Marye in the chair. Delegates at large ...The Tennessee Democrats convened at Nashville on May 31, John M. Crozier as presiding officer. Resolutions were adopted demanding unconditional repeal of resumption act and substitution of Treasury notes for national bank currency. Delegates at large chosen were J. A. Gardner, J. M. Fleming, ex-Governor John C. Brown, and Jno. C. Burch. They were instructed to act as a unit. Superintendent of Education; and A. T. ...The Vermont Democrats convened at Montpelier June 1, elected Marcus D. Gilman, R. B. Smalley, Jasper Rand, P. S. Benjamin, James S. Williams, J. W. Bliss, C. M. Chase, Thos. B. Kennedy, John Cain, and Geo. M. Fisk as delegates. They were instructed to act as a unit, and a strong indorsement of Governor Tilden was adopted. Resolutions calling for a reduction of Government officials, payment of the public debt, the maintenance of a free non-sectarian school system, and a eurrency of coin were passed. The convention was the largest assembled in the State since 1863. ...The Democratic State Convention of Minnesota assembled at St. Paul June 1. The session was an excited one. Resolutions indorsing Tilden and a return to hard money were adopted. The delegates elected were ...California Democrats met in convention E. M. Wilson, Daniel Brick, J. H. McKinney, at San Francisco May 24. C. F. Brick, Michael Dorran, J. T. Norrish, ...May 23 the Democrats of New Jersey held convention at Trenton. They declared in favor of a specie currency, and presented the name of Joel Parker as their choice for President. Messrs. John P. Stockton, Leon Abbott, Miles Ross, and John McGreggor were the delegates at large. ...Maryland State Convention assembled in Baltimore May 31, Colonel John F. Dent president. Resolutions favoring specie currency were adopted. Hon. Robt. McLane, R. B. Carmichael, Hon. E. K. Wilson, and Outeridge Horsey were chosen delegates. They went unpledged, but the general sentiment was in favor of Bayard, of Delaware. ...The Democrats of Michigan met in convention at Detroit May 24 and 25, William L.Webber president, and Peter White, Ter-vention, meeting in New York city June 1, rill I. Mills, and Henry Schulberton were elected delegates at large. Resolutions repudiating undue exercise of power by Government officials, spoils of office, use of money to influence elections were adopted, and hard money indorsed as the only currency recognized by the Democratic party. ... Kansas Democracy assembled at Topeka May 16; instructed their delegates to vote for Hendricks. ...The Democratic State (Greenback) Con elected Richard Schell, Rutger B. Miller, Theodore Tomlinson, and Jeremiah Maguire delegates at large. Their resolutions claimed admission to the convention of the 27th as the only authorized representatives of the party and the only organization not controlled by pecuniary considerations. The delegates were urged to effect the repeal of the resumption act, and the substitution of legal tenders for national bank notes, and were further instructed to act as a unit. ...The Democratic State Convention of West Virginia met at Wheeling June 9, and nominated the following State ticket: Henry Matthews, Governor; Colonel White, Attorney General Joseph S. Miller, Auditor; Thos. J.West, Treasurer; W. K. Pendleton, | vention May 18. INDEPENDENTS. Hon. Peter Cooper has signified his acceptance of the Presidential nomination made at the Indianapolis Independent Con NOMINATIONS-RENOMINATIONS. The Republican Convention of the Seventh Congressional district of Iowa has nominated Colonel J. B. Cummings for Congress. In the General Assembly, held at Newport May 31, the Hon. Henry B. Anthony was nominated to the Senate from Rhode Island. As a testimonial of esteem and confidence, the nomination was made unanimous. Hon. Wm. P. Frye, of Maine, has been renominated by the Republicans of his State. EXECUTIVE AND DEPARTMENT DOINGS. THE EXECUTIVE. The following proclamation was issued on Wednesday, May 25, 1876, by the President: WHEREAS, A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives was duly approved on the 13th day of March last, which resolution is as follows: Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it be, and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town, from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the clerk's office in said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence; and WHEREAS, It is deemed proper that such accommodation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States, Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby declare and make known the same in the hope that the object of such resolution may meet with the approval of the people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect. Given under my hand, at the city of By the President, TREASURY DEPARTMENT. THE MONTHLY PUBLIC DEBT STATEMENT. The following is a recapitulation of the condition of the public debt statement for the month ending May 31, 1876: PRICES FIXED BY AGREEMENT BETWEEN FOREIGN This Department is informed that, by convention or agreement between foreign manufacturers, prices of certain merchandise are fixed for sales to all foreign purchasers, except purchasers in the United States, and that invoices of such merchandise imported into the United States are valued at prices less than those so fixed. In estimating the foreign market value of imported merchandise, appraisers will therefore take into consideration such agreements or conventions, as well as other evidence ordinarily considered by them, being careful to allow only such discounts, exhibited on the invoice, as are according to the usual observe Article 446 of the General Regulaand established usage of the trade, and to tions, which prescribes that discounts shall not be allowed when the invoice value will be reduced thereby below the