The weekly Arizona miner., 1871-09-09
THE REVENUE QUESTION.

THE REVENUE QuESIiUN In our issue of August 10th we published an article under the caption, Wsntcd-a Penitentiary." in which MT Wasson fancics that he has discovered an onslaught against certain officers of this Territory. While we nre free to maintain that the said officers are not by any means immaculate. we were par tcularly lonient in our structures, upon the occasion referred to; for after stating an apology for our Delegates by asserting that they may have pressed the matter upon tue attention of the Government, and may have been snubbed, or put off, We made the following remark and a. it is the only sentence in the article which conveys the idea of severity, it is doubtless the foul blown which Mr. Was>on has discovered:
 '" Some years ago there was much talk about employing a certain amount of the Revenue tax collected in thi. Territory. for the building of Pententiary but, of late, nothing, whatever has been whispered with regard 10 this-and ws take 1t for granted that proper step, have not been taken to get hold of this money and apply it to the use for which it has been gathered and saved.
 But enough of this. NIT. Wasson has shown beyond question that our artisc was "nspired by malice and devoid of any care for the public welfare;'' so it has devoved upon him, through the columns of bis paper by the Use of many choice phrases, without the aid of which he has never written or conversed-to destroy the false impress sion and set the public mind at rest. After treat ing the reader 10 a specimen of the usual highly favored phraseology, he proceeds by quoting an act of Congress approved Jan. :22d. ls67, which provides that the net pro- "ceeds of the Internal Revenue of the Ter "ritories of Nebraska, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and Dakota for three consecutive years up 10 June Both, 1868, be set aside and appropriated for erect ing penitentiary buildings in the said Terri tories. At this stage we are told that Dele gate Mccormick, in March last stirred the matter up by letter to the Secretary of the Interior and obtained a statement Ihere oc- CUTS more Masonic phrascologyl that ought to put us to shame" We'll, We confess it i. most astounding statement and should put some one to shame--its dupe, we think should be the first to blush. It is one of tho "FACTs" by which we are assailed. Perust 1t well and then read that which follows Here is the crushing statement:
 TREAsuEr DEFAKrurNr
 WAsHGNGToN. D. C April ls7l. ] Hou c. Delano Secretary Of the Interor-sir h re ply o your letter of the 25th ultmo have the inform you that the amount collected from Internal Reye me in h" Territory of Ar,ca2, Aa-ss .he a=ea ye&- ending June D. 'b6 e and ls6s was i.s35 a am the expended for assessn and collecting the sam waI sl7,s51 S9. showing exc"-s of eSpendur-- owe receipts of si3.0l5 s6. I am. very respectfully
 WILLIAM A. RiCHABDsoS Acting Secretary
 It will be readily observed that this com munication would place Mr. Bigelow and Nil Bashford in q very awkward position, for th reason that the most superficial observer can not fail to observe that the above figures ar Haunting lie" Happily, however, " have the statistics at hand which enables U to clear up this matter, to exonerate tho. indirectly accused of embezzlement, and dispel the frown of suspicion which has oye shadowed the public countenance.
 The report of the Commissioner, page 29 table ID" shows the amount collected up June 30, 1868, in Arizona, to be SIG, ,565.9S- stamping an error in the above statement of Sll, ,72S45.
 Tbe Assessors books show that inc amount as.
 ssssed in Arizona up June 30th l-ss was s25 il2 The amount abated and credited 10 Collector
 u0oolleetible was ....-.............,.-.. 23is Amour, Of taxes for which Collector l, held ~ under s5o,o ,ooO bonds ..............-.- 23OG3 Amount oi expenses per Rchardson's letter
 ...................-....... I7,s53 Leaving balance for The Penientary fund Of 52O9
 Facts may be regarded us ugly things the editor of our Tucson contemporary b we cannot respect his feelings in this instan by withholding them. In this connectic we would advise him to refra n, in futur from betraying his pitful ignorance in co necton with his nastiness of diction. IT free and frequent manifestation of either O. of these will insure disgrace; and when thu appear side by side the early and absolu degredation of the author becomes doub certain.