New-York tribune., 1871-01-19
WASHINGTON.

GEN. PLEAsoNToN RECOMMENDS THE ABOLITION
OF THE INCOME TAx-THE INDIAN BUKEAu
INYEsTIGATION-wORKINGs OF THE GENERAL
ORDER SYSTEM IN THE NEw-YORK CUSTOM
HOUsF-TIIE PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT of
THE NEw-YORK CANALS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuEHl
WASHINGTON, Wednesday. Jan. IS, ISL
Gen. Peasonton Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
had interview this morning with the Committee OF
Ways and Means and very strongly advocated the nme-
date repeal of the Income Tax his principal argument
being that the cost OF collecting 1t s greater than the
amount obtained that no revenue is derived from TINS
source Cen Pleasonton also recommended that some
law be passed providing for the export OF spirits
The subcommittee charged by the Appropriation
Committee with the investigation Of the charges OF NAL
administration made by Mr. Welsh against Gen Parker,
having examined number Of witnesses IN support OF
Mr.. Welsh's statement met at Commissioner ParRers
rooms this evening TO take his testimony Fhdng nat
the physicians advised rest essential TO recovery
from severe bilious attack from when nc
has been suffering, tho meeting was ADJOURNED
II will be q week before tho Commissioners
health will allow Of his examination He Is quite. con-
fdent as to the result OF the pending investigation lie
expresses himself courting 1t TO the fullest extent de
clarng that all the acts which MI WelsRs charges
turn we're not irregular wrong In any sense ana tnae
even II they were the necessities then existing COM
PEELED him to use just such machinery was at his hand
The Sub Committee, consisting OF Messrs. Sargent
Lawrence and Beck regarded Of the best that
| could be charged with such duty.
Senator Paterson and Representative Porter Sheldon
| who have been in New-York for !seyeral days.
| listening to testimony relative to the "Generai
| Order" business returned to-day, having partly
| completed their work When the merchants TO
whom goods are consigned do not have their permits on
board the vessels before the cargoes are discharged the
goods are landed under " General Orders" Several
years ago stores erected the piers of the E
ropean Steamship Companies in Jersey City and Hobo
ken into which all General Order" goods brought by
the Cunard and Bremen lines received The reason
given for the establishment OF these stores s that by the
bin OF lading the importer agrees that the Company
shall land his goods his vessel IL entered III
frequently Happens that the steamships arrive behind
time and consequently, In order TO start on ime the
goods are unladen at once, nightpermts being fire.
quenty granted for this purpose The whole cargo In
such case goes into General Order stores and was 70
save the attendant expense that these stores were built
the goods being allowed to remain in them fortyeight
hours without charge. About year ago the General
Order goods taken away from theJersey City and
Hoboken stores by order OF the Collector OF the Port OF
New-York and have never been restored The reasons
given this change are that the goods stored In them
were lost or changed that the stores surrounded
! by a gang Of smugglers: that they were alfo used
| for bonded goods that it was not right IN
theory that unclaimed goods should go into the
| custody Of tho steamship lines; that tho
having their goods In these stores and that as The
goods we're eventually to go to the NewYork side for
consumption warehouse 1t mattered not TO the mer
chant when they so transported, and therefore
should 90 from the vessel to the store seected by
him. In reply this the merchants assert that there
no more danger that goods Will DO lost or changed OF
smuggled from these stores than In or nom those In
New-York; that the agents OF these lines are not I'm
porers OF consgnoes Of goods imported by their vessels
brokers for other importers and that the objection
that these stores hold bonded goods applies to all Gen
er Orer They say that the change is not only
oppressive, but results in some instances In injury
| to the goods, and that 1t is OF no advantage tc
them to have the goods taken to New-York
| Formerly when the vessel was unloaded, the
General Order" goods went from the pier under cover
to the store without damage from rain orexposure tc
the weather. Now they must be carted TO Westst nc
matter what tho weather is and this at cost OF cart
age labor and storage, of 81 90 case. Thus they claim
that an oppressive and unjust tax is levied ON the I'M
| porting business Of the city while the Government
derives no revenue from It, and no benefit accrues tc
the merchants. Last Summer, Secretary Boutwell,, hay
ing investigated this matter recommended that the old
system be restored but doubted his authority to make
peremptory order TO that effect. The merchants now
say that they must be relieved or trade Will be driven
| from New-York 10 other cities where these charges
| are not made, Some OF them already
importing through Boston, Baltimore and other ports
The General Order" warehouses are now all, except
one or two small Importance, under the control OF The
firm Of Leet Stocking
| circular has been distributed among the members Of
the House advocating and explaining the bill now before
| the Committee Commerce, providing for a loan Of
United States bonds the amount OF S0OOO to secure
the freedom and enlargement OF the Erie and Oswegt
Canals that boats Of coo tuns burden propelled by
can pass through the locks 1t s estimated thai
such improvement would lessen the cost Of transport
| alton more than onehalf, while its ceerity would b'
doubed The saving cost Of carriage would amount
IL IA supposed on the present traffic Of the canals Il
more than $5OOO000 Boats would be able to take car
goes at Lake Erie and Lake Ontario ports. and make
VOYAGES to most Atlantic ports without breaking bulk
and OF vessels 200 feet long by 20 feet beam
armored and carrying heavy guns, could DO sent non
the coast for the defense of the Lake frontier.
The Senate Judiciary Committee have divided on thu
Georgia senatorship question, Messrs. Trumbu, Car
penter Conkling, and Thurman deciding In favor o
seating Mr.. Joshua Hill, elected by the Legislature
1862 and Messrs Edmunds, Stewart and Rice reporting
I'm favor OF seating Col Farrow elected by the Legsa
| ture OF 1869.
The Senate Committee ,on Territories has decided e
report bill to enable Colorado to form State Govern
| ment
The Military Committee of the Senate voted, to-day, Il
report avoraby resolution restoring Col Belger to ht
army They had also under consideration proposition
| for the relief Of the counsel who defended
| Mr. Harmon and his two sons, OF Eas
| Tennessee. These three men, BY order OF the
| s, officers, burned long bridge over the Chatta
pooga River during the For this they were arrested
by the Rebel authorities, tried, and the father and one
son hanged The other died before the day fixed io
the execution. The lawyers who defended these mei
took mortgage their property as security Tor the
fees and the heirs will Jose 1t unless Congress ."
| them relief
The National Asylum investigation was resumed TO-DAY
by Gen Negeys subcommittee, but it was agreed tha
the should be kept secret and the members
decline to say anything about the proceedings Gen
puer and Cen Farnsworth were the only persons pres