foreign market | another of which another marshal "charges value at the date of exportation. B. H. BRISTOW, Secretary. CONCERNING PAYMENT OF SEMI-ANNUAL DUTY, AND MAKING CORRECT RETURNS. TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, May 23, 1876. Hereafter DRAFTS will not be received at this Office in payment of semi-annual duty. The amount must be deposited with the Treasurer U. S., an Assistant Treasurer, or a designated depositary, including any national bank designated as a Government depositary, and a certificate in triplicate ob tained therefor, the "original" of which is to be sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, the "duplicate" to the Treasurer U. S., and the "triplicate" to be retained by the bank making the deposit. In order to avoid unnecessary labor and annoyance in sending back semi-annual returns for correction, banks are urgently requested to examine and supervise their returns, to insure correctness, before sending them to this Office. It is also requested that there be more promptness in making the returns and payments within the time specified by law. JNO. C. NEW, Treasurer U. S. CIRCULAR TO MARSHALS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, FIRST COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 7, 1876. The attention of United States marshals is hereby directed to the following opinion of the Honorable S. F. Phillips, Acting Attorney General: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON, May 29, 1876. To the Secretary of the Treasury: SIR: Yours of the 24th instant, addressed to the Attorney General, contains the following question of law: Whether a marshal of the United States is entitled to full mileage on each writ served by him when several, issued in behalf of the Government, to be served on different persons, are or might be served at the same time, only one travel being necessary to make the service on all of said persons. I have read the letter of the Comptroller inclosed by you, and considered the cases therein stated, in one of which a marshal "charges as for five separate trips of 125 miles each, to serve five subpoenas on witnesses for the United States in five cases of indictments, all the writs having been issued February 2, 1876, and all served from the 9th to 11th February, in Edmonson county, at or near the same place;" and in travel on each of ten warrants issued by a Commissioner at Clarkesville, on the 16th October, 1875, all served the next day by one deputy, nine of the writs being served 25 miles from Clarkesville, and the tenth 30 miles from that place. It appears that for one travel ten mileages are claimed." Allowances for mileage to marshals, atthe act of 224 February, 1875, (18 Stats., torneys, and clerks are now regulated by 334,) quoted by the Comptroller. This act provides that "no such officer or person shall become entitled to any allowance for mileage or travel not actually and necessarily performed under the provisions of existing law." be but one charge for mileage upon several Under this act, in my opinion, there can writs, (subpoenas, &c.,) in hand at the same time, requiring a marshal to travel to the same place or in the same direction. If a marshal have in hand several writs, subpoenas, &c.,) against the same person or different persons living at A, he will charge &c., against different persons living at either mileage but once. A, B, or C, which are (say) in the same direction, he will charge one mileage only to A, one mileage from A to B, and one mileage from B to C. If he have several writs, No matter how many precepts a marshal may have in his hands requiring him to go to the same place or in the same direction, he makes but one actual and necessary travel in serving them; for instance, in the second case above the marshal made one actual and nine constructive travels. The act of 1875 puts an end to the notion that the latter are performances for which the marshal is to be compensated. With great respect, your obedient servant, S. F. PHILLIPS, Acting Attorney General. The construction thus given to the law regulating mileage on judicial process is made the rule for adjusting accounts for travel. And marshals will conform to it in making up their accounts. Travel should be made by the most direct routes, or such as are usually taken by business men going on their own affairs at their own expense. In vouchers containing charges of mileage the following particulars are required: The date of each writ; the name of officer issuing same; the date of service; the place of service. When the place of service is not a city, the name of the nearest post office, as well as the county, should be given; and if not in the immediate vicinity of said office, the distance and direction therefrom should be stated. R. W. TAYLER, Comptroller. RESIGNATION OF ASSISTANT REGISTER OF THE | ployed in effecting this and other improve TREASURY. TREASURY DEpartment, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, To Collectors of Customs: The resignation of J. A. Graham, Assistant Register of the Treasury, having been accepted, to take effect on the 30th instant, the blank "Certificates of Registry," (Form 4, General Customs Regulations of 1874,) heretofore furnished by the Department, signed by him, will not be used after that date, and all blanks of said form, so signed, on hand (unused) in custom-houses on the 1st proximo will be returned to the Depart ment by mail. B. H. BRISTOW, Secretary. ments. THE BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT-THE ALLEGED DISCREPANCIES IN THE FINANCIAL REPORTS EVERYTHING COMPLETE AND SATISFACTORY. The report submitted June 6th by Mr. Sherman, in behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, concerning the books and accounts of the Treasury Department and alleged discrepancies or alterations therein, is extremely