Evening star., 1867-11-08
THE EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

RFUB SYSTEM NREDED.-The special Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, Hon. David
ID. Welle, will present TO Congress st the de-
cember session another OF his interesting and
valuable reports on the Internal Revenue sys-
tenn Of the United States az compared with
those of Europe. 1t will show, doubtless that
be Is OF the opinion that immediate and radical
reform is needed in the country before the
Government can successfully Collect the
revenue. The temptation to fraud in portions
OF our system is so great that nearly all of the
revenue from certain sources is lost, while the
eject OF this wholesale swipdnng on public
morals and the principles OF free government
cannot be too seriously considered. Revenue
officers In Great Britain have nothing TO do
with politics, but are appointed for their abili-
~ and integrity, and continue in Office during
good behavior. The result is that the royal
revenue Is fully collected, and the frauds, il
any, are fastened on the tax payer. The sim
plificatlon OF our system in the number of
articles taxed, will probably be urged, and the
radical innovation of placing the tax on the
product in its raw instead OF manufactured
state, like cotton for instance, be exposed to the
country, and its injurious effect on the indus
trial interests clearly established.
MR. AND MRS. SENATOR SUNNER.-The
gossipers have had it all their own way for
some weeks past relative to these distingui
personages. and whatever truth there NAV
have been in their stories, 1t is due to all to
say that Mrs. Sumner lie about to return from
Europe, and, If her health permits, to join the
Senator in Washington in presiding over his
new and magnificent mansion on Lafayette
Square-which, contrary to common report,
has not been disposed of. Mr.. Sumner is at
present in the West delivering his lecture,
"Are we a Nation" but will arrive in Wash.
ington week after next
SENATOR WADE AND MRS. LINCoLN.--It
seems that Senator Wsde, Of Ohio, was on a
committee OF the two Houses appointed to in
vestigate the pecuniary condition in which
President Lincoln's family was left. and re-
port a bill, If necessary, for their relief. In
conversation during the present week. Mr..
Wade emphatIcally contradicted the state
meDt of Mrs. Lincoln that Mr. Lincoln bad
left little or no property behind him. 1--WE
looked into the matter" says Senator Wade,
every carefully. Thel Illinois men wanted rs
to give her one hundred thousand dollars, and
we agreed to do so, II it appeared that she
really needed 1t. We sent for the administra-
tor Of the estate, and he testified that Mr. Liz.
coin left seventy-iiye thousand dollars in
Government bonds, or something like that ba.
sides some little productive property I'm Spring
nelQ. l1ls-lE Ill, dDou. one nunureQ Thousand
dollars. We thought, then, that twenty-fve
thousand dollars woul1 be enough-the same
as was paid to the widow Of Gen Harrison.
Mrs. Lincoln was very we'll off, and didn't
need, even, what she got She took a hun.
drsd boxes Of something or other-I don't know
what-awsy with her, and the Commissioner
OF Public Buildings s'Rore there were fftsen
ether boxes that she wanted to carry off, ana
he hsd TO interfere TO prevent her. at any
rate, she cleaned out IN w mite House don't
know but she was going to run big hote
WIKI ali she carried OIL"
THE WARRINGTON SKAsoN.-Arer an au
tumpal season of varied heat and cold, the
November days open with a crispy. frosty air
that mellows the leaves in the streets and pub.
lie grounds. and gives an inspiriting hue to tue
fashion able C oiors of the avenue promepad,
hera,dIpg even, with resplendept effect. the
coming w asbiDgton season. Wearisome fac.
though the weather may seem, it eniivens the
city of nc agnificent distances. brings back the
tourists from their trips Of pleasure and bust
ness, ipJects a fresh spirit Into the Department.
tai officials--adding in truth. zest to things DO.
litical, moral, and mental. The longest, the
gayest, the most exciting season, is about to
open that Washington probably has ever
known.
SOCIETY GossIP.-The Home Journal of this
week has the following items in regard to our
city, which we give for what they are worth,
and for the benefit OF whom It may concern:
"Social circles are agreeably interested by
q rumor that one OF the wealthlest and most
respected young gentlemen Of Washington
will soon lead TO the hymeniaI altar a most
charming young lady. the only daughter of an
influential and well-known New York
banker-Senator Sprague and wife, and
Miss Chase, who have been absent in Europe
for some months, will return home in time for
the Senator TO take his seat In the Senate at
me opening OF Congress.--A well-known
Washington lady and her two daughters-one
an inyalid-who formerly moved in the best
society, and resided in one OF the most fashion
able suburbs of the city, has been 30 far re-
duced by the failure OF her husband, who was
IN business in New York, as to be compelled
TO take in washing as the means OF gaining a
livelihood The presidents receptions win
be resumed later than usual this season.
Three large weddings are on the to pis, one
affair that has occurred in Washington for a
long time. We learn that nearly two thousand
cards will be issued, and a special train will
convey The invited guests from New York,
Philadelphia, and Baltimore"
TROOPS IN THIS DEPARTMKNr.-The report
of Gen. Grant, In answer TO the inquiry OF the
President what number Of troops are sta.
toned within the Department Of Washington,
shows that the whole force amounts to but
in the States OF Maryland aud Delaware the
District Of Columbia, and two counties in
Virginia.
THE DIsBANDMRHT QUEsTIOH.-It is nm.
derstood that o new phase OF the question
concerning the order disbanding and sup
pressing Unauthorized armed organizations In
the District, has como mp. Under the word.
ing of the erder it would seem to embrace all
societies or organizations Ia possession Of arms,
and il 10 said that Gen. Emory, if finally d.
rected to carry 1t ont, will disband oil COM
panies in the District bearing arms, such as
the Schuetzen fest, Fenian circles, &C., &c.
A DISPATCH from Lancaster states that
Hon. Thaddsus Stevens, although not quite so
well a. ut last reports, intends starting fer this
city on SATURDAY next 1t is doubtful whether
he will be able TO appear In the House.
ENIGRANTs FROM ENGLAND.-Oommis.
sioner Wilson, of the General Land Once, is
in receipt OF letter from A. w. Atwood, Esq. !
of London, England, making inquiry rsla.i ve
to obtaining quantity OF land tor the settle
mens OF sO,A00 emigrants, whom II In eoutem-
plated sending TO the United States The Com.
missioner has replied, referring to the great
body Of upoccupied lands west Of the Missis.
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