The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-08
FROM WASHINGTOM THIS AFTERMU0N.
CsPEoIAL DISPATCHES no EVENING TELEGRAPH. !
WASHINGTON, February 8.
Tax on Distilled Liquors.


There is considerable agitation amongst
liquor dealers on the subject of the proposed
reduction OF the tax on distilled spirits from
recommended by Hon. David A. Wells, Spe-
cial Commissioner of .the Revenue, in his report
to Congress, through the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, at the opening of this session. Remon-
strances are pouring in upon the House Com
mittee of Ways and Means from holders of
spirits, against the reduction. 1t is represented
by them that over thirty millions of gallons of
spirits are held in stock by dealers of all Kinds,
on which the loss will amount to as many mill
lions of dollars. They allege moreover, that
this measure will throw immense profits into
the hands of parties who will secure controlling
powers IN the market from the reduction; the
very parties who, after securing control of the
bulk of marketable whisky in 1865, influenced
Congress to increase the tax from one dollar
and halfyto two dollars per gallon, and then
pocSeted the immense gain thus derived.
Suit Against the Secretary of War.
Hon. Henry Stanbery, Attorney-General,
and w. \. Kendall, ESQ., as counsel for SeCre-
tary stanton, in the SUIT pending against him
before the Supreme Court of this District have
William L. Smithson, formerly in the banking
business in this city, was arrested during the
war by the military authorities, and was tried
by military commission and found guilty Of
giving aid and information to the enemy, and
Sentenced to the Albany Penitentiary, but was
subsequently pardoned. For his arrest and inn
prisonment he now claims damages to the
amount of $4,000.
not guilty, and having obtained leave yester-
| day filed amended pleas. The first special plea
| is InaL LlG pliilnJlu ought not TO nave MAIN
! tain his action, because before and after the
| time of the supposed treSpass, viz, from April
| lS 1861, to June l, 1885, sundry Rebels insur-
| gents and traitors against the Government
| and authority OF the United States, were levy
! ing and making war on the Government
| OF the United states, and to the end of sub
! yerting the Government thereof maintained
large armies to besiege, capture, and destroy
this city, of the fortified cities of the United
| States, in which was situated the head
quarters of the armies of the United States:
! and that he, the said Smithson, at the head
| ouorlprS of the arlnV. while the ha
sieging the city, did act as spy contrary To the
| Articles of War and gave the enemies of the
| name of Charles b. Cables and encouraged
| them to assault the garrison of this city, and
| impaired the Information that Johnson (mean-
| ing Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee) was here
| entering into an arrangement for the employ
ment OF men men, 70 go 10 tennessee and Kentucky
to burn bridges. destroy machine shops, etc;
| that at the time said alleged assault and impri-
sonment was made the defendant was Score
| tary of War, and that at the time he believed
| that he (Smithson) was engaged as aforesaid
The second special plea is that he ought not
to maintain his action as TO breaking into and
1 entering his (plaintiffs) dwelling etc.. because
under the 5th section OF the act OF July H. 1862
| United States TO seize and appropriate to the
4 use OF the armies of the United States certain
property, among others that of persons giving
AID to the enemy, etc. That, acting under the
| order of the President OF the United States ne
(the defendanD did, on the Both of June 1865
cause plalntin's property 10 be seized and ap-
| piled as quarters for officers and a home FOR
soldiers wives and children. The plea further
| states tnaJ Ine DlstrlcJ Attorney libelled the
said property on the I'd Of January, 1854, under
the Contiscation act, and decree was made TO
sell the property ia the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, but on the 22d day of Oc.
tober following the decree was vacated because
| of the production Of decree of trust by j. H.
| Edwards and Charles Wilson, trustees
| The third plea is that under the act of NTarch
| & 1858 the production of any order al the Presi-
dent Of the United States shall be a defense in
any suit or acton as to seizures made during
the war, Ior imprisonment, etc; and that the
as Secretary OF War was by the order and under
the authority of the President OF the United
fore prays judgment, etc.