Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-07

The Solicitor of the Treasury has given an
opinion in regard to the tonnage tax levied on
vessels, under the act of June &c, 1884 which
act decreases the duty in tonnage on all ves-
sells entered in any port of the United States,
and authorises the President to suspend by
proclamation the collection of so much of the
duty imposed by the act, on vessels entered
by specified ports, in excess of taxes imposed
on American vessels by the government in
which such ports are situated. 1t appears
that tonnage duties have been collected from
the time when the act took effect, on vessels
entered from specified ports, up to the date
of the proclamation, indicating such ports as
ones which vessels could enter free of duty
The question arose as to whether such duties
can be refunded, and the solicitor has given
an opinion that such duties cannot be re-
funded He says that it is clear from the
words of the act that the duty must be col
lected on vessels entered from specified ports,
until it is known to the officers of the gov
ernmant that such vessels are exempt under
the act. These officers can only be informed
on this point by proclamation of the Pres-
dent based on evidence satisfactory to him.
The solicitor says it follows that up to the
time of the proclamation the collection of
duties on vessels exempted thereby WAS
proper.
The friends of Mr.. Frelinghuysen saw that
he has long been very sick man and that
his condition was kept from the public. A
state department official who held close re-
lations With him says; During the last three
months OF his connection with the state de-
partment Frelinghuysen signed nearly all the
official mail at home. He was nearly too
weak to come to the department, although
this fact was not generally known and when
he was at the department he was often COM
PEELED to apply water to his face and wrists
to revive himself. He was a constant suf-
ferer from intense pain for more than year.
Judge Charles Chesley, solicitor of internal
revenue, who resigned at the request of the
attorney general on Friday last, Withdrew
his resignation today at the request of the
| President who informed him that he would
| like him to remain in Office at least so davs
| longer. This acti said to be based on the
| representations by the commissioner of in
ternal revenue that Chesley's services were
very desirable in closing up operations of the
revenue bureau for the present fiscal year.
1t is understood that the attorney general
comedies heartily in the request that his
resignation be withdrawn.
Secretary Lamar today said he had taken
no action in the case of Miss Ada Swift, PEN
sion agent at Chicago. Commissioner of
Pensions Black said that he could say moth
ing for publication in regard to the matter.
James Powell, assistant postmaster a,
Marshall, Tenn, has been arrested and
placed in Jail on charge of stealing letters.
M. c. ID. Walters, first deputy commits.
sioner of pensions, has resigned.
The postmaster at Rome, N. Y, was today
suspended from further duty in office BY
order of the President, and J. b. Corcoran
has been designated to perform the duties OF
the Office in his stead. The President pro
posed the removal of the postmaster and
nominated Corcoran to the Senate at the re.
cent session, and as it failed to take actor
on the nomination the postmaster general
applied to the President for his directions in
the case and received written communica.
ton in which the President ordered the above
action and set forth at length his reasons fol
90 doing He says: ITO me 1t clearly
seems to be my duty to exercise, by promp
action in the case, all the power which the
present condition of the law has left in my
hands, so far as it may be done ndepend
emily of the Senate to protect the interests o.
the government to vindicate the laws which
have been enacted for the regulation of the
postal service and to impress on federal Of
fee holders the fact that no indulgence viii
| be granted by the executive to those who
violate the law or neglect public duty.
1t appears from the official report Of an in
spector of the postoffice department, now be
fore me, and which was submitted to thu
committee of the Senate while the proposition
to remove this official was before them. Al
examination of his Office was ordered on the
26th day of January, 1885, in consequence o
the fact that no weekly reports had beer
made by him since the 9Th day of December