The Portland daily press., 1883-08-11
WASHINGTON.
The New Duties ON the Coverings of Em-
ported Goods.

The New Duties ON the Coverings of Em-
ported Goods.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-Some time ago
committee was appointed by the Treasury De-
partment to consider whether it was intended
by section of the new tariff acs to repeal the
duties on all the coverings of imported goods,
including the small boxes containing them.
such as backing boxes, cigar boxes, ETC., or
whether it was only intended to repeal the
duty on outside boxes necessary for transporta-
tion and shipment. The committee was COM
posed of Mr. James, chief IF the customs di-
vision of the Treasury Department (chairmaD)
Mr.. Ketcham, appraiser at New York; Mr.
Treloar, representing the collector OF customs
at New York; Mr.. Fiske, deputy collector of
customs at Boston; Mr.. Moore, appraiser at
Philadelphia; Mr.. Goldsborough, appraiser at
Baltimore, and MIR. Rice, appraiser at Boston.
The committee was in consultation in New
York for several days, and has just completed
its sessions. The result is that two reports on
the subject have been made to the Acting
Secretary of the Treasury One of them,
which is signed by Messrs. James, Treloar and
Goldsborough, is in effect that the section con-
templated that the outer covering of the goods
only was exempt from taxation. The other
report, which is signed by Mr.. Ketcham, Mr..
Rice and Mr.. Fisk, is to the effect that all the
coverings are exempt, and that duty be assessed
only on the naked merchandise. Mr.. Moore
did not sjgn either report The reports will be
printed by the Treasury Department. 1t is
probable that the question will be submitted
to the Attorney General for an opinion.
A Religious Mission i'm a Land Grabbing
scheme.
The fact that Secretary Lincoln some time
ago refused permission to the Catholic Church
to erect mission house upon one of the mill
tary reservations, on the ground that similar
action had been expanded into a claim for
whole reserva tion, including the buildings
thereon, has caused a strong effort to be made
to find out W hich mission he alluded to. War
Department officials refuse to throw any light
upon the subject in the absence of the Secre-
tary, but investigation leads to the belief that
the case referred TO is that of the St. James
Mission, Fort Vancouver, Washington Terri
tory. The law of 1913, by which the territory
of Oregon was organized, provided that the
title to the land not exceeding GAO acres then
held by religious societies, together with the
improvements thereon, be confirmed to the
several missionary stations to which they be-
long. The st. James Mission construes this
act to mean $40 acres to each station, and il
the society can induce Congress to put that
construction upon it, the entire military reser-
walton, together with upward of $780, 0C0 worth
of improvements, Will pass out of the control
OF the government.
The Tax ON Tobacco.
The decrease in the receipts from the inter-
nal revenue tax on tobacco for the fiscal year
ended June 30 last was So, ,287, ,739, as compared
WIN the receipts OF the last 0ScaI year. InlB
was due mostly 10 the decrease in the tax
which went into effect May 10. The tobacco
tax in the aggregate yielded the immense sum
of $40, ,1C4 ,249 This isa very important item in
the receipts of the government. 1t is generally
understood that vigorous and combined effort
will be made at the next session of Congress to
abolish all tax on tobacco, although it is queg-
toned that with the exception of the whiskey
tax there is none which can possibly cause so
little Inconvenience.
The New steel Cruisers.
1t is understood that the plans for the new
steel cruisers are practically complete, and
that work will be begun as soon as possible.
Treasury Matters.
The receipts from internal revenue to-day
were 1896, 1885, and from customs $647 ,482.
The national bank notes received for re-
dempton to-day amount to $403,C00,
The statement of the United States Treasur-
er shows gold, silver and United States notes
in the Treasury to-day as follows: Gold coin
and bullion, 1903 160,947 silver dollars and
bullion, SILT ,805, $50; fractional silver coin,
$28, OPS, ,604; United States notes, $54 ,026 522
total, $403, ,021 ,632, Certificates outstanding,
gold, $61 no. silver, 1913, ,775 S21; currency,
$12,6S0,000.
Tariff On Wire Rope
The Treasury Department is considering the
question of the duty to be assessed upon wire
rods used in making fence wire and rivets un-
der the new tariff act