voluminous, embodying a large number of detailed letters and explanations furnished by the Secretary of the Treasury, and containing or referring to numerous statements of accounts, &c., which are not susceptible of condensation and which would occupy many columns in print. The committee describe in detail the system of accountability provided by the statutes and say:-"So far as the safe keeping and custody of public money covered into the Treasury is concerned it would be difficult to point out a better mode than that provided for by the present law. Every safeguard that has been suggested has been furnished. No law can prevent the neglect or violation by comptrollers, auditors, or registers of their public duties; but the guards and checks upon such misconduct are as perfect as human ingenuity could devise. The only changes in these laws that the committee recommend are to authorize the Treasurer to be credited with unavailable sums charged to him, but lost, through no fault of his, by the robbery, &c., of his subordinates and of the United States depositories; and to provide for covering into the Treasury all 'trust funds' on which the interest alone is to be disbursed for the benefit of others, so that its expenditure may be under the general safeguard of the law, only to be paid out in pursuance of an appropriation by Congress." In this connection the committee refer to the sum of more than $28,000,000, which is charged against the Treasurer as being on deposit under the act of 1836 with the several States. In regard to apparent discrepancies in the Treasury accounts the committee point out, among other things, that the Treasury account shows only the warrants paid, while the appropriation account shows all warrants | press with greater accuracy the precise con issued. dition of the public accounts as shown by such books and records." It is further shown that the financial reports at different periods have been made up according to different systems of bookkeeping in various respects, and that the same is true as to the monthly debt statements. The detailed explanations of these apparent discrepancies that have been furnished to the committee by the Treasury Department are found complete and satisfactory, and no change is recommended in the existing system, which is declared to be the growth of the experience of the Department since its organization. In one of the letters which are embodied in the report Secretary Bristow says: "In no instance has there been any erasure or alteration in the books or records of this Department, and the changes made in the published reports have been only to ex EUROPEAN Great Britain and Ireland had at the close of 1874, (Board of Trade Report,) 16,449 miles of railways. The cost was £37,078, or a total of about $3,000,000,000. It has one mile to every 5.1 square mile of superficial area, and one to about 2,000 inhabitants. The cost per capita for construction, etc., has been $90. The rate of interest was 4.49 per cent. The rate of profit was but 4.74 per cent. Belgium had in 1871 about 1,956 miles of railway; 883 miles having been constructed by the State. The cost to the State had been $58,567,559. The average cost per mile on the total mileage was £13,281. In Belgium there is one mile to every 5.8 of square miles of area, and one to every 2,614 persons. In 1872 the profit was 8.1 per cent on the capital. Germany, according to Dr. Sturmer, had in 1873, 14,077 miles of railway, being one mile to every 14.8 of area, and one to every 2,916 persons. The total cost has been about $1,373,609,700, or $30 per capita, (Dr. Sturmer.) The profit on outlay was 6.6 per cent. France had in 1873, (February 1,) 11,050 miles open, 2,854 in process, and 773 of lines conceded and decreed, making a total of 14,667. The total cost was about $2,250,000,000. The cost per mile was about £30,746. Dividend in France has represented 10.74 per cent. on outlay. One-fifth of the cost of French railways so far constructed was contributed by the State. Austria proper has 9,901 miles of railway, while South Austria and Upper Italy (Tyrol, CIRCULAR. TREASURY Department, FOURTH AUDITOR'S OFFICE, The following instructions are issued for the guidance of disbursing officers of the U. S. Navy: In accounts rendered to this Office after the 1st of July, 1876, it is required that all payments for traveling expenses or advances shall be indorsed upon the copies of the orders, as well as upon the originals. All vouchers for the above payments, substantiated by copies of orders from which the indorsements of payments have been omitted, will be suspended in the settlement of the accounts. STEPHEN J. W. TABOR, Approved: C. C. CARPENTER, Second Comptroller. RAILWAYS. Auditor. Russia had 10,140 miles, (in 1871,) part of which is in Asia. The cost an average per mile of £21,846, or a total of about $1,100,000,000. Italy had (1873) a mileage of 4,202 miles; cost about the same as the German roads. Recently (1875) the Government has proposed the purchase of all the lines. It has largely aided in their construction and guarantees interest on the bonds. Sweden and Norway had in 1874, 2,227 miles, a considerable portion of which is owned by the State. Spain had at the same date, 3,801 miles, heavily mortgaged and poorly paying. (1870.) The Netherlands report 1,042 miles. (1872.) Portugal, 489 miles. (1872.) Roumania, 507 miles. (European Turkey,) (1873.) Denmark had in 1872, 530 miles of road. The total mileage for Europe, according to the foregoing figures is 83,085. Probably five hundred miles of this total are to be found in Asiatic portions of the Russian and Turkish Empires. About one-sixth of this total is directly owned by the Governments of dif ferent States. The railway system is in all countries but Great Britain and the United States, more or less under State supervision. |