New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-22
WASHINGTON.

FREEDMEN IN MARYLASD-THB APPRENTICE sYs-
rEM-THB TARIFF BML-THB INDIAN INyEsTI
GAuoS-sUPREIE COURT BUSINESS.
8Y TELEGRAPH TO THs TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. Friday, Dec o. 1866.
Mr.. Darng's Special Committee for the investigG-
ton Of frauds in the Revenue Department las ad-
journed to reassembe at the AstOr House, New York.
after the holidays. Developments so far more than
fulfill the promises Of those who instigaed the inves
tiga.ie1. The Committee has learned that gigantic
frauds have been bracticed in New.York, and that
Government officials are implicated They hsy' dis
covered that there are over 5000 smap. aisteries
carried on in the city, in tbs cellar and outhouses Of
private dwellings, where WHISKY is made for the pur-
pose Of eveding the tax o. 50 per gallon. among the
witnesses examined cVere several copporsmiths, who
testified that the demand for such vessels are used
for illicit distlation in these private establishments
has 5een unprecedented during the past year. Mer-
Grants testified that they bad purchased whisky Tor
81 Is per gallon or 25c. less than the Government
tax and the propretOrs of large distleres told Tue
Committee that they could not compete with the
smugglers, and had in many instances to suspend
work entirely.
One of the objects in view Of the Committee, be-
side the detection Of frauds, is to devise some system
of legislation to prevent future frauds. majority OF
them are in favor of reduction of the tax to an
amount too small to induce such eyasions as are now
procticed They think that by reducing the tax to 81
cents or little more they would close up all the small
establishments. which are the only ones III when
frauds can be practCed without the full knowledge oil
Government officials, as 90 cents gallon on the
small amount that can be made by them Wonlu nc
too small an induccment for the risk IL mcurs. No con-
cuson however, has been arrived at on tins subject
The Committee will visit the principal cites 0l me
West when they have concluded their WORK ID New
York The magnitude of the leak they are endeayor-
inp 10 stop may be Judged from the fact that accord
I'M, IN the census of 1r6O the amount Ol whisky made
in the United States was upward OF 9oUOoOOO gar
Ions and by the last report Of the Revenue Comms-
soners it was less than lO,OuO,UGo
There is considerable excitement IN oihclal circles
here, growing out OF the gigantic WHISKY frauds
which nave been pcrpctated in the TIA Congressional
District BROOKLYN United States DlStnct-Attorney
Tracy Eastern District Of Newly ork Is here ana I'D
consultation with the authorities regarding the
matter.
Arundel County Nd, which seems, from rs general
abortion 20 have been maturely considered ana per-
manently determined on, 81 selling colored men Eheh-
ever opportunity offers. Under the Maryland CODE
suppleuept 10 vol PAGE 81, article 80, section D,
colorcd persons are sold into slavery Tor the PUNISH
ment Of crimes for which white persons are sent 10
the Peutentary, but under TIE Ciy Rights act ], Is
a question easy Of solution, whether Judge AlGgfadeF
has the right TO discriminate against color IN ths man
. ner However he may subject himself 10 Indictment
! before n United States Court, 1t is hefertAc-
/ less true that be has taken every occasion
which Offered in The present term OF ms court
TO declare In favor OF liberal construction o le W"
in favor Of the master. IL is due 10 MIN, however 10
state that the coorcd prisoners sometimes petition Tor
this class OF punishment, IN preference 10 beluE sent
to the Pcniteuiiay. The prisoners rarely sell Tor
enough 20 pay the expense oil tnu, a6 many "l theh
30 Ia..IHH .. Ia. IfaH
business for The purchaser. The following u copy
Of bill which Is now posted ON half the fences and
dead walls within mile Of the place OF snic:
PUBLIC SAiLTlc undersigned VIII olcr ior ne % the
Court House ilc City ol Annapolis 90 ID ottra H
an SATURDAY tho I'D December negro ilHn nrwed dno
Th1so ed aout 90 wears Thc fad negro uas convicted
- ' 0c,frt lst Of the Cucuit Count Of Am Arundel
COUNTY 81 larceny sentenced W hc Court 90 %, od in e
So, r The r of one wear nom The leth u December -od
m nerro m an COW .cte aa aforc.aid named Gl,uay
Price aged about so years TO b. od io term ' TWO l'"'
Also negro woman convicted a. Aforesaid named ply
Harris aged uhout ao fcts Co Boz solo Tor term 'i wv" years
SLcnG OF Ann Arundel County, Dee, ID, leo
Richard Harris the colOred man recently adHef-
tised in the same county, ha been sold Inc lolIo"-
/ Ing is an extract OF the code referred to:
Wlcn any NEGRO whether slave is convicted Of any
ofeusc the punishment ioT which % pc were Nn'e IIn
sentenced o sold either u ont OF ic state Tor such term
as Che Cont may deem right Or TO be- coglncd Do ihc f,ms
same oonsc receive any number OF asAs not exceeding
/ forty the discretion Of uc Court
] 1. - IT
dcbarred from All intercourse, Official or otherwise,
/ with the Pay Department iof alleged mlspTaetcc
! Another case. occurring under the oppressive ap-
prentice laws ~ Maryland has just been made pubic
/ IN Calvert County Early IN leO5, colored man
named John LOx, was summoned before the Orphan
| Court for the purpose Of having his children bound
out lie refused 10 give his consent 10 have hlt chill
dren taken from him. and produced abundant eYncnce
Of his ability TO maintain aud educate them. Judge
| Bond before whom the hearing was had,
/ refused 10 apprentice them The former master OF
/ Loxs wife, DR.. Duke subsequently, appeared made
the necessary affidavit, and secured the children
Upon this Lox procured legal advice, and MS children
| under some process, were returned Ia MN by inc
! County Sheriff The father has now been indicted by
the Grand Jury of Calvert County, upon the oath OF
DIR. Duke OF harbOrihg and eniIcng his own children
from their master even though they had been regu-
larlv delivered TO him under writ O habeas corpus
! A communication has also been received from the
Superintendent az Annapolis Md, stating that seye-
raj cases similar 10 the above have occurred IN hat
vicinity. number Of cases were before Judge BOND
in Baltimore q few days ago, who returned the chill
dren TO their PARENTS but the order Of the Court was
obeyed in one case and attachments have been issued
in the Others In one case Judge Maguder decided
that the writ of bis Court took precedence OF the pro-
ceedings in the Criminal Court. The Superintendent
says: ,--.- 49,, 3.
shah be decided whether Tepeyin will hold in these no
s cases now ON hand have been delayed by for tic
master but fixed for trn on tue 9th INST FeioIa
from the oooIcd people Tor he feenSco men cIa I ~
being sent the Assistant Commissioner az they DellcNc w.
General embv which the first Of January, wiz
leri,ate 30 ns 10 make these Iudcntures legal
| The Senate Finance Committee commenced today
the consideration Of the Tariff They gave hearing
20 the wool growers and the Eon interests Secretary
! McCulloch will not send the Tariff bill prepared
/ bv Commissioner Wells to the Committee until next
week 1t il alleged that it has been very materially
changed since the first draft shown to the secTe
| tary Of the Treasury
The House Committee on Indian Affairs were en-
gagged to-day investigating the charges preferred
! against the Commissioners OF Indian Affairs, with