The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-25

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, refused to-day to answer all ques-
tons 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, NAV be
visited upon any member of the band of
ku-Klux, for the misdeeds of their fellow
members.
The act of Congress of January 24th,
1862, was read to him, wherein it was en-
acted that such plea shall not hold good to
excuse witness from testifying before a
Congressional Committee, but he still per-
sisted 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 that he would be reported to the
full committee at its next meeting, when it
IS expected that Congress will take cogni-
zance of the case, and est for
contempt.
The two subcommittee of the Ku-klux
Committee held meetings to-day. The SUBJ
committee for the Carolinas, Georgia, and
Florida resolved to meet at Augusta on the
18th OF October. The subcommittee for
Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi will
meet at Huntsville Ala, on the 25th of Oc-
tober.
THE SUPERVISING STEAMBOAT INsPEC-.
TORS.
Washington, September 23,-Secretary
Boutwell, has ordered the Supervising In
spectors OF steamboats, to reconvene on the
4th of October. 1t is claimed that they did
their work badly at their last session.
Stringent regulations will be engrafted in
the new series of rules.
CIRCULAR IN RELATION TO TOBACCO
TAX FRAUDS.
Washington, September 23.--Com,nis-
sioner Douglas has issued circular. in
which he says that Notwithstanding the in
creased receipts from manufactured tobacco.
snuff, and cigars, during the last fiscal year
over those OF any previous year, owing to
the increased vigilance and energy of the
revenue officers, he is forced to the conclu-
sion that the complaints of manufacturers
are well founded that large amounts of
tobacco III aggregate are sold and consumed
in fraud of the revenue.
After stating the true mode by which
this is done, he says the revenue Office has
under consideration the subject of more
eliectual mode OF afiixing stamps to wooden
packages, so as to increase the difficulty of
removing them without tearing and mutt
latmg them, and more thorough mode Of
cancellation, so, if possible, to render them
unit for second use, and if used second
time, to render detection of the fact COM
paratively easy.
lie has concluded to address circular let
ter to all supervisors, collectors, and asses
sors, and to call upon them, one and all, to
put forth renewed, combined, and simulta-
neous efforts to suppress these frauds, and
at the same time to address a letter to all
manufacturers calling upon them to COOP.
crate with the government to protect them
selves aud the lawful business by furnish-
ing all the information which they have, or
may be able to obtain, on specified points,
so as to secure rigid enforcement of the
law in its penal provisions upon guilty ard
intentional Violations; in fine, by u vigor-
Gus, persistant, and united effort on the
part OF all revenue officers with the COOPER
alton OF honest taxpayers, the frauds COM
planned OF can be suppressed, and the man
uiacture and sale Of tobacco and cigars
without the payment of government taxes
cannot be carried on to an extent that will
greatly diminish the rev enue or seriously
njure the business of honest manufacturers
and dealers.
The Courier has also issued circular, in
order to remedy tho co,nnIaint of tba
manufacturers OF plug tobacco, and their
selling agents, that in offering their goods
upon the market, they encounter tobaceos
which are sold so low that it is impossible
for them to compete with such prices, and
the prevailing opinion is that these low
priced tobaccos have been, and are being,
put upon the market without the payment
of the internal revenue tax.