New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-14


able change in the last few weeks for the more they
have investigated the matter the more they are con
WINGED of the difficulty of collecting the present tax
so long as there are arrayed such combination o.
small distillers and others to defraud the Govern
ment out of its just revenue Petitions and memoir
ais from all parts of the country pouring n urg
ing large reduction of the tax, and these are having
considerable influence, both in the Committee and
Congress. 1t will be some days before the Commit
tee reach conclusion on this matter.
kilograms have been pouring in upon Commits.
sioner Rollins from all parts of the country relative
TO the execution of the already famous whisky ware
house bill of Mr. Schenck Over 400 dispatches have
beep sent from the Internal Revenue Office upon the
subject up to the present time, and the prospect is
that the number will be largely increased before to-
morrow night The Commissioner has declGeu tnaU
the law requires that not single barrel shall leave
warehouse until the 81 tax is paid even although the
permits had been granted on Saturday, and part of
the quantity called for had been delivered Barrels
in transit regular bonds from the West to the East
must be placed in warehouse without n chance of
removal for export TO foreign countries, or
for redistillation or any other purpose whatever,
except on payment of tax The effect of this ruling
il is said will be that hundreds of contracts between
private parties must be rescnded, with or without
recovery Ol udlnaBes' Loans Uaue Dy tTuSt cOHlpa-
MES or banks, upon the pledge of bonded whisky as
collateral security must be settled best they may
be, and merchants with capital embarked in the
warehouse business left with their floors filed
with dead property on when they cannot collect
their charges. 1t is said by credible persons that
this sweeping law will entail loss of thousands of
dollars upon the business community, without
promoting the public interest at all. The
fact mentioned in these dispatches last night
that large decline in the price of
fraud whisky had followed Immediately upon the
passage of the bill through the House is said to be
due to the fact that while the law effectually
smothers warehousing, il makes no provision for
reduction of tax, and hence, while keeping all the in
ducements to fraud lessons tho chance of 1T detoc
ton by making it necessary for the fraudulent dis
tler to buy fewer officials. Under the old system lie
had to bride not only his local officers but also the
collector, inspectors, and warehouse owners and
storekeepers in the district to which his goods were
shipped in bond, while the effect of Schencks BILL IL
is argued is that after the dstler has paid his dis
ter has paid his distillery inspector, and collector
of his district he can throw his goods upon the
ket freely II is claimed that until the tax is reduced
to fifty cents less this state of things will continue
The House having to-day revised the Select Com
mittee on the treatment of prisooers of war and
Union citizens by the Rebel authorities. Of which
Gen. Shanks is Chairman it will forthwith RECON-
mence its labors
some surprise was occasioned here by the dispatch
published to-day announcing that Gen. Meade had
removed Gov. Jenkins. From some kilograms re-
ceved yesterday and the day before from Meade it
was understood in official circles here that he did
not believe he had the power TO remove Jenkins
because he opposed the payment of the expenses of
the Convention.
Gen. Meade's course in Georgia meets with the
warm approval of the Republican members here. A
number of his personal friends express themselves as
not at all surprised Gen. Meade, they say, has
ALWAYS expressed himself as favorable TO the Congress
plan of Reconstruction.
The reception at the White House tonight was n
brilliant affair Gems Grant, Harvey. and other dis
tingushed military men were present, and members
of the Cabinet, Congressman members of the Foreign
and Diplomatic Corps, and large number of ladies.
The reception at Postnas ter-Gen. Randalls was
largely attended.
The Commissioner Of Agriculture has replied to the
inquiry Of the House. asking him TO report the
ditiOn of his Department, and what legislation is
necessary to enable him to reoganize TO place
il upon footing commensurate with the vast inter
ests committed 10 ITS charge He says that the great
object of the Department. in accordance with the
true principles of political economy is TO arrive at
knowledge of practical means and purposes by when
the greatest amount of the most valuable prOduC
can be continuously produced with the least amount
of labor and expense and thus adding in the greatest
degree the wealth of the country 10 this end he Will
direct his efforts The seed store and the exPerlmen
tal farm with their numerous employe, had grown
into species of fungS of little value, while tney ao
sOrbed largely of she nutriment required TO sustain
the vital functions of the Department. The Com
missioner has therefore stopped these drains upon
the sources of the Department, which were without
anv corresponding benefit to the country, lie PROM
Uses to inaugurate system for which more pr0plous
results NAV reasonably be expected and by adherlng
TO the law which requires the seeds distributed 10 DC
and valuable BY the term new IL Is not 10 ne
understood merely that they fresh grown Dut that
they of kind that has not been In use In the ds
trict neghbOThOod to which they are sent; ana by
valuable" is to be understood that they, possess
some important quality above those OF similar Varl
ely ordinary USE great productlveness superior
nutrition, more early or seasonabe rpening or some
peculiar property Which renders them worthy OF
bearing gift from the nation to neighborhood,
including all the leading and most valuable cereal
productions such as wheat, corn, rye oats barley,
Etc The Commissioner gives plan for an export.
mental farm and pTOpagating garden, on an enlarged
ooole and recommends various improvements IN that
extended statistical inIoIilaton ON the subject of
agriculture, and among other improvements he sug-
Vests as deserving of attention Of agricul-
tura geology connected with the laboratory, and the
appointment of an agricultural chemist.
The Supreme Court to-day had before II the case OF
John X Elgee, administration plaintiff III error,
vs. Oliver Lowell. Elgee, IT appears was the frosi-
dent Of the Louisiana Secession Convention. IN
1864 about 400 bales of cotton belonging TO him were
seized In the state OF MISSISSIPPI by an agent VI u
Treasury Department as abandoned property, ana
transferred TO Mr.. Lowell also Treasury agent anu
under the provisions of the law removed to State
not in instruction. Suit was brought in Missouri
Court to recover the property. Sometime AFTER ihe
commencement of legal proceedings Elgee "s n
himself OF the Amnesty Proclamation OF the rresl-
dent by which he clainsd he restored 10 al ms
rights OF property and among others his night TO the
cotton. Distinguished counsel employed on both
sides of the question, Attorney General Stanbery APP
pearing for the United States in company with
Messrs Hughes and Drake, who were retained by the
Secretary of the Treasury.