The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-01-14
wAsmfNGTON.

The secretary of the treasury and
the encouragement unite in saying that the
statement that such of the indicted Chicago
distillers as have turned states evidence
have been promised immunity from punish
ment is incorrect. A great many offers to
tell what they know have been received from
these parties, on condition that they may ex-
pect only such mercy as the Judge before
whom they are tried may be pleased to show
them.
A Washington dispatch says of the
present prospect of a peaceable settlement
Of our difficulties with Spain, and of her re-
newed energy and wisdom in the pacifca-
ton of Cuba, that, unless now unforeseen
and unexpected change should occur, there
is no probability of hostiHties, or of neces-
sity of such Intervention as was foreshad-
owed in the presidents message. The Spau-
ish property owners, have but recently been
made to bear a large part OF the burden of
war, and their suffe rings have disposed them
TO urge peace and good government as means
to peace. An expert financier is now in
Cuba with the power to arrange the finances
and to make important reforms Of all kinds,
in which labors he will have the assistance
of Jovellar, the new eaptain-general. 1t is
probable that the substance OF that part of
the presidents message relating to Cuban
affairs, was sent in advance to the American
ministers at :hc principal European nations,
and that this was communicated to the gov
ernments to which they were accredited as
a matter of information and to draw ont
from them some expression of opinion.
The secretary Of the treasury declines
to receive checks and drafts in payment of
debts due the government. This will pre-
vent the national banks from paving their
semi-annual duties in anything hut lawful
money.
The committee appointed to consider
the Witowski and Sugg Fort claims, find in
their report that both claims are fictitious
and fraudulent, and that they have passed
through the offices Of third auditor and
second comptroller without such examina-
ton as the law requires.
The secretary Of the treasury has sent
to congress letter from q Boston firm re-
commending that stamp duty be imposed
on manufactured gold and silver. The oh
jcct is to determine the quality of the metal
used in order that it may have a uniform
value in all parts of the world as is the
case with English and French goods.
The postoffice department has received
cable dispatch from the British postmaster
general, saying that the money orders advised
on the lists from the United States largely
exceeds the usual amount, and asking for
the remittance of thirty thousand pounds
sterling on account, This unusually LARGE
balance is accounted for as the result of
money orders sent for holiday presents.
Twelve thousand pounds sterling had been
remittcd before the receipt of the telegram,
and the balance will be liquidated in the or
dinary course OF business. Postmaster-Gen-
eral Jewell has notified the British authori-
ties that from and after the first of January
his department will demand the payment of
the iull cost of transporting Australian mail
across this continent, which is now trans
ported at an actual loss, under Great Brit
aims construction of the postal union re-
quirements. The matter has been the sub
ject of official correspondence for many
years, and the postmastCrgenerI now makes
a demand in the hope of bringing it to
prompt conclusion.
The secretary of the treasury has given
direction for the retirement of S644,55G in
legal-tender notes, on account of the national
bank circulation issued during December
This viii leave outstanding in Iegd-tenders,
until further reduction S37, 7,1s2, 20 The work
of consolidating the internal revenue col
lection districts throughout the country has
been completed, and the number reduced
from 200 to 165. The annual saving to the
government by the consolidation will be
ab ut S250,OOO, nearly 100000 of which is
in salaries alone, and the remainder for
office rent, stationery, etc. The force Of
clerks has been extensively reduced, although
fully as many deputy collectors viii be re-
quired as when the whole number of dis
triets were i'm existence, The amount of
national bank notes issued Since November
LIST, is 81 ,761 $50, and the total amount issued
since the passage of the act of juno IA, 1874.
is $l2,5l5 975. The amount of legal-tender
notes deposited by the national banks,
for the purpose of retiring the circulation,
since November lSt, Is =, ,9S7 ,2O6.