The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-26
w WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. June Is. 1875.


RESPONSIBILITY OF PosTMAsTERs FOR GOVERN
MEET PROPERTY IN THEIR POSSESSION.
Judge spence. Assistant Attorney General for
the Post once Department, has furnished an opin-
ion TO the Postmaster General, taking the ground
that postmasters are liable on their bonds Tor
losses OF government property while In their pos
session. registered package, containing about
5000 worth OF postage stamps, received at
tho Boston Post once for transmission be ond.
IL was traced to that ofllce ana there missed.
through the negligence oil the Postmaster an
employs there, as rs alleged The was
charged up to General Burt, the Postmaster who
demurred in letter TO the Postmaster General.
by whom 1t was referred to Judge spence, who
Justifles the department. in charging IL to the
Postmaster. IL Is the first time that an opinion
has been given holding postmasters responsible
on their bonds for the loss OF government prop
erty passing through tne Post ONCE.
DECISIONS BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
The following Treasury decisions have recently
been made:--
Csrboys, OF American manufacture. exported
filed with American produce, and returned
empty, are entitled to Tree entry, provided deca-
ration OF such intent TO so return the same DO
filed at the timc OF exploration, but II or foreign
manufacture are dutidble AZ thirty-nve per cent
Certain polished and finished table tops and
paper weights, made from the so-caled Mexican
onyx but also known as feca marble, claimed
TO be dutiable precious stones, held to nave
been properly classified as manufactures ofmarbic.
on an entry OF certain s oves II appearing that
no commission appeared on the face OF the invoice
TO have been added TO the invoice price, commits
sions at the rate OF two and half per cent were
properly added, the appraiser having returned
such increase as making the true value. one
hundred per cent on such commissions was also
properly cnargeabe under the act OF June %, 1874
(Moiety act.
Cheese box hoops, eight inches wide by O quar-
ter inch thick, shaved to point ready to be bent
ana tackled together as to form cheese box, are
held TO be duable at tnlrty-avc per cent, as man
ufactures or wood not otherwise provided for.
THE QUESTION OF DUTIES ON GOODS DAMAGED
IN THE OCEAN TRANsIT-oPINIoN OF THE AT
ToRNEY GENERAL.
A question has recently arisen In the Treasury
Department, under the LAW by which damages to
goods occur ring on the ocean transit to be de-
Quoted on estimating the duties II notice OF such
damage is given in ten days alter arrival In port.
In this case the goods arrived in New York and
went TO Chicago In bond, ana there the owners at
tempted to have the ocean damages appraised
within ten days alter arrival at Chicago. MIR.
Conant, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, ruled
against the right holding that the appraise men
should have been made IN New York. On refer
once 10 the Attorney General he has written an
elaborate opinion, of which the following is the
SUBSTANCE
The solution OF this question does not depend
upon any abstract reasoning. nor is IL to be deter
mined by any consideration OF It's effect upon the
increase or dimlnution oil tine revenues or tue
yenence or Inconvenience of importers. 1t de-
ponds upon the true construction OF the varlons
acts OF Congress relating to the suuect The only
statutes winch bear upon it are acts OF 1893 1873
1870 and 1872. After "A careful examination OF all
these statutes am clearly of the opinion Jhat the
port OF final DESTINATION and not the port OF first
arrival, is the place where the duties are 10 he
liquidated and the ocean damage rs 10 DC ascer-
ialned ana thar the ten days do not begin TO run
until the port OF anal destination Is reached.