, 1874-08-08
AA ohantthfnctorY EnvostiRntfon--
miscellaneous NeyyH.

AA"Ctll1t11C3t1H NGyFNs
special Nspa'ch to 1ns Chtraoo Tribune.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. Aun. 7.-1'ho roport Il,
tho local 1napoctorn Of steamboate Of tho royr]tf
OF their Investigations into tho ca,1ae Of tho col
lislon botween tho passenger etcnmor raf1v a,
tho Luke md tho Government ateo,nor nattro.
burg, which occurred on tho Potomac 1,ivor
south OF this city, in May last has finally toon
mado public, Nobody will 10 greatly s,,rnriscd
by tho contonsH or tono Of Tho report yor In
feos Lad already boon forcBludowol that tho
otf!cors Of tho Gettysburg woro tl,rovIre Oh.
structione IN tho way Of Thorough Investigation.
Tho Inspectors report that, having royiowod tho
testimony OF tho ofIicora and passouEera of tl,o
Lady Of tho Laho, they find tint Tic pilot IN
charge Of that gcssol complied with all tho r,,]ea
aud regulations governing pilots, applicable to
thlH case, and be is thoroby oxonoratol from all
blamo; but tho Inspectors deem It their duty to
report that they woro obiigsl to abandon soycral
Intellectual efforts to procure any evidence from
tho o1icors Of the Gettysburg, WHO were on duty
as tho Time tho collision occurred. Tile officers
foaortod to varioua deYicos to nvo!d CIV
ing Testimony, and finally informed tho
inspectors TINT orders from tho
Secretary Of tho Navy would havo to bo pro-
uucod before they would attend any inycetiga-
ton into this Or othor mattorg. Tho Inspectors
permanently, or importinontiy, conclude thus
NOT deeming 1t our duty to procure the sanction
or eonsont of the Boll Secretary OF tho Navy as
10 our powers In tho pre.nisop aud not doBrinE
to DO brought into contact with tl,o Navy Dopnrt-
ment Of Tho United States, wo conclude to close
The investigation, aud submit tic aboyo al our
report in tho case."
THE Mo1ErY ACT.
:, The act Of Juno 22 known aB ti,e Moiety inv,
allows tho entry without invoice of goods
OF less than s5100 value. Numerous complaints
haVo been sont to the Treasury Department
against tho practice Of tho customs a,ithoritieB,
especially thoao in Now York. who it seonla i,aye
boon requiring tho production Of invoices Of ali
importationa OF whatever yaluo. The Troasury
to-ony informed tho Collector that tho nct bo-
lore-monttoncd does notapply to goods loes than
Sl0o IN other words, tlIat lmportations Under
Sloo in valno may still DO admitted without iu-
voices. A general circular to Collectors Of Gus
tous OH this subject will DO iaHuel In fov days,
PUBLIC LASDs WHICH REVERT TO THE GOVERN
1tThT.
According TO- the decision rendered by tho At
torney- Qeneral to-day, no Congressional action
or judicial proceedings aro necessary to cp,tso
to revert to tho prllio domain tho unBold lantiB
granted to tue State Of Wisconsin BY the oct Of
1906, to aid in tho construction Of certain rail-
Ut. Crox + bayfield, land-eraat. AL aucl, lands
unaold ct tho expiration of tho time SLOWED tor
tho road will royort to
the public domain by the publica-
ton of m o,dor by tho Secretary Of
the Interior, restoring them to settlemcn
tho operation OF tho conditions subsequent to
Congressional grants of public lands does not
depend upon tho rules Of common law, applica-
bic to such conditions, but uron the in
tontton Of Congress-, AZ gathered from the Ian
euags applied III the grant itself.