
nices there Is in the case OF vessels until the
manifests OF the cargoes in detail are furnished.
| The ADDITION Of the amount OF such omission In
the exports to Canada increases the favorable
| balance by that amount The correct statement
OF our foreign trade for the last fiscal year Will
then be as fOllows:-
| TOTAL EXPORTS OF MERCHANDISE tALL SPEECH
| vALUESl.
Domestic and foreign $597, 126, 23G
Total imports 567 4O6, 341
Balance .................. $2s 71e, sos
Less difference In goods from bond 17,S7s,22s
Total Observation-Disclosures. $11, ,841, ,66o
Exports OF specie and bullion. .. $es, $50, 400
Imports oil specie and bullion. 2S, ,454, 300
metals .......... 3s,175, 400