The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-05
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, August 4, 1875.

WASHINGTON, August 4, 1875.
ASSIGNMENT TO DUTY OF THE SUPERVISING
AGENTS OF THE TREAsUHY-A CAUTION from
THE soLIcIroR-THE RECENT ORDER CON-
CORNING TOURISTS BAGGAGE-A COMPLAINT
FROM BOSTON.
The solicitor OF the Treasury has prepared cir
cular announcing the boundaries OF the territory
TO be under the charge OF the supervising agents
OF the Treasury Department. Under provision
OF law these officials are for the nrst time placed
IN connection with the Solicitor, ana through him
VIII nave the Secret Service an adjunct in sup
pressing fraud upon the customs revenue. SUI
pervising Agent Bingham has tGe New England
ports under his charge, with headquaItersat Bos-
ton; Howe remains at New YORK; Hale will have
his ONCE i'll Philadelphia, Aver in Norfolk, Chaker
at Savannah, Ktnsella In Kew orleans, Barney
In Chicago Miller in san Francisco and Curtis at
Ogdensourg. The solicitor calls especial atten-
ZION to the law relating this class OF officers and
the duty required OF them, and admonishes them
that they must avoid complications with revenue
officers, ana keep themselves unspotred and
above suspicion In the discharge OF their Official
duties. The first work assigned the agents is the
detection OF fraud upon the revenue at the prln-
cipal ports and the suppression OF smuggling. To
this end the Solicitor Will avail himself OF all the
means at his command 10 ascertain 10 what ex-
tent Custom House officials are derelict and how
far their connivance Is necessary TO deiraud the
government.
Secretary Bristow will not be here until Friday
morning when the subject OF enforcing The re-
cent order about tourists baggage Will come be-
fore him on an appeal from the customs onicersin
New York. Tho Collector ut Boston represents
that mis- city Is again in danger OF losing the
weekly line OF steamers II the baggage oil return
ing parties Is TO be subjected to the surveillance
OF the inspectors at that port and permitted to
pass without decay or annoyance IN New York.
The Treasury of1clals ridcule the complaint of
Collector simmons and say that it SOUNDS very
mucu like blowing his own trumpet at the ex-
pense OF the New York Custom House emplcyes.
'If 1t is wi-nln the power of the Secretary OF
the Treasury" says Mr.. Bris;ow, "the customs
laws shall be fairly enforced at all the ports"
The requirement OF an oath from passengers as
to the dutiable and non-dutiabe articles In their
possession on arriving in foreign steamers has
already attracted the attention or the foreign
legations, and the inquiry Is whether the Minis
tiers resident In Washington will be obliged to
make oath that the articles heretofore admitted
without question must be accompanied with an
afndavit that they are intended Tor personal use.
For years. at the request OF the Secretary of state,
certain packages for the use or a legation have
passed Tree OF duty through the Custom House,
while II has been notorious here that the finest
brands OF wine are received in Washington and
sold to parties at a handsome profit. The order
OF MI. BristOw, 1t Is understood, does not contem
plate interference with this form OF courtesy, but
applies only to the baggage OF passengers arriv-
ing on ocean steamers.
IL is understood that the Secretary OF the Treas
ury Will order a modification of the form Of cath
prescribed for baggage OF returning European
travellers, so that two oaths Will be required, one
/ nf WI will n
admission free OF duty, and the other specifying
the dutiabe articles.
CAPTURE OF CROOKED wHIsKEY IN CHICAGO
The Secret Service reports the capture to-day
at Chicago Or 400 barrels OF crooked whiskey,
which had been concealed by distlllers ana recti-
| 1ers in May last IN anticipation OF the raid made
! on the 10th Of that month. The evidence against
the whskey ring on this point 1t Is said, Is direct
GAMBLING HOUSES IN WASHINGTON CLOSED
CURIOUS STATEMENT OF THE GAMBLERS.
After years of uninterrupted business the gam
bling houses in Washington have received notice
to close their places and discontinue gaming in
every form. Most OF the establishments have
complied with the order. 1t Is asserted on the
authority OF the parties engaged that they have
been taxed 500 monthly Tor the privilege of car
| rying on the gambling business unmoiested, one
half OF winch amount was paid to the District
Attorneys office and the other half to the local
! police force. At one time there were twenty-five
houses running all contributing TO the support of
the ofncials named. The Secret Service force here
were oil ected to investigate the matter, and as
consequence the partIes engaged have "gone
Westn
THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKS Oh THE DISTRICT
TREASURER TO BE DECIPHERED by AN Ex-
PERT.
W. E. Warren. who has been engaged in exam
lining the books in the New York canal frauds, has
] accepted the offer of the District commissioners to
| come here and examine the books OF Treasurer
! Magruder whose system Of bookkeeping under
the District Ring has thus far passed the compre-
| hension OF the best accountants. The Commits
sioners are in doubt whether he owes the District
or the Distict is indebted to him. tnough 1t is re-
! ported that the last examination was $4,000 in
Magruder's favor.
! RUMoRED RETIREMENT OF ASSISTANT sEcRE-
TARY CoNANT.
! IL is stated tonight that Assistant Secretary
! Conant will shortly retire from the Treasury De-
| partment.
| GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCH.