Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

per linear foot, or for the Biddle Point pier from $60,000 to $75,000, and for the Mission Point pier from $40,000 to $50,000. By aid of an appropriation of $125,000 both works could be completed in one season.

Mackinac Harbor is located in the Michigan collection-district, Michigan. The nearest port of entry is Grand Haven, Mich. It is about equidistant from Sheboygan and Saint Helena light-houses, and Fort Mackinac is on the hill above the harbor.

The amount of revenue collected at Grand Haven has no relation whatever to this improvement, but further co umercial statistics are contained in the lettter of Mr. James J. Danhof, deputy collector of customs, Grand Haven, Mich., hereto appended. Further general infornation bearing more especially upon the value of this harbor as a stopping place for vessels engaged in the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior trade has been asked from Mr. James Lasley, deputy collector of customs at Mackinac, but its reception having already been delayed for over a week by reason of interrupted mail communication at the straits of Mackinac, this report is no longer withheld, and any further commercial statistics will be forwarded as soon as received.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. HARWOOD,
Major of Engineers.

To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, GRAND HAVEN, MICH.,
COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, January 9, 1850,

DEAR SIR: In reply to yours of the 30th ultimo, I respectfully inform you that your letter has been referred to Mr. James Lasley, deputy collector of customs at Mackinac. Mich., for the reason that we have not the data necessary to give the information you required.

The condition of the ice in the straits is such that correspondence is materially impaired, and we get no answer. As soon as we do get an answer we will forward it to you.

The collections at Mackinac during the past year were $453.35.

It appears by the records of this office that the total number of arrivals and clearances, with the aggregate tonnage, during the past season is as follows:

[blocks in formation]

This is too small, as a large number of vessels go in and out at Mackinac but do not report or clear, and consequently do not appear on our records, as was stated by Mr. Stephenson in his letter to you several days ago.

Very respectfully,

Maj. F. HARWOOD,

Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

JAS. J. DANHOF, Deputy Collector of Customs.

[blocks in formation]

To a deficiency of $1,400 in the salary of the Auditor of Railroad Accounts for the current fiscal year.

FEBRUARY 2, 1880.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be .

printed.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, January 29, 1880.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a letter from Theophilus French, Auditor of Railroad Accounts, relative to a deficiency of $1,400 in his salary, being the difference between the amount appropriated last year ($3,600) in the legislative, executive, and judicial bill, approved June 21, 1879, and the amount ($5,000) as fixed by law. (SeeStatutes at Large, volume 20, page 169, chapter 316.) Also, copy of a letter from Thomas Simons, Assistant Attorney-General, relative to the efficient and valuable services of the Auditor to the Department of Justice, which letter is indorsed by the honorable the Attorney-General, with a recommendation that the deficiency be asked for. All of which is respectfully submitted to the favorable consideration of Congress. Very respectfully, &c.,

Hon. WILLIAM A. WHEELER,

President of the United States Senate.

C. SCHURZ, Secretary of the Interior.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, January 28, 1880.

SIR: In view of the fact that the work required personally of the Auditor of Railroad Accounts, during the current fiscal year, in the important lawsuits pending between the subsidized and land-grant railroad companies and the government, has been of a special or expert character and much more onerous and exacting than was anticipated, I have the honor to request that a deficiency appropriation for the sum of $1,400 be asked for on account of "salary of Auditor," that sum being the dif ference between the amount of his salary as fixed by law (20 Statutes,

2 DEFICIENCY IN SALARY OF AUDITOR OF RAILROAD ACCOUNTS.

169, June 19, 1878) and the amount appropriated for by the legislative, executive, and judicial appropriation act, approved June 21, 1879.

[blocks in formation]

SIR: I am informed that Congress failed to appropriate the salary of the Auditor of Railroad Accounts for the current year, reducing his compensation to $3,600 in place of $5,000,

I have had occasion, and will doubtless have further occasion during the year, to call on Mr. French for special services as an expert in railroad accounts and management in connection with suits of the subsidized and land-grant railroad companies pending in the Court of Claims. This service has been cheerfully and promptly rendered by Mr. French in his official capacity, and has been of the greatest importance and value to the government and this department in its investigation of the questions at issue. I am sure they could not have been obtained from an equally competent unofficial expert for the amount of unappropriated salary, and for this reason, if no other, it occurs to me but just in recognition of his faithful discharge of lus official duty that he should receive the full compensation originally fixed by the law to his office.

