Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-21
AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
Ordered in the Case of Lieutenant-of-Engi-
neers Carter.
fRv teleqraph to tho Dispa,ch.I

iBy telegraph 70 mo Dspach.l
WASHINGTON, June 20--Eirst- Lieutenant
o. NJ. Carter, the engineer officer who has
been CHARGED in the newspapers with inn
proper completely with contractors in con-
nection with the river and harbor improve
merts in his charge III Georgia, Florida.
and other southern States, has been ordered
from Savannah TO Fort Clinch, Fla. At
this point an official investigation of the
charges will begin under the direction of
lnspector-General Hughes, who recently
went South from New York.
Secretary Tracy has ordered a court
of inquiry 10 Investigate the circum-
stances oonnectcd with the grounding oftbe
Constellation. The court will meet at the
Norfolk navy-yard tomorrow morning.
and VIII be composed ofCOmmander A. X.
Yates. president with Commanders q. A.
Batcheller and W. G.. Wise, and Lieutenant
Osterhaus as judge-adyOcate. Commander
Harrington. of the Constellation, has been
authorized 20 attend its sessions and Cross
examine the witnesses.
The Treasury Department has received
% number of communications from the
southern exporters in regard TO the draw
backs on the coverings OF exported cotton.
lt appears that the shipments in question
included some baling which was not
made exclusively from imported jute,
and that the exporters are therefore
unable 30 make oath on the COM
binntIOn entries 10 the exact number
Of yards of bagging entitled to drawback.
The Collector of CustOmsat Norfolk recon-
mcndcd that he be authorized TO deduct
from the quantities Of baling stated III the
entries, IL certain percentage to be deter
mined low himself for coverings winch
were made from materials other than I'M
ported ute, and H. allow drawback on the
remainder. He said that being fully aware
OF the irregularities existing this season
in the materials used for the coverings
Of cotton IN bales, he has used special vigil
laINe IN the matter and feels that
himself and his assistants are IN posi-
tion 10 deal intelligently with such cases.
Assistant Secretary 1Techener has IN
formed him il reply that the department
IS Of the opinion that no draw backs can
properly be allowed on the shipments IN
question inasmuch as the exact quantity OF
balmg entitled to a drawback does not ap-
pear to have been determined at the time
of the expectation. either hy the exporters
themselves or by the Government officers
supervising the shipments. and that
there is no provision of law or reguia-
ti0n 10 authorize the conIuingling in
the preliminAries Of those entitled to
drawbacks with those so not entitled. or 10
COMPROMISE the claims OF the character
mentioned bv the Collector. An applca-
ton WA recently made 10 the Treasury De-
partmeut for the remission Of duties on
certain salt lost during the recent freshet
at Norfolk, after having been withdrawn
10 bond. for usein curing fish caught in the
United States. IL appears that neither law
nor regulations provide for the remission
of duties on salt so Withdrawn in bond, eX-
cept upon the production Of proof that the
salt has been uscd IN curing FISH: but that II
has been the practice i'm cases Of a similar de-
scrpuon hat salt withdrawn for curing
fish on board fishing vessels 1922 Revised
Statutes ~ cancel such withdrawal bonds
under proof Of the loss at sea Of salt cover
ing thereby. The Assistant Secretary has
informed the Collector of Customs at Nor
folk that the same principlem be pro
pcrly extended to salt il bond and lost by
casualty before 1t could be used for curing
fish. aud he authorizes the Collector TO
credit the withdrawal bonds in question
with the quantities Of salt alleged to have
hpeu lost