The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-01

Richard 7. Buck of Milbury, Mass, manu-
facturer of chisels and gouges, showed that
under tina present tariff the English could un-
dersell them in the American market from 10
to 10 per cent. and therefore he asked a reduc-
ton OF duty on steel.
.Iohu b. Taft, an importer of Boston, briefly
addressed the committee in favor of specific
Instead OF an advalorem duty on steel. This
would yield more revenue than now, be more
satisfactory to those interested in the trade,
and saving ct expense to the government.
He read an amendment to the tariff law, which
he said wovld be satisfactory to the manufact.
urers interested, proposing a specific duty OF
p cents per pouni on all kinds of steel.
AT noon the committee proceeded to private
consideration of the business.
District Investigation.
In the District of Columbia Investigating
Committee this morning, Gov. Shepherd sub
mitted six letters bearing on the De Golyer and
Mcclellan contract. 1t appeared from his evil
dence Wm. q. Moore, partner of Gov. Shep-
herd, unknown to him, interested himself in
procuring the Contract and was offered por-
ton of the proceeds of the notes given by Chit
tenden and Kirkland. The Governor upon
learning the fact at once Dissolved his business
relations with Moore wuich he announced IN
the morning papers. 1t also appeared tha5
Maitingly of the counsel for the District ad
an interview with Kirkland.
Commander Brenbam is detached from the
command of the Saugus and Lieut. L. Il. Ma
con from the Pensacola.
The steel Interest.
In Committee of Ways and Means this after
noon Charles A. Converse Of Norwich, Conn,
representing the Hopkins & Allen Arms Man
ufacturng Company, said if the American
manufacturers of steel make a good article they
would give them all their orders, and that ii
the change were effected in the tariff SO as to
give specific duty of or IL cents pound
on steel it would be great help towards the
expectation of military weapons to foreign
countries American manufacturers of arms
have now the preference in South America. II
our manufacturers had concession of steel,
american arms would be distributed over all
foreign countries. a ie ..ail.H -. -f
Mr. Albeit, of Abbott & Howard of Boston,
and New York agents for ThOs. Firth & Son OF
Sheffield, appeared before the Committee to
urge the simplification of a method of imposing
duty on steel in Justice to the dealers ia steel
and to the advantage of the govern ment He
concluded by advocating uniform and
specific rate of duty per pound in order to avoid
incoDgruties under the present tariff
The committee adjourned until tomorrow
when the representatives GA the opposite side
of the question will be heard.
Vessel Sunk.
Tie light house board has information that
the Nova Scotia schooner Eta, Bennet, master,
from Pernambuca with coffee bound for Balti-
more, was run into Sunday and sunk five miles
FROM Point Lookout. Thus far only one per-
son is known to have been saved, uamed Evans,
who arrived here yesterday.
Various Matters.
Customs receipts for the week ending April
18th So, CAT 1865.
Internal revenue receipts to-day $491, $50;
for the month So, 437 ,033; increase over April,
1873, $872, 100.