Very respectfully,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I have had many personal consultations with Mr. French as to the affairs of his office, and am fully aware of the correctness of the facts stated by Mr. Simons, and cordially concur in the recommendation that the appropriation of $1,400 to remedy the deficiency in the appropriation for Mr. French's salary be made.

Respectfully,

CHAS. DEVENS,
Attorney-General.

LETTER

THE

FROM

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

IN RESPONSE TO

Resolution of the Senate of March 1, 1879, in regard to importation of foreign wines, liquors, &c.

FEBRUARY 5, 1880.-Ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, February 2, 1880. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following resolution of the Senate, dated March 1, 1879:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to transmit to the Senate, as early as practicable, such information as may be in the possession of the Treasury Department, or that may be obtained from collectors of customs and through any other agencies of the department, showing the relative quantities and natures of the various kinds of fermented and alcoholic liquors imported into the United States from foreign countries; the percentage of absolute alcohol contained in each of the several kinds; the relative quantities of imported wines which are fortified with alcohol and exceed in strength 13 per cent. of absolute alcohol, and on which the tariff for still wines is collected; the relative quantities of such imported articles that are re-exported without paying customs taxes, together with such information as the department possesses or may obtain, showing in what proportions these articles are imported from different countries; and, so far as is practicable, the original sources of such articles or any of their ingredients when the same are imported from countries which do not produce them.

The Secretary of the Treasury is also directed to inform the Senate concerning the facilities which the Treasury Department has or may require for the prevention of the importation of falsified, adulterated, and falsely labeled or designated fermented and alcoholic beverages; also to inform the Senate to what extent the commerce and public revenues of the United States may be affected by taxing wines fortified with alcohol, according to the tax on spirits for each degree of alcohol contained in such wines in excess of 13 per cent.; also to furnish a statement showing the quantities of alcohols, wines, and other alcoholic liquors produced in this country which are exported to foreign countries, and the destinations of the same, as may show also their alcoholic strength and other characteristics.

In reply, I have to state that—

First. For the years ending June 30, 1878 and 1879, respectively, there were imported into the United States fermented and alcoholic liquors as follows, viz:

[blocks in formation]

Second. The department is not provided with statistics showing the percentage of absolute alcohol contained in each of the several kinds of liquor above specified. Statements upon the subject, however, from collectors of customs at several of the principal ports are inclosed.

Third. The answer to the second question is also applicable to the request for information as to the relative quantity of imported wines which are fortified with alcohol, and exceed in strength 13 per cent. of absolute alcohol, on which the tariff for still wines is collected.

Fourth. The exportations of imported liquors for the years ending June 30, 1878 and 1879, respectively, were as follows, viz:

[blocks in formation]

Fifth. The annexed tables, marked A, show the countries whence such merchandise was imported during the period therein specified. Sixth. This department is not in possession of statistics any more specific than those contained in the inclosed reports and in the tables, marked B, of indirect trade, annexed hereto, for the years ending June 30, 1878 and 1879, respectively, showing the original sources of such of the importations above mentioned or "of the ingredients" thereof as were imported from countries in which they were not produced.

Seventh. As to the facilities which the Treasury Department has or may require for the prevention of the importation of falsified, adulterated, and falsely labeled or designated fermented and alcoholic beverages, it may be stated that the law does not forbid the importation of such articles so long as they are invoiced in accordance with the regulations upon the subject, and therefore that there are no special facilities required by this deparment for the prevention of such importations under the existing laws. Should such importations be forbidden by law, it would be necessary to empower the Secretary of the Treasury to estab lish such regulations as he might think proper for ascertaining the character of the merchandise.

Schedule D of the tariff provides that no brandy, spirits, or other spirituous beverages under first proof shall pay a less rate of duty than 50 per cent. ad valorem; and that all imitations of brandy, or spirits, or wines, imported by any names whatever, shall be subject to the highest rate of duty provided for the genuine articles, respectively, intended to be represented, and "in no case less than $1 per gallon." The act of February 8, 1875, volume 18, page 307, provides for the forfeiture of any wine containing more than 24 per cent. of alcohol.

Eighth. As reliable statistics from the customs districts in the United States have not been received by the department showing the alcohol contained in imported wines in excess of 13 per cent., the department cannot state to what extent the commerce and public revenues of the United States might be affected by taxing wines fortified with alcohol ccording to the tax on spirits for each degree of alcohol contained in such wines in excess of such percentage. Attention is invited, however, to the reports and statements of the various customs officers, transmitted herewith, which contain information and suggestions in regard to the matter..

Ninth. The Bureau of Statistics reports that merchandise as follows, being the growth, produce, and manufacture of the United States, was

« AnteriorContinuar »