The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-11
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The Commissioner
OF Navigation has issued circular to customs
officers revoking the orders of June "A, 1874,
by which they were directed to retain the
original certificate Of payment Of tonnage tax
presented by the master OF any vessel to prove
payment within the year, and in its place to
insure a copy OF the certificate daily authenti-
Gated. The original certificate will be left in
the possession Of the master unless required
as evidence on which to base a repayment of
the tax.
An Alabama Claims Case.
A decision was rendered by the Supreme
Court of the United States to-day on the Ala
bama claims case OF the Great Western In
surance Company, appellant, against the
United States on appeal from the Court of
Claims. This was suit brosght by the insur-
ancc company to recover the sum OF $309, ,635
with interest alleged to be due from the
Geneva award fRnd on account of war risks
taken BY the appellant upon vessels destroyed
by Confederate cruisers. The Court of Claims
dismissed the appellants petition upon thu
ground that 1t had no jurisdiction. The Su-
preme Court afdrms that Judgment and holds
that the Court of Claims was prohibited from
taxing jurisdiction by sn express statute as to
the merits of any controversy between appel
lants and the United States arising ont of the
Geneva convention. The court declines to
express any opinion, for the reason that
special tribunal has been created for the deter
mination of such questions.
a OoCiblOu WAS ALSO T6uu6f6Q LC-uay IN IQo
ex-parte case of 7. Temple Crouch, petitioner
upon motion for leave to ale petition for q
writ of habeas corpus This was an attempt
to bring again before this court in such q way
as to obtain prompt decision, the question of
the receivability OF the coupons Of the Vir-
g1nia State bonds in payment OF State taxes
Crouch insisted upon paying his license tax in
coupons, which the revenue officer of the State
declined to receiye. Crouch refused to make
payment in any other way, whereupon he was
akAA E~l1 f.
Hastings Court of Richmond upon charge of
violating the license laws. He thereupon ap-
piled to this court for writ of habeas corpus
upon the ground that he was detained in cus-
tody BY state court in violation OF the Con-
stitution OF the United States, because the
statute which prohibits a revenue officer from
accepting coupons impairs an obligation OF the
contract OF the State to receive them,
and 10 on that account imperative
and void BY reason of the provision
OF the federal constitution, which precludes
the State from passing such laws. The court
holds that when prisoner in in the custody
OF state court of competent Jurisdiction and
not illegally arrested, he cannot be taken from
that Jurisdiction and discharged by q court of
the United States, on writ of habeas cor
pus merely because he is not guilty of the Of
Tense for which ne is held. here the right of
the prisoner to discharge depends alone on
the sutticiency OF his defense and whether that
defence is sufficient or not, is for the court
NniCu trio6 nun TO uebefmin6. LII In such de-
termination errors are committed they can on
lg be corrected in the appropriate form of pro-
ceeding for that purpose. Tue motion of pc
tition is therefore denied. The opinion is by
Chief Justice Waite.
Alabama Claims.
WASHINGTON. NOV. 10.-In the court of COM
mssioners OF Alabama claims to-day the fol-
lowing judgments were announced with inter
est at per cent from dates named:
No. 1898, Charles Brown, 283; No. ]. 400. Peter
Peterson. 80, June 26. 1868. No. 1,575, JOAN
Nutter, 20s, Nov. II, 1864; No. 1,7US Eugene j.
Desabla surviving partner firm of Desabla T. Co.,
1919, June %, 1868; No. 2,31O, Andrew
Schumedt, 250; July 5, 1861; No. 2, al, John
Dorsey 225, December g. 1861; No. 4 285, A. Ed
win Clark Administrator CT estate of Alexander Ureu
hart, deceased $50 May 8, 1868.
Facts aad Rumors.
This morning the commissioners Of the dis.
triot received an application for the admission
OF j.. ,. p. Burnside to the insane asylum.
Col. Burnside, 1t will be remem mbered, is under
indictment for embezzement while in Office as
disbursing agent Of the Post-oflce Depart
ment.
The President to-day appointed Gov. Schuy-
Ter crosby OF Montana to be First Assistant
Postmaster General.
The Egyptian government recently sold pri-
vstely to German firm 100 Krup2 cannon,
but the French diplomatic agent objected to
their shipment, suspecting that they were dos
tined for China.