CUSTOMS. (T. D. 34610.) Values of foreign coins. [Circular No. 1.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 1, 1914. In pursuance of the provisions of section 25 of the act of August 27, 1894, I hereby proclaim the following estimate by the Director of the Mint of the values of foreign coins to be the values of such coins in terms of the money of account of the United States, to be followed in estimating the value of all foreign merchandise exported to the United States during the quarter beginning July 1, 1914, expressed in any such metallic currencies. Entries of merchandise liquidated upon the values proclaimed herein will be subject to reliquidation upon the order of the Secretary of the Treasury whenever satisfactory evidence shall be produced to him showing that the values in United States currency of the foreign money specified in the invoices were at the date of certification at least 10 per cent more or less than the values herein proclaimed. W. G. MCADOO, Secretary. Estimate by Director of the Mint of the values of foreign coins. The exchange rates shown under this heading are recent quotations and given as an indication of the values of currencies which are fluctuating in their relation to the legal standard. They are not to take the place of the consular certificate where it is available. 54685-VOL 27-14--1 1 Estimate by Director of the Mint of the values of foreign coins-Continued. Invoices of merchandise from Boma, Kongo, accepted when certified in the manner prescribed by section 2844 of the Revised Statutes. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 2, 1914. To collectors and other officers of the customs: The department is in receipt of a letter from the Secretary of State, in which he states that the officer in charge of the consulate general at Boma, Kongo, has been sent on special detail to the Province of Angola, and that the consulate general will accordingly be closed temporarily for approximately six months from about the middle of July, 1914. The Secretary of State expresses the opinion that any invoices covering shipments to the United States from Boma during the time the vice consul general is absent from his post may properly be accepted by United States customs officials if certified in accordance with the provisions of section 2844 of the Revised Statutes. You are therefore hereby authorized to accept invoices covering shipments from Boma, Kongo, when certified in the manner prescribed by said section 2844 of the Revised Statutes. (101802.) WM. P. MALBURN, Assistant Secretary. (T. D. 34612.) Refined camphor in tablets. Refined camphor in two-thirds ounce tablets, packed in tin cans containing 24 tablets each, dutiable at the rate of 5 cents per pound under paragraph 36, tariff act of 1913. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 1, 1914. SIR: The department duly received your letter of the 10th ultimo, relative to the proper classification of refined camphor in two-thirds ounce tablets, packed in tin cans containing 24 tablets each. It appears that there is a variance in practice in the classification of this merchandise. At your port it is assessed with duty at the rate of 5 cents per pound as refined camphor under paragraph 36 of the tariff act, while at another port it is assessed with duty at the rate of 20 per cent ad valorem under the first part of paragraph 17 of the tariff act, which provides that chemical and medicinal compounds, combinations, and all similar articles dutiable under the tariff act, whether specially provided for or not, put up in individual packages of 21 pounds or less gross weight, shall be dutiable at not less than 20 per cent ad valorem. Crude natural camphor is obtained by distilling the wood of camphor trees. The article is not a chemical, and, in the opinion of the department, the process of refining crude camphor does not produce a chemical or a medicinal compound, or a chemical or a medicinal preparation, as the product is simply camphor refined. In view of the foregoing the department is of the opinion that refined camphor is excluded from classification under paragraph 17 of the tariff act, and it accordingly approves the practice at your port in assessing duty upon the same at the rate of 5 cents per pound under the specific provision in paragraph 36 of the said act for refined camphor. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 1, 1914. To heads of bureaus, chiefs of divisions, Secretary's office, and others concerned: Beginning with this date, department circulars and circular letters will be prepared and issued in accordance with the following rules: 1. Circulars promulgating rules and regulations affecting the personnel of the Treasury Department generally, circulars establishing or changing departmental policies, and circulars relating to subjects which involve two or more bureaus or divisions will be signed by the Secretary or Acting Secretary and will be issued as department circulars. 2. All circulars that are temporary in their nature or purely local in their application and signed by an assistant secretary, the head of |