Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-09
WASHINGTON.
A BOUTWELL, CANARp.

WASHINGTON, February S.-The
! dining and winiDg Of Commissioner
Pleasanton, in New York, by prOmi-
! nent merchants and spectators, has
| given rise to severe criticisms inside
| and out Of the capital. Coming on the
/ heels of his decision in favor Of bond
! holders and capitalists, and his efforts
/ in behalf of the repeal Of income tax,
I in which New York merchants are
! largely Interested, as its repeal would
/ relieve them of three and half mil
/ lions tax, it is charged that his admin
/ istratiOn is for class and not for the
/ whole country. Western Congress
men are especially indignant, and
/ threaten to overhaul the affairs of the
! Revenue Department unless the Com
missiOner's course is changed. This
point is made on his management:
On the I'd Of February, the COmmis-
| siOner determined in consultation to
| reduce expenses Of the Assessors Of
/ fee in the whole country $40, 900, and
/ same day made the decision in regard
1 to the tax on undivided profits, diyi-
! idends, interest and coupons,
companies and corporations, which
will at the present time lose the Gov
eminent 1909, 900. This decision is
mainly in the interest of New York
bOndhOlders and capitalists, ard was
made against the opinion and protest
of the best law officers of the bureau.
It is alleged by the best informed
Western public men here that the
total amount of taxes lost to the Gov
ernment by the reverse of decisions Of
the former Commissioner since Pleas
anton came in amounts in round num-
bers to So, 900, 900, and the decisions
have been made against the advice Of
the chief legal officers Of the depart
ment. Everything is now settled by
the New York standard, and Western
Congressman predict a revival of the
old revenue rings which were broken
up by the Administration through
Commissioner DelanO.
ABSTRACT OF THE EDUCATIONAL BILL
WASHINGTON, d. c., February s..
The following is an abstract of the
National Educational bill before Con-
greSs: The bill provides for the ap-
pOintment by the President OF a su-
perintendent of national schools for
each State, the salary to be three thou
State in as many divisions as the
State has Representatives Of Congress, !
and a district uperintendeut for
each division, to be appointed by the
Secretary Of the Interior, at a salary
Of two thousand dollars, the divisions
to be divided into school districts, !
with a local superintendent for each |
district, to be appointed by the Secre-
tary OF the Interior, at not more than /
three dollars per day for the time ac- /
tually employed. The local super |
intendent is to select a place for /
school houses, and purchase or hire it |
in the name Of the United States. !
The school books are to be prescribed /
by the State Superintendent, under /
the direction Of the Commissioner Of !
Education, and furnished gratuitOusly /
to those unable to pay. No books are
to be given and no Instructions given /
iavOring the peculiar texts Of any reli-
giOus sect. The Secretary of the /
Treasury is to provide rules conform
atOTy to the laws providing for the
payment of teachers, land, school
houses, and other objects designed by
the bill. The Commissioner of Edu-
cation viii make an annual report to |
Congress, and prescribe rules. .fOr the
government of superintendent and
A direct tax Of $50, 600. 600
Is to be imposed and apportiOned
among the States, and the sum
raised in each State is to be expended
.Or purposes Of education, and that the
State act will take effect on July 1,
1871; but any State may, in lieu Of
paying tax, provide for suitable edu-
,atiOn Of all children within its bOr-
iers, and if the President be satisfied, !
1t the expiration Of twelve months,
hat the State system is suitable for
common schools, no further steps
hall be taken for the appointment of
officers, or assessment Of tax thereini