New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-10
A NEW POST FOR GENERAL DEYENs.
AN EXPECTATION THAT HE WILL BE NOMINATED TO
THE BENCH OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT.
Try TFLRGRA PH To THE TRIBUNE


WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The lOng-standng report
that Attorney General Devens would eventually
accept the position of Judge of the First JudlcIal
Circuit is reported tonight in official quarters WIN
deiniteness. The President does not desire TO part
with General DeveDs, and has been especially
anxious to have him continue in charge OF the cases
at the South in his hands, but his own prefer
ence for judicial life seems to have decided the
matter at length. The present understanding
among his friends Is that the President
will send his name in for the Circuit Judge
ship within the thirty days prescibed by law.
The matter has not as yet received formal action
on the part of the President, nor has the subject
been considered in the Cabinet There are many
predictions tonight as to the successor OF Attorney,
General Dcvens IN the Cabinet, but these are all
purely speculative.
A SHARP COLLOQUY IN COMMITTEE.
MINISTER SEWARD AND G. WILEY WELLS SPEAK
BLUNTLY TO EACH OTHER DURING AN INyEsTI-
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCR.I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The House Committee on
Expenditures under the State Department to-day
continued its investigation of consular affairs III
China by beginning the crOss-eXamination of Mr.
G. Wiley Wells. Minister Seward and various other
persons involved in the inquiry were present, to-
getherwith counsel, including Judge r. I. Merrick'
ex-senator Carpenter and Mr.. Coleman.
Mr. Wells said that documents had been alb
stracted and records mutlated during the admins
tration of Messrs Seward and Bradford, and that,
for instance, there no papers on file showing
the Williams bequest to the Snug HarbOr Hospital
In New-YOrk.
Judge Merrck, at this point, produced these pa
pers, thus showing that they had not been lost or
destroyed.
Mr.. Wells was next crOss-examined at great
length concerning his testimony that the Consul
Generals docket in judicial proceedings had been
kept in a defective and irregular manner; that
pages had been torn out etc ReassertinG this tcs-
mony, Mr.. Wells added that the docket had the
appearance of a butchers book
ThereupOn Minister Seward exctedy remarked
That is false
Mr. Wells, with still greater warmth, rejoned,
IF you say So You are a liarw
Mr.. Seward was on the point of replying, but
Judge McTrick and the mombcrS of the committee
inteIp0sed to prevent further C0loquy.
Mr.. Wells, however. informed Chairman Springer
that unless he could he protected by the committee
from such insulting interruptions he must protect
himself. MIR Springer having assured the Wit
ness that the committee would prOtect NM
and having informed Mr.. Seward that he
must not speak TO the witness while under cross
examination except through his lawyer, the sensa-
tiOnal episode ended and the cTOss-eXamlnation pro-
ceeded. No new points of interest were elected.
DRAFT OF A NEW BILL ON DUTIES.
SECRETARY SHERMAN sENDs 10 TIE HOUSE A
MEASURE N REGARD TO HE SUGAR DUTY,
CONSOLIDATION OF DISTRICTS, AND MOIETIEs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 0.-The following cOmmun-
cation from the Secretary of the Treasury accom-
panied by the draft of bill to regulate the duties
on certain classes of sugar, was laid before the
House OF Representatives to-day and referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means
Hon. SAMUEL ]. RANDALL, Speaker
In pursuance of the recommendations contained In
the annual report OF this Department for the present
year. have the honor to transmit herewith the draft OF
bill 10 regulate the duties on certain classes OF sugars,
aud for the other purposes specified In the various see
lions Of the bill. The subject OF specific duties upon
silk goods and kid gloves referred 10 IN the report
mentioned, but at the present time tins Department has
not before II such facts VIII enable It 10 arrive AT any
specific duties the articles mentioned The Depart
mcnt however, viii AT any time he g'd 70 FURNISH 10
Congress the COMMITTEE on Ways ana Means the
views OF its officers and OF persons interested IN me
trade in such articles and to furnish such facts ana S
The duty on sugar not above No - az fixed by the
hill Al $40 90 cents uer pOuud has been based the du
ties collected sugar withdrawn for consumption dur
ing the fiscal years OF the various grades OF No.
T. No. 10 aud 40. -. Tue average rate Of duty col
was 234 100 per pound, but portion Of the sugars
upon which these duties collected was undOuDt-
cdly coored artfcy for The purpose OF reducing the
duty and should paid higher rate hence the rate
shown by the actual Withdrawals for CONSUMPTION.
IL Is hoped that Congress will take early action upon
transmitted john SHERMAN, secretary.
The following is the full text Of the bill alluded
to:
Be enacted ETC.,, That from aud after the = day Of
- 1870 M lien Of the duties heretofore prescribed the
following rates Of duties shall be eXacted
On all sugars not above TO- 10 Dutch standard ID
engh cents and ~ W per Rcns @ coo
which shall test above "a degrees in saccharuc strength
sna pay the rate OF duty caTgcaPe on sugars an0NG
and the test OF sacchaine strength snaI bc
by OF the DOarIscOpc or It's equivalent under such
regulations as may be prescribed ny the secretary VI Tue
SIC q Section 253 Of the Revised Statutes Is hereby
amended so az read follows: The Secretary ~
III" Treasury may discontinue any port OF entry Oh ne
livery the revenue received NJ Whch dotS not a0unt
10 the OF $4,000 YER, and nc Il hereby anthor
~ ~ rci,J M rar o. which does moi exceed the
sum before specified, aud place subordinate officers at
such places within such consolidated districts as IN ms
Judgment may be- necessary for the proper collection OI
SEC 3. An provisions Of law which authorize allow
ancc5 the dsscssm, nj Of duties for damage occurring
Imported merchan Use on the voyage of Importation
shall he, ana the same are, Hereby repealed.
SEC. 4 For The purpose Of securing greater uniform
ity the collection Of duties imports at the various
ports ihe United States the Secretary OF the Treasury
appraised value classification Tor duty OF similar
merchant al two OF more ports in the United States
10 direct the Board OF General Appraisers, or majority
Of hem TO examine ana decide upon the true dut1be
value classification Of such Imports ard TO cause e
duties 20 be levied III such cases accordingly; ana the
General Apprais rs shall have, subject 10 the approval
Of Secretary OLthc Treasury, authority to establish
shall tend TO greater uniformity IN the ap-
prasa and classification OF imports Tor assessment OF
duty.
SEC 3. That Whenever any person, not an Ohiccr OF
the United States snail furnish the Secretary Of the
Treasury any chief officer OF the customs, or to
DstncAttone original Information concerning any
fraud upon the customs revenue crpctrdtcd or contcm
plated, which shall lead to the recovery OF any duties
withheld, Of any fine, penalty OF forfeiture IN
Cured whether by importers or their agents or by any
officer or person employed IN the customs service such
nrrs0n so furnishing information shall be entitled to
ceiye Uued OF the gross proceeds OF such dulles bne
penalty forfeiture so recovered, to be PAID under
sucn regulations the Secretary OF the Treasury may
prescribe