The New York herald., 1877-11-16

actual snoun. Of coin and bullion on hand is
This amount Ii subject 20 drah for the following
amounts and purposes
Debts contracted prior TO 1851. matured
and interest thereon unpaid....... $26s. 33p 92
Called bonds maturcd 1871 and subsc-
quently and unpaid interest thereon. o. lgI 0I 81
Interest due and unpaid. d.............. 3614 $50 "a
Coin certificates outstanding. less
amounts held IN coin items. ....... l6 lOl 7sO 90
Dsbursing officers accounts, checks
This being acductsa nom The coin and SnI,,on .e 60
tually hand, leaves balance Of $685. sl3 $50 Id or
matedl silver bullion So All, ,6ls ~. The net amount
OF available gold coin bars and tsstmated) gold bull
lion Is, therefore, $57, ,436, OIL A.
An accompanying letter from United States Treas
Gaan explains that in the arst portion OF this
because the coin balance Of the Treasury Is
made up Of silver and coin because the coin
and bullion in the buliion fund.- which s a part OF
The balance, cannot be given detail with accuracy
except a. the annual mint statement, which takes
place In july as The bullion containing tho silver Is
not separated In the section portion OF the state
ment the accrued interest is not charged against
gold coin In the Treasury, tor the reason that not
being due, II Is not demand obligation, but will be
met as It becomes payable from time to time by coin
receipts OF tho government Tho statement Is mado
OF the Slst OF October because that 10 the date
upon which the last statement OF balances vas
consolidation Of returns received from the various
assistant treasurers
A TRIBUNAL 10 SETTLE ISSUES ARISING IN
The CHOICE OF ELncToRs FOR PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT.
The joint resolution offered In tho Senate to-day by
Nr. Eaton, amendatory OF the constitution or tho
United States provides that the following article be
proposed the Legislatures OF the States as
ton OF the United States which, when ratified by
thrceourhs OF SAID legislatures, shall be valid as
part OF tho said constitution, viz -
tribunal for the decision OF all contested issues
arising the choice Of the Electors OF President and
Vice President shall be appointed IN each state the
following manner.-
Not less than twelve months prior to the time 1xcd
by law for tho choice Of Electors the Governor Of
each State SHALL by and with tho advice and consent
OF tho Senate Of the State appoint less than
persons learned in the law and otherwise duly
as the Legislature of the Stale shall direct ali
OF contested election arising In reference 10
Electors OF President and Vice President The tri-
buna so constituted shall hear and determine every
such contest and certify at least thirty days before
the day upon which the electors shall be called upon
10 give their vOtes their decision 10 the proper
turning officer officers OF the State, and also
init an authenticated copy thereof under the seal OF
the State, to the President OF the Senate.
Tie term Of office Of SAID tribunal shall expire upon
the day fixed by law tor the oath Of Office taken
by the President and Vice President OF the United
States for the term ensuing after their appointment
THE PARIS ExHIBIrIoN-AcTroN or THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON MR.. HEwIrT's BILL.
The House Committee Foreign Affairs to-day
agreed to recommend the passage OF Mr.. Hewitts bill
to provide for American representation at the rar,s
Exposition with few amendments. tho only one or
special interest being the omission Of the
ing provision tor q display OF tho various methods Of
cooking corn The bill, agreed upon, proposes
a total appropriation OF about s160, 900. Governor
Swan, chairman OF the committee, will endeavor TO
bring It before the House Tor action tomorrow.
Tho committee also this morning heard an argument
from Dr. Wines Of Boston, in favor Of action pro-
vide tor American participation in tho International
Prison Congress to be held at Stockholm next year.
DUrIABLE CHARACTER OF BALLAST-LErTER
PROM SECRETARY SHERMAN TO coLLEcroR
Arthur.
The Secretary Of the Treasury to-day addressed the
following letter to tho Collector OF Customs Of New
York, with regard tho dutiabe character OF ballast
before permitting landing:-
To rHR COLLECTOR OF CUsroMs, New YORK
SHIT has been represented to the department
that the practice now In orce AZ port requiring
the report Of the Appraiser to the dutabo
ter OF ballast betore permitting landing OF the same
Is attended with great Inconvenience 10 parties
interested and without conerring any special
tage upon the revenue. Your report OF the 4.h Of
Juno last states your objections granting request
OF parties Interested for u modification OF the OK
istns pract:ces upon the ground that tho con-
cession would put upon an Inspector In charge
OF an importing vessel the duty imposed by
law upon the United States Appraiser OF deter
mining tho value, II any, OF ballast. UNDER
stand that In very few Il any cases has any duty
been collected upon ballast which parties have
claimed was OF no mercantile value Upon thor
ough examination of the the department pre-
scribes the following regulations where claim made
that the ballast on board vessel Is oil mcrcantle
valuo:-
An AFFIDAVIT setting forth such claim, describing the
ballast and stating THAT Is of mercantile value
shall be required from The owner or master OF The
vessel. Should such affidavit show that the
ballast Ia OF Ordinary character, winch is nos
imported merchandise, permit will
thereupon be issued Tor the discharge Of the ballast
The inspector in charge Of the vessel will be required
to make examination, and If he dnds II TO DC or
dnary ballast, not possessing any mercan-
tile value viii be discharged without the iormay Of
issuing order Tor appraisemcnt by the Appraiser.
The inspector will mako OF the action
taken In each case. Should any fraud upon Tho
revenue DO committed attempted 10 be com mittcd
under color OF these regulations you will please report
the facts In the case 70 the department
Very respectfully, JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-