Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-21
WASHINGTON.
THE QUESTION OF THE TAX ON DIvI.
DENDS.

! THE QUESTION OF THE TAX ON DINI-
DENDS.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 20.-The
| Solicitor of the Treasury is expected
to deliver to Secretary Boutwell, his
| opinion upon d very important ques-
tfon now pending before the Treasury
Department. 1t will be remembered
| that the order of Commissioner Pleas
OntOn, instructing the assessors and
| collectors Of Internal Revenue not to
assess or collect the tax on dividends
| for the last five months in 1870 was
revoked on the 10Th of May. Under the
ruling of the Attorney General, collec-
tors and assessors were directed to
govern themselves accordingly in as
sessing and collecting the tax en-
braced within the scope OF the deci
sion. When the order was announced
protests against its enforcement was
sent to the Secretary of the Treasury
from ali e.leading railroad corpora
tiOns and banking institutions
throughout the country; and it were
represented cd that the dividends and
interest on the coupons had alresdy
been paid without dedueting the Gov
ernment tax, and that it was
done in obedience to an
order of PleasOnton. Now
they have no way OF securing them.
selves in case the Government eXacts
the tax, while the amount for which
they must be held liable is that of the
Government official whose authority
they have no right to question. The
case was presented to the Solicitor and
upon his decision rests the suspension
or collection of the tax. While
the Attorney General has construed
the act of July II, 1870, so as to make
the railroad and insurance companies
liable to the tax for the last five
months of the year 1870, yet it is
question, which may eventually have
to be settled by the courts, whether
the Government is not bound by the
acts of its officials, and the collection
Of the tax declared illegal.
BEFORE THE KU-KLUX COMMITTEE.
J. c. Morris, formerly of Warren
county, Georgia, but now resident
of Atlanta. in that State, testified be-
fore the Ku-KluX Committee to-day
that he was elected sheriff of Warren
county in 1868, and served one year,
but was compelled to leave the coUn-
ty by an organized band Of Ku-KluX.
He was under examination for five
hours, during which he said that on
one occasion ne was met and Waylaid
by disguised men, and shot at and
badly wounded. He gave a circUm-
stanIial account of the killing of DR..
Darden, who had been put into Jail to
await a trial for murder. The doctor
was taken out by disguised men, who
burnt down the Jail in OIdeE to reach
the prisoner. They forced him to
surrender to them the pistol in his
possession and led him forth and shot
him dead. This was in 1869. While
attempting to make arrests of the
guilty party, the witness was forced
to flee from the county. None Of them
have been tried or punished. The
witness detailed various instances of
Outrages. He and others had shell
tered six or seven men who had eS-
capped the threats OF the ku-kluX, and
afterward run them of to a place
called Dearing. There they were
seized by disguised men. One of the
fugitives escaped, but his companions
were murdered. The witness also
gave an account of the circumstances
attending the murder of State Senator
Atkins.
There have been no murders in
Warren county since the beginning of
1870; people, however, are in great
terror and fear for their lives. Large
numbers Of cOlOred men have gone to
Mississippi, Louisiana and other
States, where they deem they will be
more secure,
THE KENTUCKY CLAIMS.
WASHINGTON, July 2O.-Represen-
tative Beck and the Adjutant Gen.
eral Of Kentucky had an interview
with Secretary Boutwell, to-day about |
the Kentucky claims. The only ques-
ton in controversy is the fact rs to
whether the troops furnished and sup
piled by that State were actually mus
tered into the service of the United |
States.
CUSTOM HOUSE DEFALCATION.
Secretary Boutwell, to- day examined |
into the Savannah Custom house de-
falcatiOn, and fully exonerates Collec- |
tor Robb from all blame. His deputy |
made a tull confession to appropri- |
ating the missing funds.
SUCCESS OF THE NEW LOAN.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
received letter from Judge Richard |
son, who speaks rather encouragingly |
Of The prospects for negotiating the |
new loan in England although there is |
nothing specific on that point.
SENT TO THE PENTTENTIARY.
Judge Humphreys this morning
sentenced DR.. T. 7. Sherman, who |
was recently found guilty Of man.
slaughter by producing abortion, to |
labor in the Albany penitentiary for |
two years and six months.
NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS.
The Union Republican President of |
the Executive Committee is now en-
gagged in reorganizing the Republican |
party in North Carolina, and in their |
efforts to defeat the Constitutional |
Convention movement In that State,
many documents are sent hither from |
their rooms in this city in aid of the |
work.
Miss Phoebe Carey Dangerously 49,
NEWPORT, r. l., July 2O.-Miss |
Dboaha Naray arrived in NaWnOrf Baaf |