The New York herald., 1874-08-11
NEW YORK HERALD TUESDAY 1S74-TRlPLE SHEET

straining the new Board from communicating any
business and viii insist that under the law the
Commissioners have authority to merge the
school boards, and thus change the whole school
system OF the district Civil rights being the
battle cry and all the judges of the District being
good republicans. the prayer OF the petitioners
VIII undoubtedly be refused.
The District Of Columbia Contracts
Burdens OF the Taxpayers.
A committee OF taxpayers to-day called upon the
District Commissioners and entered their protest
against the continuance any OF the contracts for
improvements made with the late Board OF Public
Works, insisting they should be annulled because
they are Illegal; that the prices are in excess OF
those which should prevail. and that they should
be awarded to the lowest bidders. MI. Dennison,
speaking for the Commission, said no contracts
have been nor would any be awarded by them.
The Engineer had reported there were III Of them,
aud, after an examination, recommended the re-
vocation OF the suspension on sixty-seven OF the
number, leaving ffty yet under the ban OF suspen
sion. The work which had been done and was TO
be done upon them must go before the Board
OF Audit in accordance with law, and the con-
tractors take the bonds provided by Congress in
payment. should the Commissioners adopt the
suggestions as set forth in the taxpayers resolu-
tions OF reawarding the contracts they would
have to pay money in place OF the bonds, thereby
imposing a heavier tax on The people Of the Dis
trict. 1t would therefore be seen that the Com
mssioners were better friends to the taxpayers
than the association which the committee repre-
senied The Commissioners had. under the law
creating temporary government, decided that all
these contracts, except such as may be found
fraudulent must stand and there was no power
but that OF Congress to change this decision;
so that when the association talked about
courts ana suits, they talked about idle things,
the courts being impotent before this law OF Con-
gress. The Commissioners recognize that they
have the power to finish up these contracts, and
If necessary, make new ones. The law covered all
detects, II there are any. IN the contracts, and
provided way to finish them. The Commission
ers have come to the conclusion they win
prosecute some Of them, because they think it for
the common good Of the people The spokesman
OF the taxpayers remarked that they had nothing
to say; they simply wished to obtain information.
in order that the people might understand the
condition OF AFFAIRS
O6ending Against the Postal Laws.
The Post Once Department has under consdera-
tion case where Wheeling manufacturer OF Post
ONCE supphes who is also publisher OF postal
journal, sent copies of his paper advertising MS
wares to- It is supposed nearly all the postmasters
In the United States, taking the publishers oath
required by recent act OF Congress. In addition TO
this he inclosed q small circular. two by four
inches. Postmasters receiving the papers are
sending them In to the department, with the as
surance that they are not subscribers. the pen
alties are First, letter postage and S. fine on
each paper containing the circular; second, nne
of $50 on each paper mailed TO any one other than
a bona Fde subscriber, and third, $50 fine for each
offence for swearing falsely to the list.
Secretary Brlstow and Attorney General Will
liams are expected to return to the city this even
ing or tomorrow morning.
New Tonnage Tax Imposed by the Span
ish Government.
1t Is oficially reported to the Treasury Depart
ment that the Spanish government has imposed q
new tax on vessels, dividing them into three
classes-namely, cOastng vessels vessels from
European ports and vessels from the United
States-the last named paying four times as m UGH
as the first and twice as much as the second men,
toned heavy discharge duty is already paid
on vessels from the United States. This regula-
ton has been imposed without allowing, accord
ing to the ordinary usage or nations, reasonable
time to elapse between legislation materially az
fecting Ioregn navigation and the publication Of
the decree.
Collection OF Customs in Gold in Cuba.
The Secretary of the Treasury has received from
the State Department q decree OF the Governor
General OF Cuba ordering the collection OF fifty per
cent OF customs IN gold from and after the 1st
inst.
A Greeting by Gable from the President
OF Uruguay.
The following telegram was received at the
White House on Saturday evening and forwarded
to the President at Long Branch -
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
NORTH AMERICA, WAsHINGTON:-
am most happy to greet His Excenency the
on the memorable occasion for the nations which
the electric wire this day places in immediate
communication with each other, thus drawing
closer the bonds of sincere and cordial friendship
which happily unite them.
THE PRESIDENT OF URUGUAY.
Government Employment for Sufferers
In the West.
Senator Hitchcock, of Nevada, having made ap-
plication to General E. o. c. Ord, commanding the
Department OF the Platte to so order matters in
building the fort in Loup Valley that the money
Tor material and labor will be spent among the
settlers of that valley who have had their fields
swept by grasshoppers, General Ord replied to him
that If left to him he would do so far practi-
cable. The plans and estimates had been sent to
Washington and II not heard rom soon the work
would have to be delayed till next summer. In
forwarding the papers General Ord says:-''H the
buildings can be erected by the employment of
civilians it will afford employment to the citizens
lile and will result to the interest OF the country
by retaining these people in the country"