New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-24
WASHINGTON.

Honest Dealers in Tobacco-Evasi0n o.
Revenue Laws-Ku.Klax Cemmittee-
Obstinate Witnesses-Con Of Con.
gress-Meetfng Of Sub-Committees-
Circular ON Tobacco Retenue Tax
Supervising Boiler inspectors to Re.
convene-StrinGent REGULATIONS in the
Future.
WASHINGTON, September 23-Commis
sioner Douglass asks confidential informa.
ton from honest dealers regarding the eva
sion of the tobacco tax laws.
The general Ku-Klux investigating com
mittee met again to day at the capitol. F.
David Gist Of Union county, South Caro-.
lina and Clayton Camp, Of Spartanburg
county, South Carolina, having been duly
summoned and failed to appear as witnesses
before the committee, the chairman, Sena.
tor Scott, was authorized to report the said
fact to the Senate at the next session, and
request the president Of the Senate to issue
his warrant for their arrest, az being in con-
tempt of Congress.
resolution be sent to the above named
parties by mail.
The full committee then adjourned to
meet on the first day of the next session Of
Congress, or sooner if called by the chair
man, after which the subcommittee of
three, namely. Senators Scott, Poole and
Blair. appointed to examine witnesses,
organized and examined Colonel w. l..
Saunders. Of North Carolina, and Edward
Wheeler, Of Arkansas.
Saunders, whom the committee have had
much trouble in getting before them, re-
fused to-day to answer all questions inauir-
ing as to his connection, or the connection
of any other person, with the so called ku-
klux organization, on the ground that he
was not compelled to criminate himself, or
bring upon himself the punishment which,
according to the decision Of the Supreme
Court Of North Carolina, may be visited
upon any member Of band Of ku-Klux,
for the misdeeds Of their fellow-members.
The act Of Congress Of January "a, 1862,
was read to him, wherein it is enacted that
a witness from testifying before congress
siOnal committee, but he still persisted in
his refusal to answer the questions put to
him, saying he preferred relying on the
constitution of the United States rather
than on an act Of Congress. He was then
Informed he would be reported to the full
committee at its next meeting, when it is
expected Congress will take cognizance of
the case, and order his arrest for contempt.
The two sub committees Of the Ku-Klux
committee held meetings to-day. The sub
committee for the CarOlinas, Georgia and
Florida resolved to meet at Augusta on 'Oc.
tOber 49,
The subcommittee for Tennessee, Ala
bama and Mississippi will meet at Hunts
vile, Alabama, on October 5.
Commissioner Douglass has issued cir
cular, in which he says that, notwithstand-
ing the increased receipts from manufac-
tured tobacco, snuff and cigars, during the
last fiscal over those Of any previous year,
10 fIn s-H oc ~
enue officers, he is forced to the conclusion
that the complaints of manufacturers are
we'll founded, that large amounts of tobacco
N the aggregate are sold and consumed in
fraud of the revenue.
After stating the two modes by which
his is done, he says the revenue Office has
lnder consideration the subject of a more
mode Of affixing stamps to wooden
packages, so as to increase the difficulty of
them without tearing and mutilat.
ng them, and more thorough mode of can
'ellation, 80, if possible, to render them
init for second use, and if used q second
line to render detection of the fact com
,aratively easy. He has concluded to ad-
iress circular letter to all supervisors. col |
ectOrs and assessors, and to call upon them.
me and all. to put forth renewed, combined |
md simultaneous efforts to suppress these |
rauds, and at the same time to address a |
etter to all manufacturers, calling upon |
hem to cooperate with the government to
'rOtect themselves and their lawful busi- |
less, by furnishing all the information
which they have or may be able to obtain |
m specified points, 80 as to SECURE q rigid |
Of the law in penal provisions |
.pon guilty and intentional violations; in |
Inc, by vigorous pursuit and united effort |
N the part Of all revenue officers, with the |
cooperation of the honest taxpayers, the |
he manufacture and sale Of tobacco and |
igars, without tho payment Of the govern
nent tar, can not be carried to an extent |
hat viii greatly diminish the revenue, OF ]