New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25
BEAUTIES OF THE FEE SYSTEM.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI

lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March PA case which Illus
trae the beauties of the fee system Is at present
subject OF official correspondence between two OF
the executive departments 1t appears that seVerai
wears ago. when the postmaster of certain town in
Florida retired from office, the Department claimed
a balance due the Government amounting to about
S117 The postmaster denied the claim and re-
fused TO nav It, The United States Distr1ct-Attor-
ney thereupon brought suit, not only AGAINST the
postnaster but separately against each OF the sure
ties-seven suits in all. Or course the
fees of the United States District Attorney
and the United States Marshal in these suits
amounted TO several times as much as the entire
claim of the Government with interest. iudg-
eut was recovered in each suit, and the costs were
thus thrown upon the defendants. In the mean
tim. the postmaster had presented a claim against
the Government for Sl4S on account Of money ex-
nended in CARRYING out and bringing In the mails
when the town was quarantine against yellow
fever and Appropriation 10 pay 'ne dlVu Nv "do
made by Congress. This amount, IL VIII De OBJ
served was S}l greater than the claim against the
postmaster Upon which the Government Drought
seven quits and won them All. =. 49,. 80
A Treasury official after speaking OF thls case yes
terlay remarked: lit reminds me OF the 3
of Isaac O. Barnes when he was Chl'eu o'a.eS
Marshal in Boston great many years ago uuIine
1he tnOi,iye slave trials There were eighteen or
twenty prisoners on trial at the same uinc' Every
day Barnes would issue separate warrants 10 pIlhg
I'm nrIsonpr INTO court; and when the court
.iinu,nea fnr the day he would make out a warrant
nj commitment 1or each one. In this way he man
soed 10 ma the trial very prOitable but the scan
dsi was so great that Congress alnendeu tne Ia"
under which such practices were possible
SEVENTH SECTION OF THE TARIFF ACI.
A RULING UPON ITS CONSTRUCTION BY The lhhAS-
URY DEPARTMENT.
w.suISGroN Marcn 24.-Mr. French, the Acting
Secretary of the Treasury, on Thursday addressed
The following letter OF instructions to the Collector
OF Customs, New-York: ,,
The Department is In receipt OF your letter OF
16 uresentpg various questions Tor decision III gt
ron vim tue cement OF section OI Inc Aain "O
In RELY nave TO state that In view OF the fact nat
tbe hs prescribed by section 2,s4l OF inc hoNsou
statutes taken on enlres nave loI po sboud
conn ne IN force unii tnat time ana the ehtIlcn
correspond thereto. The mere fact however. nat In
voices ana enries incude hOnnutiaDo dnar s,d an
rroper ca-es Outy snOuld not DC ic,Icu va .io
rrba, oe. and commissions when they can DC properly
s,Te Ibst they have delivered TO tue purchaser on
~ xu0ruy vessel free or al charges 10 n Ine taiuc
ts,si I'm te invoice be taken as thai upsn wbich
duties shall be levied ptOViIeo VI oouiSe' 'nA' '
xnnra,ser makes advance thereon.
Loads actually remaining IN DODded warehouse vi
mn c store when TIN section or inc act reIeren 10
fo,k eject may be considered az enlIeu "
&c ~ m duty sad section "lluou IeSHu ~
~ reiug the OF the Department ana OI ltb
aitcers To- enforce laws az enaced Dy Cons.ss 10.
H. Deparfmeut not Oecm IL WIDE vi Hltnn "
en.nortv 10 enlarge scope OF tue act 70 Us W
IT, rvisjons OF section 10, in connection WIN secOn
p 10 good. not In public store or DOhoeu HuIcnoisc
wnen the act effect and wnich were impoIteu ~,
10 mat date. GoOds imported PRIOR 10 Tue ~ @
effect and which renamed in general order store are u
De considered bonded warehouse, ava ING luio W
fore taid down applies accordingly