Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-22
WAsHINGrON NEWS.
WAsB1yeroE. January q


Special to the Post:
Collector Barney was before the COM
mittee on Public Expenditures this morn
ing for an hour and a half. He gave O
full history of the discovery Of the frauds
in the New York Custom House.
The House Naval Committee this morn
ing commenced an Investigation as TO the
condition Of the naval engines.
There is confirmation of the rumor Of
the evacuation Of Richmond. Refugees
and released prisoners have brought ru-
mors for some time past that such action
was intended and in preparation, but we
have no news Of any new movement in
that direction.
The tax on whisky will not be changed
from that reported by the Committee. No
additional tax will be placed on stocks on
hand.
In regard to the tax on tobacco there is
nothing new.
The prospect grows stronger that the
tex On leaf tobacco will be redu3ed rather
than increased.
The amendment offered by Fernando Wood
and adopted, shows the true state of the
case as regards the Whiskey tax. 1t is as
follows:
Provided further, that all spirits on
hand for sale prior to the date Of this Act
or not, shall be subjected to the rates Of
duty provided by this Act on and after
the 18th of July, 1864, except that spirits
which have been already taxed under the
law approved July 1st, 1852, shall not
bear more than the additional or increased
tax provided by this Act.
There is authority for stating that the
great fve-twenty loan closed to-day, the
amount of FIVE hundred millions Of dollars
having been subscribed, the absorption
during the present week has been very
rapid, subscriptions having been made Of
over thirteen millions of dollars. No sub
scription made after to-day will be receiV.
ed.
The Committee Of Agriculture Of the
Senate has received q communication from
the Commissioner Of Agriculture.
In the committees opinion the proposed
tax of twenty per cent. on leaf tobacco
would destroy the export trade which nov
gives US 100000 900 Of revenue. 1t esE
mates our average crop at less than one
third of the product Of the world, whicl
shows that more tobacco is grown in Eu
rope than in this country, and thst the
substitutes for the growth in the country
are already driving it out Of the European
market. 1t is shown that the article
grown through South America, Northern
and Southern Africa, the East and Yves
Indies, Asia, all of Europe, except Britain
the northern portion of the continent, il
every State and Territory in the United
States and in Canada. The export Of Bra
zil has increased seven fold in two yerrE
Holland and Belgium have increased thei
product several hundred per cent. in tW
years and other Ststet have made advance
ments while Greece has absolutely re
strained the cultivation by refusing t
give power.
The report concludes that the Unite
States does not control the tobacco trad
and that the capacity Of other countries
grow all they need is ample.
The Committee on the Conduct of th
War, Just authorized to be appointed, cen
sists eff Senators Wade of Ohio, Chandle
of Michigan, and Harding Of Oregon
Representatives. Gocoh of Massachusetts
, Julian of Indiana, Odell Of New York an
Loan of Missouri.
This Committee is similar to the on
heretofore in existence, the only diferenc
being in the substitution Of Harding an
Loan in the places of EI- Congressmen An
drew johnson and Covode.
The new one, in addition to Its duties Q
inouiring into the conduct Of the war, j
instructed to examine into all contract
and engagements with any Department c
the Government, and is authorized to 81
during the recess Of Congress at an
place which may be deemed proper. Be
sides this, every facility is provided for
thorough investigation.
The Missouri contested election case
are now being considered by the Hous
Committee on Elections. Mr., Bruce, VIII
contests the seat Of Mr.. Lane, addresset
tn Committee yesterday and to day, an
will continue the argument tomorrow.