The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-19
FRomswAsHaINGTON. ]

Vashtaqton, Jan. 17.-Commissioner Plea
santon writes to Supervisor butcher that.
upon careful consideration Of the question,
he is of the opinion that sections Is and 18
of the act Of July IA, 1870, do not authorize
the levying and collecting of q dividend tax
upon the dividends of the corporations
therein enumerated which have been de-
clared within the five months ending De.
cember 81. 1870. Where assessments of
such tax have been made upon the dtvi-
depds specified, but the same have not been
passed to the collector, they should be
struck {. ON the lists where assessments OF
the tax have been made and passed to the
collector. and the lists containing the same
have been receipted for by him, he should
assist in the preparation of the proper
claims of abatement or refunding. accord
Ing as the tax has or has not been pald.
All previous rulings Of the internal revenue
office inconsistent with the above are re-
yokcd.
FREE MATTER IN THE MAILS.
The Postmaster General has communi-
Gated to the Senate statement In relation
TO free matter passing through the mails.
It appears that In December, 1869, each
postmaster was instructed to take an accu-
rate monthly account of all franked or tree
matter deposited at their respective offices
for mailing tor the period Of six mouths,
commencing January 18th and ending June
80. 1870. The total number of offices from
which reports were due was %, 1872, but the
number from which full or partial reports
were received was only 1858, nearly 10000
| wholly failing to report. The returns OF
the S,5S3 reporting offices show that within
the six months there were transmitted
$40, 7a6 franked letters, the postage upon
which, at the established rate. amounted to
S655,54S. and 2,047,9I1 pounds of other
franked matter, such as printed documents,
seeds, &C.. upon which the postage at the
established rate amounted to S260, S4S,
making altogether for six months for post
age on free matter the sum OF S9l6 $50. AZ
| a fair rate Of estimate for the nearly 2O,N
non-reporting post-ofices the postmaster
says the following grand result is shown
Total number of franked letters for SIX
months, 1854, 497: postage, 33,07O ;
printed matter. &c, 2.655, 196 pounds, and
postage, 1888 1886. Total postage for six
months, 81 ,271 ,663.S6. Total for one year,
$2,543, 327.12.
A GOOD JOKE is circulated here at the eX-
penSe Of q well-known Senator, who Is
notorious for taking two cocktails in sue
cesson before breakfast. One morning,
while the Senator was practicing at the
Metropolitan bar, friend put to him the
pertinent question: "Senator, why do you
take TWO cocktails as custom? Won't one
tone vou?" The Senator drew himself up
81 will tell you why take two cocktails.
When | have taken one it makes me feel
like another man. Well, you see Pm bound
by common courtesy to treat that man so
| | take q second"
Mr.. Thompson Tyler, the veteran Nir-
ginia hotel man, who cooked the great New
Years dinner for General Lees army in
1864, has severed his connection with the
metropolitan Hotel, and thinks Of locating
in st. Louis Washington Letter-Norfolk
Journal.
POSTAL AFFAIRs.-At Woodville, Kappa.
hammock county, Va. Chas. II. Rosson is
appointed postmaster, vice c. K. Carder,
removed.
| observation-disclosures at Peytonsburgh,
Pittsylvania county, Va; papers now to
New Ferry.
NEW PATENTs-Bit brace, VIM. B. DO.
| Ian, Charlottesville, Va; seed drill and
cookie separator combined, j. E. Fletcher,
RectortOwn, Va.
| The Comptroller of Currency yesterday
authorized the organization of the Central
National Bank of Petersburg, Va, with
|