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

WARRINGTON, Feb. g. 1871
GENERAL BuTLxn's BILL TO PROVIDE FOR AN
''oFFIcIAL ADVERTISER OF THE UNITED
STATES"
Tho bill introduced In the House to-day by Repre-
sentative Butler, 70 provide for giving ofacial
notice Of the acts OF the government and provide
for the advertisements required by tho several do
psrtmsnts Of the government, authorizes tho public
printer 10 print and publish . weekly paper to
be designated The 061c,at Advertiser of the
United States. sniiorm In and type. and upon
the paper tbat the Congregational Record Is now
printed. The ~ proposes that said paper shall
contain all the proolamaiions and executive or.
dsrs Of the President, all acts and joint res
olutons Of Congress and all departmental orders
and circulars issued BY the several departments and
bureaus OF the government such a. have heretofore
been etacialIy made public by publication in ncws-
pspsr. or which. IN the opinion Of the ofncer, de-
partmens, or bureau issuing the same, 1t Is Tor the
forest OF the public service to havomade public
The bill further provides for the distribution Of
such Official Adeertsr tree Of cost-to tho Con-
Eressona Library, two copies; to public library,
not exceeding Ave iu each Congressional district In
each State and Territory OF the United States, two
copies tsad libraries to be designated by tho
OF Congress from such district and Of delc-
gate from such Territory; two copies 10 the
State library, two copies the Secretary OF States
oco in each State two TO the oacs OF the Secrs.
tary Of each Territory. ~
The bill In ooneiusion provides that any copy OF
said Official Advatissr may be read in evidence In
any proceeding ~ prima faee evidence OF the matter
therein contained, Whenever tho same may bc mate.
rial TO be proven.
TONNAGE TAX xxAcTED IN CoNTRAvENTIoN OF
TREATY PROVISION BILL PROVIDING FOR
REruNDiNa THE SAME.
The following is the full text OF tho bill reported
to-day by Mr.. Wilson. OF West Va, from the House
Committee on Foreign AfYairs:-
That the provisions Of section 1881 OF chapter @.
title 81, OF the Revised Statutes snail
tonnage tax ON vessels where tbc Secretary
OF State and the Secretary OF the Treasury
conirAvsnton Of treaty provisions and the Secretary
OF the Treasury shall draw his warrant Tor the refund
u. .a :oa Is Is In section
claim shall be considered paid under the provisions
OF this sct for payments made prior to the LIST day
juno, 1862.
The report accompanying the bill. which is unani.
NOUS states that shs bill becomes necessary in con.
sequence Of the sxactop and collection by the revenue
ofacers OF the United States OF tonnage dues on
the steamers Of the Norwegian line In violation the
treaty between the United States and Sweden ana
Norway. Between the dates Of July q, 1871, and
August 2S, 1874 revenue officers at Now York COL
l~cted %. ~. srhsss ships were The property aud
under the Management OF the citizens Of tho Kingdom
OF Sweden and norway. The committee, after ex-
aiming the words Of the treaty. say that when the
United States. BY the treaty with Belgium,
agreed that al steam vessels engaged In regular
navigaIion between yh1 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 in 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 Morse line OF steamers was 80 col.
lscted In violation OF the treaty provisions and
should bs refunded. Appended to the report
is lotter 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 duties should DO refunded but
the Secretary Of tho Treasury did not consider
that he had the power under the revc-
laws 70 pay the amount and therefore
thought IL necessary that the claimants should
appeal to Congress- Further. the Finance Com
mittee OF tho Senate. at the commencement OF the
former Congress. mado unanimous report In favor
oil 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 (democraD against Mr.
Darra repubican the sitting member in the Louisi.
contested election Tho minority report will
be presented At a subsequent meeting The Dean
against Ficd Massachusetts, contested casc will prob.
ably not be reached this week.