The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-28
INCOME TAX,

INCOME TAX.
Members continue to receive numerous memo
rials for the repeal Of the income taN.- SO far as
learned. the Ways and Means Committee will 60
no further than TO recommend reduction OF the
tax, and possibly TO olncrcaSe the exemptions
SUPREME COURT.
The attention of counsel Is called to the fact
that the Supreme Court OF the United States Will
hereafter strictly enforce the rules In regard to
the filing OF business, and will not permit, under
any circumstances, the fling of q briel after
case is called for argument.
SESSION OF CONGRESS-.
The indications OF o protracted session OF Con.
grcss increase. The Appropriate IN Committee
orthe House do not think they will get all their
bills through before the middle OF May, and 1t Will
probably take the Senate and House one or two
months after that date TO settle the difference
between them and these measures. There have
been introduced in the House and Senate SO FAR
in this Congress nearly three thousand bills and
joint resolutions, fact without precedent in the
history Of the government.
, PETITION FROM MAsouEEApERs.
A petition has been received at the Treasury
Department from Mobile, stating that there has
been In existence In that city for forty years, an
institution chartered by the Legislature OF the
State, known as the 'Cowbeons De Rakin Soci-
ety." secret organization devoted 10 the enter
tainment OF the citizens OF the eve OF New Years
Cay and also partly charitable in its organization.
They are anxious to import from Paris, for their
own pleasure. number OF masquerade suits Tor
their next entertainment, to cost from S250O TO
$4,000, and request the Secretary OF the Treasury
to allow this Importation duty free, inasmuch as
the articles not for purposes Of profit or bar
ter. The petition Is signed by anumber OF prom.
inent citizens OF Mobile. Secretary Boutwell, has
responded that he knows OF no law authorizing
him to comply with such request. and there
fore cannot instruct the collector Of the port in
accordance Herewith.
THE PIEGAN MASSACRE.
General Sherman has written letter acknowl'
tao nf frnr n
wherein the latter defends his conduct on the ln-
dian question. General Sherman replies that he
endorses Sheridan'S letter, aad says he prefers TO
believe Colonel Baker relative to the details OF the
attack on the Piegans, rather than stories trump
ed up at Benton, one hundred miles from tile
scene OF the fight. He believes Baker when the
latter says majority Of the Plegans who were
killed were warriors; that the hring on tnem
ceased when the resistance ceased; that quarter
was given to all who asked for 1t, and that one
hundred women and children were allowed TO 60
lieves this, he say rather than the absurd re
port that only thirteen warriors were Killed, the
rest being women and children afflicted with
smallpox. Nor will he believe that Colonel Baker
wantonly killed any OF them. General Sherman
alludes 10 the tide OF immigration encroaching on
the Indian reservations, and tells General Sheri'
dan that the army has divided duty. 1t must,
when called on, protect the white settlers, aud IL
must also protect the Indian lands. The letter Is
brief, and is not intended for the public, but the
above covers the points OF 1t.
CONGRESS AxD PoLYGAMY.
eThe bill to punish p0ygamy in Utah. which
passed the House on Wednesday. provides that
the marshal OF the Territory shall select the grand
and petit Jurors, which will enable him to take
them from the anti-Mormon or gentle population
though the right OF challenge Is reserved to
the accused. In indictments ior concubinage
bigamy, &C., It Is not necessary TO prove the
first or subsequent marriages, but the accus-
eds admission that he has more than one wife,
his acts recognizing them rs wives by intro
ducing, treating or deporting himself toward them
as such Is to be regarded as sufficient evidence.
After this bill becomes law any man IN Utah
who shall live or cohabit with one woman or more,
other than his lawful wife, as his wife or wives,
shall be adjudged guilty OF the crime of concu-
binage, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars, and by Imprisonment In the Penitentiary
ut hard labor not exceeding five years. In all
prosecutions, the alleged concubines Of the &C
cused shall be competent witnesses to establish
or disprove the charge. Punishment for adultery
Is provided for, and any person who practices
polygamy shall not be allowed 10 hold any Fe' eral
office The bill is full OF Details but these are
the main points. section directing the Secre-
rary Of the Treasury to provide for such persons
as may be made destitute, as supernuous wives.
&C., BY the abolition OF polygamy. was voted
\; N Senate