The New York herald., 1878-02-07
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

wAsHIsoros, Feb. 9. 1871
GENERAL BuTLxR's BILL TO PROVIDE FOR AN
''oFrIcIAL ADvERTIsER OF THE UNITED
srArrs"
The bill introduced In the House to-day by Repre-
sentative Butler, 70 provide for giving ofacal
notice Of the acts OF the and provide
for the advertisements required by tho several do
partmsnts Of the government, authorizes tho public
printer 10 print and publish u weekly paper 10
be designated TIE Official Advertiser of the
United States anitorm In size and type. and upon
the paper tat the Congregational Record is now
printed. The ~ proposes that said paper shall
contain all tho proclamations and executive
ders Of the President, all acts and joint res
olutions Of Congress and all departmental orders
and circulars issued BY the several departments and
bureaus OF the government such have heretofore
been officially made public by publication in news-
papers, or which, the opinion OF the ofncer, de-
partmens, or bureau issuing the same. 1t is for the
forest OF the public service to hav1mads public.
The bill further provides for the distribution Of
such Official Adpertsser free OF cost-to tho Con-
Ercssona Library, two copies to each public library,
not exceeding Ave In each Congressional district in
cach State and Territory OF the United States,
copies sad Libraries to be designated by tho members
OF Congress from such district and OF dele-
gate from such Territory; two copies 10 the
United States District Court; two copies to each
State library. copies the Secretary Of States
ofnce In each State and Two the ONCE OF the Secrs
tary Of each Territory. n
The bill In conclusion provides that any copy OF
said official Advertiser may be read in evidence In
any proceeding ~ prima aee evidence OF the matter
therein contained, Whenever tho same may be mate.
rial to be proven.
TONNAGE TAX NAoTED IN CoNTRAvENrIoN OF
TREATY PROVISION "A BILL PROVIDING ron
RETuNDINa THE SAME
Tho following 10 the full toxt OF tho bill reported
to-day by Mr.. Wilson. OF West Va. from the House
Committee on Foreign Anairs:-
That the provisions Of section 1881 OF chapter 8.
' apply sf Ii. sisn;ss p.s%:o. 'n.
tonnage tax on vessels where the Secretary
shall Be ss..nsd that the sxscsou Of such tax was
conlraventon Of treaty proviaons and the Secretary
OF the Treasury shall draw his warrant Tor the refund
OF the tax so illegally exacted as 10 provided section
3012 OF said Statutex provided, however, that no
claim shall be considered paid under the provisions
OF this act for payments made prior to the LIST day
June, 1862
Tho report accompanying the bill. which is unan.
NOUS states that che bill becomes necessary In con-
sequence Of the exacop and collection by the revenue
ofncers OF the United States Of tonnage dues on
the Of the Norwegian line In violation OF the
treaty between the United States and Sweden ana
Norway. Between the dates Of July ~, 1871, and
August 2s, 1874 revenue officers at Now York col.
l"csed %. AL eThsss ships were The property aud
under the management Of the citizens Of tho Kingdom
OF swedsn and Norway The committee, after ex-
anining the words Of the treaty, say that when the
United States. BY the treaty with Belgium,
agreed that III steam vessels engaged in regular
navigagon betN01h yh1 two countries should be ex.
empt In both countries from the payment OF duties
on tonnage, anchorage, buoys and lighthouses, that
exemption attached at once to similar vessels en-
gagged regular navigation between the United States
aud Sweden aud Norway. The committee are, therefore,
OF tho opinion that the tonnage duties collected from
the Norwegian or Morse line Of steamers was so COL
lected in violation of tho treaty provisions and
should be refunded. Appended to the report
Is letter from Secretary Evarts, which is
In accord with the viows Of the committee He
states that his predecessor Secretary Fish, and secre
tary Bristow and Attorney General Williams wore Of
the opinion that tho duti6s should DO refunded but
the Secretary Of the Treasury did not consider
that he had the power under the revc-
laws 70 pay ths amount and therefore
thought II necessary that the claimants should
appeal to Congress- Further. the Finance Com
mittee or tho Senate. at the commencement OF the
former Congress, mado unanimous report in favor
OF bill to refund those dues.
CONTESTED ELECTION CASES BEFORE THE
house COMMITTEE.
The House Committee on Elections to-day heard
the reading Of the majority report OF the sub-com.
mittee In favor OF Mr. Acklen (democra) against Mr.
Darrall trepubican) the sitting member in the Lousi.
ana contested election case Tho minority report will
DO presented at q subsequent meeting The Dean
against Fied Massachusetts, contested case will prob
ably not be reached this week.