The New York herald., 1878-12-18

the total amount of silver certificates issued which is
accounted for by the fact that when received pub
lie dues silver certificates have again been paid out.
The greater portion of the above 900 is repre-
sented by only 900 in San Francisco silver Ger
tihcates received for customs in New York, all,
portion being again paid out by that Office and moth
ing received for customs Silver certificates cannot
be paid interest," their being authorized only
upon deposit of standard silver dollars.
In response to the second inquiry contained in the
Senate resolution. 1t may be stated that the silver
coinage received during the fiscal year has not
been specifically applied to the payment of interest
upon bonds and OF The United States except
FAR the fractional silver received has been used
in disbursements for coin interest IN making pay
ments, for fractional parts OF the dollar. No in
sructens have been given by the department direct
ing the payment OF interest upon bonds and notes
OF the United States in silver. In making coin
payments, however. payees are permitted to elect
which currency they shall receive. whether gold,
silver coin certificates United states notes. The
Treasury has also exchanged standard silver dollars
with the public for gold coin to the amount Of
81 53l 7s5 The receipts OF silver coin for customs
duties during the current fiscal year have not been
sufficient to enable the department. 10 make payment
exclusively in silver coin. No general demand for it,
in lien OF gold, manifested by those entitled 10
coin interest from the government While reserving
the legal option of the government to pay either gold
or silver coin, il has been the general practice to
comply with the wishes of the holder of demand
tion of money desired by him. AID this practice has
been observed in the of interest of the pub
lie debt In the disposition of the coin paid tor
duties imported goods the requirements OF Sec
ton 3,G4 OF the Revised Statutes have not been
dsregarded in respect to the application of coin so
received frst to the payment Of coin interest,"
ond, 10 the sinking fund.- third. to the payment OF
the residue into the Treasury Attention is directed
to the fact that nearly the entire receipts Of standard
silver dollars from all sources, including coinage
have been expended in the purchase OF silver bullion
under the appropriation made III the first section OF
the act of February 2S. 1878, entitled, An act to a-
thorize the coinage of the standard silver dollar and
TO restore its legal tender character"
To the third inquiry it Is replied that the coin in
terest paid during the fiscal year amounts 70
pa 81 and no fuller Information can be given
than that contained in the reply to the second inquiry
to the amount Of such interest which paid in
JAMES GILFILLAN,
Treasurer of the United States.
Hon. JOHN SHERMAN Secretary Of the Treasury.
ARMY MATTERs-BILLs REPORTED BY THE
HOUSE MILITARY COMMITTEE.
The House Committee on Military Affairs to-day
agreed to report to the House with favorable
mendations the following bils:-
To amend the third Article of War SO as to read as
fo!lows:-
ARTICLE 103.-No person shall be tried or punished
by court martial for any offence committed more
than two years. in Of desertion, three
before the arraignment of such persons for such
himself from the United States in which case the
time Of his absence shall be excluded III computing
the period of the limitation.
Amendatory OF section 235 of the Revised Statutes
SO as to read as fol1ows:-
SECTION 1,2s5-A certificate Of merit granted to an
enlisted man BY the President for distinguished
vices shall enfitle him thereafter additional pay
at the Of 81 per month while he is in the mill
tary service, although such service may not have
been continuous.
Amendatory of section 1916 of the Revised Statutes
SECTION l,216.-When any non-commissioned officer
musician private soldier shall have distinguished
himself in the service the President may. on the
recommendation OF the commanding officer of the
regiment to which such non-commissioned musician
or private soldier belongs. grant him certificate Of
merit.
49, . ,A;u ..,a~;-;.,x ~. ..,...,..,~...4 - -
James 7. Powell, formerly of the Confederate service
to the Office of assistant surgeon United States Army.
with the rank Of Ieutenant-
THE EoBEsoN INVESTIGATION.
1t was decided by the House Committee on Naval
Affairs to-day that the majority report of the
mittee in the of cxsecretary Robson should be
withheld for the present. in order that the gentle
man and others implicated in the testimony taken
in the investigation should have an opportunity
to furnish proof-as desired by them-to show that
charges preferred are false. The time granted for
this purpose extends until January Il, four weeks
from to-day: and it is understood that in order to
allow full opportunity for the introduction Of
evidence, the committee will hold sessions during
the holiday
MR. HEwITr's BILL TO SECURE A UNIFORM
STANDARD OF VALUE.
The House Committee on Banking and currency
to-day heard Representative Abram s. Hewitt, Of
New York, lin advocacy of his bill to secure q
uniform standard of value. general dis
cussion was indulged in by members Of
the committee and it finally decided to conclude
consideration Of the bill tomorrow. at which time
various other bills pending before the committee
will be disposed Of. including the proposition of
Representative Phillips relative to postal savings in
stitutions.
The bill Of Mr.. Hewitt which under discussion
to-day. provides that gold and silver coins Of the
United States which full legal tender shall here
after be interchangeable at their lawful value either
for the other upon the demand Of any holder thereof
the Office OF the Assistant Treasurer the city of
New York, when presented in sums of 800 or any
multiple thereof, leaving the amount OF silver to be
coined to the discretion Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury.
ILLEGAL ACTION OF THE BUREAU OF ENGRAv-
nG AND PRINTING--How NATIONAL BANK
NOTES HAVE BEEN PRINTED.
Some time ago Mr. Atkins. chairman Of the House
Committee Appropriations. requested Mr.. Glover.
chairman Of the Committee Expenditures in the
Treasury Department. to furnish such informs-
ton as might be useful in framing gen.
eral appropriation bills. Mr.. Glover accord
ingly sent to Mr. Atkins statement that
national bank notes have been printed in the Brcau
Of Engraving and Printing instead Of under the
direction OF the Comptroller OF the Currency. the
law requires. and that the Bureau obtained the work
on the back of the notes by Offering to do it for
50 ~ thousand impressions. which was less
than the bid OF any OF the seven bidders
But from the lst of January to the lst of July last
only about one-sixth of the work done at this
price, the remainder being charged secretly at s1i
thousand for the second printing green tint and
$40 a,thousand for the third printing faces. Mr.
Glover says that Congress and the public have been
deceived TO this expenditure; that the bureau
figures wholly unreliable; that the bureau
reports do not make proper showing OF cost. and
that the bank note printing indicates needless
pcndre and extravaganza within the last fiscal year
to the extent Of over $4,000 The expenditures of
tho bureau before 1874 not even known. being
mixed with socalcd expenses of the national loan,
and Il would taka CORDS Of clcrks six months To