The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-23
Observation-Disclosures.
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
Special telegram 70 the Dispatch. l.. e


WASHINGTON, December %, 1865 :
| Whiskey: .Edads- form Needed The
/ cr Foref dthersa Banquet. lTSz IT
( Additional facts relative to the operations
of gaugeSsnnder the present whiskey tax Law
have come to light, by which it is made
apparent that in many places, especially in
large cities, there is collision between the
collectors Of internal revenue, the gaugers
themselves, and persons having spirits TO
be gagged. 20 zsitrpe7 z ~ 81 E.
InNew York, an instance as to the amount
Of business transacted by gauger is given
where it appears the gauger incurs the ex-
pense of clerk and ofice-hire of more
than, $4,000 per ,annum, whilst the Law
limits the fees of the gauger to 5000 per
annum. This gauger is the special favorite
5of the collector Of his district, and there
are other CANCERS in the same district
|. not thus favored who are unable to
obtain, fair portion Of business, nor suf6-
cient to pay ordinary expenses nothwith-
standing they make special request of col
lectorsfor q proportion Of the gauging to
be done. The facts of the case viii be sub
mitted to Congress in January.
A revision Of the tax law relative to the
powers Of supervisors will become necessary
at an early day. These officers, it is argued,
are entirely too independents of the Secretary
of the Treasury and Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, and the temptation to corruption
in view Of these extraordinary inordinate
powers are such as few mortals can with
stand, especially in districts where the pre-
sent incumbents have given up lucrative
positions, paying ten or twelve thousand
dollars per year, to accept the Office of su-
pervisor at three thousand dollars salary.
Under the present practice, the powers Of
supervisors, already almost absolute
and irresponsible, are augmented, if
possible, by allowing them the privilege
Of selecting the detectives who act in their
districts. The supervisor, if he be corrupt,
is thus enabled to employ his confederates,
who, in collision with the supervisor, can
demand large weekly payments from dis
honest distillers and others for permitting
and overlooking, or winking at, frauds and
evasions Of the revenue law. sas
The facts thus far made sufficiently ap-
parent demand thorough revision of prac-
tice, and that the detective be wholly
independent of the super visor-the theory
being that detective shall ferret out and
bring to Justice all evasions of the law,
whether committed by private citizen or
official, be the latter supervisor or collector.
A poem, by Whittier, read at the ban
quet of forefathers, tonight in this city
endorses the magnanimous sentiments to-
wards the South expressed by Senator
Ferry in his speech in the Senate a few
days ago. WALLACE.
Associated Press telegram
WASHINGTON, December 22.-The Secre-
tary of the Treasury has issued circular
to collectors allowing merchandise to be
exported to Mexico by way Of Indianola.
General Rausloof, the Danish Minister of
War, is here, it is stated, relative to the sale
of the island of St.. Thomas to the United
States. .-
Commissioner Rollins has gone to New
Hampshire in consequence Of the sickness
Of his wife.
Judge Underwood is here looking up de-
fence for his judicial conduct before the
Senate Judiciary Committee.
Secretary McCulloch has issued orders to
reinstall the recently discharged employees
of the New Orleans custom-house. This
action is in response to merchants COM
plants that the recent decrease in the force
causes delay and neglect of business.
Supervisor Creepy has suspended E. NJ.
Bouligny, collector of the second Louisiana
district, for alleged malfeasance.
Senator Sprague, of Rhode Island, hos
purchased Cumberland island, on the Geor-
gia coast near the mouth of st. Mary g
river. 1t contains nine thousand acres.
1t is ascertained upon good authority that
prior to adjournment for the holidays the
Radical senators agreed among themselves
that no more nominations should be con-
6rmed till after the 4th of March next.
Hon. Wilson Tiff, of Georgia, has adj
dressed circular letter to the Judiciary
of that State calling for their respective
opinions as to the present condition of
affairs and as to the policy of the congress
sional proposition to reconstruct RECONSTRUCT
ton.