The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-26
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS.

Revenue Matters, Etc.
From the ". Y, Herald Of this morning.
ST. THoMAs-AFTICIPATED OBSTACLES IN THE WAY
OF PRRFECTING THE PURCHASE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-The anticipated diff
Guilty III securing the appropriation OF funds by
the House OF Representatives necessary to con.
summate the purchase OF 81. Thomas appears to
be not the only obstacle in the way ofLhe United
States perfecting the acquisition of that island.
From gentleman recently arrived from st.
Thomas l learn that, as the time approaches for
the people TO determine by their suffrages
whether the island shall remain under the iuTis-
diction Of Denmark or be transferred to the
United States, the inclination to allow them
selves to remain as they are grows stronger.
This feeling is not the result of any hostile
sentiments towards our institutions, but desire
to avoid the high rates of our port duties. As is
known, the only support of the present sparse
population of st. Thomas is its trade with tbs
adjacent islands along the Spanish Main. The
geographical position of the island renders it
convenient of access to vessels passing to and
fro in the great highway of commerce between
North and South America. The present customs
about one and half per cent ad valorem-
being of so small an amount, obvistes entirely
the necessity of warehouses, and precludes any
inducement to fraud. Under the present ystem
the merchants are content and able to do a
profitable business, and they fear their trade
would be entirely ruined by an increase OF
duties.
1t is thought by those well advised that it
will be necessary to satisfy the traders of the
island, who are the most influential portion of
the population, by some special legislation to
suit the duties of the island to the circum-
stances Of the trade. By not making these
provisions, they think the population, from a
thriving commercial people, wi be reduced to
a few officers necessary to administer the Gov
eminent, and the requisite laborers to coal
ships upon their arrival, while the business
will be confined TO the few merchants required
TO supply the shipping and transient popula-
tion.
INTERNAL REVENUE MATTERS.
There is some excitement here among the
Internal Revenue officials, caused by the an
Douncement that Mr.. Wisewell had an assur.
anCe that he would receive the appointment to
the office of Commissioner OF Internal Revenue.
1t is rumored that Mr.. Wisewen has remark
ably large and influential endorsement. Many
wen known and wealthy New Englanders and
Western men are pressing his claims, and there
seems to be very little question about his con-
frmation If the President should send his name
to the Senate, which is not yet quite so certain.
1t is said that the whole movement is one
in the Chase interest, and many of those
who have endorsed the claims of the ap-
the Chief Justice, and are anxious to
see him fill the position now occupied
by Mr.. johnson in the White House. Together
with active and influential politicians, Mr. Wise
WELL it is said, has also received the support of
the most wealthy distillers in the country, and
the President, during the past week, expressed
his astonishment at the interest manifested in
securing an appointment to an office OF which
the salary is Gully $1,000 or $4,000 year. 1t is,
however, in reality political movement
in the interest Of Mr.. Chase, and some
curious developments may be looked for
within the next few weeks. There are
many rlmors afloat respecting Mr.. Wisewell's
former transactions with the Revenue Depart
ment, and more especially his proposed whisky
speculation. The Commissioner it is alleged,
at one time gave a permit to remove large
quantity OF whisky from bond on papers which
were not either transportation or redstillatlon
bonds. This transaction came TO the knowledge
of Mr.. Wiseweli, who, it is said, Immediately
waited on the Commissioner and asked perms-
sion to remove quantity of whisky from bond
on papers similar to those referred to.
The Commissioner is reported to have refused
the permit, whereupon rumor asserts that Mr..
Wisewell said he had a right to insist on the
permit being granted, as similar permit had
been granted before. This led the Commis-
sioner TO examine more closely the papers
which had previously been presented. Finding
them to be illegal, he Immediately notified the
recipient Of the permit of the fact, and at the
same time refused to grant Mr.. Wisewel per-
NIT on papers OF similar character. Such it
is alleged, is the history of Mr.. WlseWell's abor.
tive attempt to embark in the whisky trade