The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-17
WASHINGTON.
The Central Railroad Dividend.

The Central Railroad Dividend.
WASHINGTON, May l6.-The rumor
in circulation in New York yesterday
that Commissioner Pleasanton had de-
cided the New York Central railroad
dividend tax case is without foundation.
The opinion Of Attorney General Ack-
erman on the dividend has been promul-
gated to-day. 1t is published under the
expires directions of Secretary Boutwell,,
through the Internal Revenue Bureau,
and creates considerable comment here.
Among politicians it is considered to
have great political significance. The
matter stands thus: Gen. Pleasanton
and Col. William McMichael, Collector
of Internal Revenue, undoubtedly with
the sanction of the President, are on
the one side advocating fair and lib
eral construction of law which would
make it favor the tax payers and to a
very limited extent Tighten the burden
Of taxation upon the people. On the
other hand Secretary Boutwell,, under
the opinion of the Attorney General,
which gives the law the strictest posi-
bic construction, puts on the screws for
every dollar obtainable and reverses
Pleasanton's decision. Lawyers of as
great legal ability as the Attorney Gen
eral freely maintain that his opinion in
this case is not good law. except so
far as it treats regarding the tax on
salaries of United States employees and
can be controverted by the letter OF the
acts even, and besides this Pleasanton
has conferred with both the Finance
and Ways and Means committees re-
garding the intention of the law and
the intention is embodied in his decision
just overruled by Mr.. Boutwell,.
The COIOred Population.
a statement OF the colored population
returned at the Census Office, including
an estimate for four counties vet ncom-
plete, makes the aggregate number in
all the States and Territories about
1857, 900, being a gain of nine and
thirty-fve hundreths per cent over 1860.
The States and Territories stand in the
following order in respect to the nnm.
bers ofthe colored population:--Georgia,
Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Maryland,
Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, Pennsyl-
vauia, Ohio, New York. District of
Columbia, New jersey, Illinois, In
diana, Delaware, West Virginia, Kan
sas, Rhode Island, California, Wiscon-
sin, Maine, Vermont, Nebraska, Min
nesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ore
gon, Colorado, Washington, Wyoming
and Montana. The number is equal in
New Mexico, Utah, Dakota, Idaho and
Arizona.
The Responsibility for Lost Treasure
On the 10th Of May, 1868, the United
States Treasurer shipped, per Adams
Express, 100000 in legal tender
notes and $l60,00O in scven-thirty bonds
to the Sub.Treasury at San Francisco.
The safe containing the funds wasa part
ofthe freight of the steamer Golden Rule
which sailed from New York on that
date, and which was wrecked on tie
30th of Nav on Rancador Reef, in the
Caribbean Sea. Wreckers were employ
ed to find the missing treasure, and after
several weeks Of constant labor the task
was abandoned. Since then the sum
lost has been charged against the United
States Treasurer, and last week the
Secretary of the Treasury addressed a
letter to the First Comptroller asking
his opinion as to the manner in which
the missing funds should be accounted
for to the Government. Alter care
ful examination OF the history OF the
case the Comptroller is satisfied that
neither the bonds nor the money were
ever recovered, and that the United
States Treasurer is entitled to credit the
amount lost as destroyed money, and
the Adams Express Company will be
relieved from any further responsibility
in the matter
The Premature Disclosure question.
The subject Of the premature dlscIo-
sure of the treaty Of Washington is
more talked OF here than any other,
and the opinion prevails among many
Senators and others that the committee
having investigated as to the conduct
of Senators with regard to the publicity
of the treaty, have no right to require
correspondents to answer further in
regard TO their information. 1t is ex-
pected that the 7riJmc'S correspondents
will be reported to the Senate today.
and if they still refuse 10 answer que
tions, that body will decide what their
punishment shall be.
The Coal TROUBLES.
Special correspondence and dispatches
show that the attempt Of the Delaware,
Lackawana and Western Railroad to
work their mines by throwing them
open to miners and laborers outside of
the Workingmen' Benevolent Associa-
ton, has not met with much success.
The three great companies need about
ten thousand men to do coal digging,
and it appears they obtained only some
twenty or thirty yesterday. The trouble
is that all but a small minority of the
laborers now on the SPOT belong to the
Miners Union Mont MON members
are not there, and are not, therefore, at
present 10 be had. Just now it seems
to be the Capitalists League, formed in
Philadelphia last February, which has
fallen to pieces.
Southern Claims.
Gen. B. S. Roberts, in briet address
to the Commissioners on the claims Of
Southern loyal subjects, holds that the
Constitution Of the United States pro-
hibits the taking Of property of the 10y