New-York tribune., 1874-07-24
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS
OF THE WAR,
WASHINGTON, Thursday, July %, J

WASHINGTON, Thursday, July %, 1874.
Secretary Beknap taking much interest III the duty
imposed upon him by the last Congress OF beginning
the publication Of all the official records OF the late war
both the Union and Confederate armies. The amount
appropriated $4,000 and this viii be used in copy
ing the records and probably Will be so divided between
the Union aud Confederate archives as to gave al the
important documents from each side bearing upon each
event Enough material pertaining TO the trs days OF
the war is already copied to make two volumes Of the
"Condnet of the War;" This work was done under
a resolution passed soon after the war closed
and subsequently, reseinded. These two volumes
will be soon sent the pTuter unless matured plan,
which the Secretary and Adlutani General Townsend
are considering makes 1t necessary TO work this
material in with the other now 40 course OF prepara
The Secretary Will place the matter in the hands
OF the clerks in the Department most familiar with the
records and will be employed upon the work, ex-
cept those known TO have especial fitness for It, The
publication contemplated far IL relates TO the Con-
federae records coners no power 10 purchase any a
uOnal papers The Secretary has received Dunbel OF
offers from different parts OF the South 10 iurnlsh ocaI
papers OF great Importance 10 MI ana correct the his
the but these lie has declined FOR the reason
gwen The Confederate records now IN possession oI
the Department were all ARRANGED 5y D Dr Francs
LiebeT and are now thoroughly hdeAed ana the uDueI
stood OF the Secretary TO push the matter
rapidly the care necessary 10 such work Will per-
init The publication VIII include an the oihclal reports,
letters kilograms, aud orders not heretofore obeiay
published III a permanent FORM
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE EXPRESS COM,
correspondent having requested the National Bank
Redemption Agency to make return for National bank
Dotes RENTED by him for redemptoR either by
mittance 10 NewYOIk on his credit, or by New-forR
draft he has been informed that the arrangements OF
the Treasury Department with the express companies
forbds the making Of returns for currency redeeped
otherwise than IN currency forwarded by express
TO the parties from whom the old currency is received
L, was formerly the practice make returns 10y New
York drafts but the express companies alleged that the
bankers throughout the West and South were awaiting
themselves OF this Of obtaining exchanges on
Hew-York. and thus greatly lmpairing the
regular business Of the companies. They claimed that
the amount thus greater than that gained
by the Government contract the rates under which are
much lower than private rates and expressed their in
tentOn OF Withdrawing from the contract # the prac
tice OF returning checks not discontinued Under
the advantagcous ARRANGEMENT with the express COIN
paues consented 10 make returns only IN new currency
Nv express, and for similar reasons Yas compelled TO
adopt Ike course IL making returns Ior National bank
THE VALUE OF A FRANC.
In the Of Richard ag Collector Arthur recently
decided in NewYork by Judge shipman III regard to the
value At which the franc Of France should be taken in
tmatng value OF goods subject TO duty ad valorem
the Government maintained that the value OF the franc
should be 10 $40 cents under the act OF 1873 while the
importers held that its value should be Is lO cent? under
the act OF lso Judge shpman having decided in favor
Of the Importers appeal Will be taken 10 the Supreme
Court OF the United States by the Treasury department
Ober snits Involving the same question pending III
which whole amount OF money involved Is about
quarter OF a million OF dollars.
THE NEW BANKING AND CURRENCY LAW.
Tue total number OF applications from q Western and
Southern States date for the organization OF National
banks approved by the Controller OF the Currency is
81, with aggregate circulation OF &ls3,OO Twenty
Informal applications pending, calling for circu
laton amounting 10 f,l75Oo. The total number of
United States bonds Withdrawn under the OF June
20. 1874 is Ae67 300 and the amount Of legal tenders
do a
surrendered, D,S5OO0O. These bonds have been with
drawn Dy &c NationaI banking associations.