The New York herald., 1874-07-23
w A S HIN OF N.
WASHINGTON, July 90, 1874.
The value OF the French Franc In Pay.
ment OF American Customa.

ment OF American Customs.
The secretary OF the Treasury has not vet de-
cided whether to appeal the test case recently
disposed OF by Judge Snipman as to the customs
value OF franc. Those to whom the interpreta-
tion OF the act OF 1872 was referred still maintain
that their Judgment is correct in holding under
tnat act that the franc should be com.
puted as worth nineteen and three.tenths
cents instead OF eighteen and six.tenths
cents as provided in the act OF lS4e.
IL is true that the amount be refunded under this
decision, II acqu1esced in, will amount to over
$2,00o,00o, and as 1t has been the custom OF the
Treasury Department to contest in the highest
court all cases involving refund of money, those
having immediate charge Of the matter in the de.
partment will recommend that an appeal be taken
from Judge Shipmans decision.
The First National Bank OF WASH
ington.
The District Court has authorized the receiver
of the First National Bank OF Washington 10 sell
the building at public auction. liking the minimum
price at 100000 The Court also on application
OF the receiver, made decree authorizing the re.
ceiver to compound the Indebtedness OF the firm
OF Jay Cooke e. Co. 10 the First National Bank to
the extent OF the valid unpaid claims against said
bank surrendered to the petitioner and cancelled
credit to be given the firm on Its open account
with the bank, provided there shall not be waived
any claim for preference or priority OF lien as
serted in favor Of the bank against the firm in
respect OF anv portion Of Its Indebtedness to the
bank.
The New Five Per Cent Loan.
Several bids were received to-day at the Treas
ury for the new five per cent loan, and Others are
expected tomorrow. Bids will be considered at
noon tomorrow, and Secretary Brlstow will leave
In the evening for Long Branch. 1t is not prob
able that the award will be announced before his
return, although this is not definitely known.
The Alabama Com m ission in Session.
The Court OF Commissioners OF the Alabama
Claims met to-day ut the Department of State.
All the judges were overwhelmingly, Wells, OF
Michigan, who is the presiding Judge, and Judges
Raynor, OF North Carolina; Rierson, Of New Jer.
sey; Porter, OF Pennsylvania, and Baldwin, OF
Michigan, with Mr. John Davis as Clerk OF the
Court. Ex-Postmaster General CresweIl, having
been designated by the President as counsel for
the government, was also present. After organ
ization the Court proceeded to the consideration
OF rules to govern proceedings before them
and to other business, including the appointment
of II. W. G. Mitchell as their phonographer and
then adjourned till tomorrow, when they will re-
sumo the subject of the rules. No claims will be
considered until these shall be prepared and Cir
culated. The Court having declined to occupy
rooms In the Department OF State the Justice Will
select others more convenient.
The Postal Car Service.
Judge Spencer, Solicitor Of the Post once De-
partment, to whom was referred the question as
to what Is compliance with the laws by the rail.
road companies In relation to the postal car SER
vice, rendered an opinion to-day, In which he
takes ground that the companies are required by
Congress to furnish the requisite facilities for the
distribution Of the mails on the trains, and that
nothing less than the accommodations now fur.
nished can be accepted BY the department. This
opinion was evoked by the assertion Of President
Hinckley, OF the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bal
timore Railroad Company, that they would comply
with the law by carrying the mails in ordinary mail
cars.
Executive Appointments.
The following apooin tments have been made -
Seth W. Macy. collector or customs at Newport.
r. l.; Clayton 5. Richmond, master United States
Navy; Lewis J. Guck. second lieutenant United
States Marine corps; Levi q. Hellner, master
United States Navy; P. l.. Watson, collector OF
customs District OF oregon, and James e. Jones,
United States marshal, Southern district of Florida.