The New York herald., 1877-10-21
A Formal Call at the State De-
partment Necessary.
LUMBER FRAUDS EXPOSED.
Mexico'S Bad Faith in Releasing the
Rio Grande City Criminals.
THE INDIAN S.
Interesting Correspondence from
United States Consuls.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR REGULAR CORES PONDeNT.
WASHINGTON Oct. 90, 1877
oun TROUBLE WITH SPAIN THE RESULT OF
xrsuNDEHsTAyDINa-H IT CAN BE RE-
MOVED
Tho excitement In Madrid over the alleged imposi-
tion or q discriminating tonnage tax upon Spanish
vessels entering ports. has grown out OF an over
sight on tho part of our government. The Treasury
officials say that the last session OF Congress be-
came necessary to re-enact q law explanatory
OF tho amount Of tonnage to bo collected from
sells entering waters In sending out tho circular
10 Collectors OF Customs instructing them what
amount should be collected list Of countries having
the "favored nation' clause In their commercial
treaties with the United Staies given With
Spain have such treaty, but under authority Of
law the President has tho right by proclamation to
exempt tho vessels OF such nations as do
not discriminate against vessels Such
proclamation with reference to Spain was
issued by President Grant In 1869 The new ogisla-
tion merely required tho formay OF assurances from
the Spanish Minister that the conditions existed
~ the date Of the issue OF tho circular during the
past eight years, and observance would have
avoided the evident misunderstood in Spain. This
now legislation had boon the statute books for
several months, and tho Treasury Department
Obliged TO officially promulgate tho circular This
II did last month, and as tho Treasury
Department advised OF the continu-
snce OF the non.discriminating regulations In
Spain, the Collector at New York obliged exact
from Spanish vessels discriminating fifty cents
per IN addition tho universal thirty cents but
that mistake should work to the disadvan tagc OF
tho Spanish shipowners the was the sug.
gcstion of our officials collected under protest Now
and abatc the Indignation OF the Spanish people IS
that the Spanish Minister should call upon Secretary
Evarts Monday say to him that his country does
discriminate against vessels and Spanish vessels
will be permitted 10 enter before and the tax
already collected will be refunded. Had this informa-
uou been given suggested last month there would
not have been the slightest change IN the orders
Collector OF Customs. The Spanish Consul New
York fully understands the whole matter, having
been exactly advised Of tho action Of tho Collector Of
the Por, Of New York. and there doubt that tho
existing for indignation will be wholly moved
early ncxt week.
MR. RANDALL AND THE NEW COMMITTEES
Tho question OF tho number OF committees that
Will be appointed by Speaker Randall depends upon
tho determination OF another question--viz., how
long the session will SIT IL is understood that
MT Randall VIII designate at the very earliest mo-
ment the Committees Appropriations, Elections
and Accounts and leave tho future to decide him
to when he snail SOLICIT tho OF tho standing
mittees.
PROSECUTING THE LUMBER FRAUD INvEsTIGA-
TIoNs-roREIGN coSsULs IN FLORIDA SAID
TO BE IMPLICATED.
Almost every day brings dispatches announcing
either conviction Of timber tniei success
fu termination Of civil proceedings involving recov
q "a m missio IIiaruc
says he every to believe that tho vigorous
policy of Secretary Schurz viii eventually put stop
TO this kind OF robbery yet at the present limo no
apprehcnsIve that local prejudice will prevent
quick and punishment OF the offending parti les
the department desires. For instance, invcstga-
lions progressing into depredations upon
tho public domain Fiorila, which are pro-
ducing interesting results Tho Land Comm issionc
is IN possession Of information that certain foreign
eonsuls In Florida have been engaged Indirectly tho
extensive system OF pilaging, when has had largo
share in reducing the grcnt live oak forests OF tho
States. II IS stated by prominent Floridan that
those officials have served secretly middle men in
selling foreign governments ship builders the
greater portion OF the millions Of feet OF 1.-Two that
has annually been shipped abroad for many years
past He says tnis might be a dlcut matter TO csab-
lish in n court, but that tho fact known among
well informed people OF his State. Thcrc
two special agents OF tho olcc In Florida N either
Of them said to be qualified for the business, but
they gradually getting insight into tho state
oi affairs and are expected 10 bring about some
air results In the Of imo ono OF them, writ.
ing from Bronson, tells OF a conspiracy by ngcn.
ous pair OF scamps to got possession of considerable
tract OF public and that locality and 10 swndlc
number OF unsuspcctipg settlers. They In tho
turpcn tine business and the agent says, they In
duced q number OF from other parts OF the State
by promising them homcstoads Of iorty each,
condition that they furnished certain amount OF
rosin crude turpentiDc, 10 como and enter their
employment. Tho land certificates were procured by
the lrm ut Taa hassco aud held as security against
loss on the settlers Tho settlers were not
assigned land called for in the certificates but
other lands stakcd out, ana tho began work
by "bonng' large number OF pincs thus innocentiy
dcprcdating government lands. IL IS that they
an entire before lvcring the doccp
mon and upon investigating tbe they coolly
told that US they had mado improvements within
the time required by law upon tho land indicated in
tho certificates they had forfeited their rights: nso
that as they had been dcpredatng upon tho public
lands they liable to prosecution and imprlson.
mcnt Tho agent says that all but two of the settlers
we're frightened away, and tho two scaemcrs lott
10 possession OF tho cortSstcs, and in fair way, by
one mosnsor another, 10 acquire the title to the lands
which are said 10 DO worth from 81 to $40 pcr acre.
b. tais bold and ingenious trick the nrm Is under
stood TO prontod to the extent OF thousands OF
dollars II viii DO seen that they got both their tur
pcntIne labor free. and pockcted The gross amount
Of sales as clear profit One OF the irm Is cx-mem.
Der Of tho Florida Legislature.
A NEW CONSUL APPOINTED TO cHIS-KIANo,
CHINA
Colonel John s. Cunningham, a wealthy West vr-
gifnia farrncr. to-day received hts Con-
sui TO Chin -Kiang, China. The apponice leading
republican, and the second important diplomatic
appointment that has been made from that State.