Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-23
Valuable NIlIlCary MI
Blown Away.
Important Decision ON Railroad
Dividends.
Bywhich the Government Loses
Millions.
Il Scurvy Trick in the Ku-
Klux Committee.
Eli Parker,s Successor.


sioner of Indian Affairs, with such at
tendant facts as would seem to indicate
that ne will be speedily appointed. He
has been recommended by board of
Civil Commissioners, and his familiarity
with Indian questions strengthens the be-
lief among his friends that the appoint
ment viii be rendered him. The Presi-
dent has been informing himself in re-
gard to Col. Phillips record and fitness.
Our Costly Do-NOthing Navy.
The amount appropriated. by Congress
for the naval service for the fiscal year
ending June 80, was nineteen million at
the close of the year. Two million eight
hundred thousand of the above sum re-
manned in the Treasury unexpended, thus
showing the actual cost of the navy for
the years 1870 and 1871, to have been
about sixteen million two hundred thou
sand dollars. This exhibits great reduc-
ton in the expenditures over former years
since the war.
Destructive Arsenal ExpiosiOn-LOss
sI,OOo,OOO.
At three O'Clock this morning au eX-
plcsion occurred in small magazine at
the Washington arsenal, which is used In
the preparation of rockets, lights and
shells for the signal corps. The eXplo-
sion was distinctly heard in the northern
part of the city, and it was almost imme-
diately followed By an alarm, for it caused
q serious confsgration, involving the
destruction of at least 81, 1000, 900 worth
of government property. The flames
were communicated to frame building
near by and were carried thence to what
is known IS Storehouse No. 2, and in
which were stored ali kinds of cavalry
and artillery equipments, which are a
total loss.
In this building, too, was model room
or museum, in which were stored all kinds
of models, etc., of foreign arms and
equipments, and which is serious loss
to the government, from the more
than intrinsic value of articles
destroyed. There is not much
powder kept stored in the magazine
where the explosion occurred, as the ar
senal makes no pyrotechnic or explosive
articles, except for the signal corps upon
a special order. The sergeant was at
work in the magazine last night, and when
he left work all things seemed to be in
good order, and it is supposed the explo-
sion was the result of spontaneous COM
bustion. The fire also communicated TO
another adjacent building, in which were
stored saddle trees and other equipments.
A quantity of iron in this building Can
be made available in future. The build
ings to which the flames were communi'
Gated are totally destroyed, and several
small houses near the large buildings were
injured by the flames.
Laicr-Dcstruction of an Invaluable
Military Museum.
There were four barrels of powder in
the magazine which exploded this morn
Ing. The trees near by were stripped of
bark, their branches broken and life per-
haps destroyed. Fuses, cartridges, etc.,
in profuEion were scattered over the
ground. One of the guards, living about
0ne-fourth of mile from the scene of
explosion, states that the conclusion was
so severe as to throw him from his bed,
and break open the doors of his dwelling.
In the upper portion of storehouse No.
2 was located a very valuable museum, in
which were many relics of the military
art Of modern and ancient times, includ-
ing ancient weapons Of warfare, amor
of the middle ages, shot and shell, and
colors from our Revolutionary war, and
specimens Of arms and uniforms of al
most every nation of the past and pres
enL forming a collection which can never
be replaced. OF the CuriosIties stored
here, but few can be found. There were
also models of guns, shot and shell, in
fact nearly all weapons used in war in
our own times. There were in the store
houses large quantities of fuses, etc,
manufactured at Richmond for the Con-
federate States. The ground is covered
with them, together with fuses, cartridges,
etc of United States manufacture. The
loss will fall short of half million.
RebeIIIous KioyVas.
a letter from Fort Sill on the Sth, says
the KioWas Indians have made efforts to
induce the Cheyennes and Sioux TO join
them in war against the whites, but
thus far have failed. They are at present
among the Antelope hills, on the Cana
dian river.
Tho Dividend Tax-EmpOrtREt De.
ctsIOn of thc Treasury Solicitor.
The following important decision OF
the Treasury Department was made pub
lie to-day:
Department Of Justice, Office of the
Solicitor Of the Treasury, Washington,
jug 81, 1S71.-Sr: have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the Sd inst, transmitting one from the
Auditor of the joint railway companies of
New Jersey, and one from the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue in relation to
clsims for taxes under the act of July IA,
1870, made on said railway companies
by the Internal Revenue office.
1t appears that on the 9th of Februa'
~, 1871, the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue decided in respect to the liability
of corporations to the tax on interest
coupons uuder sections 120 snd 122 of
the act of July 80, 1864, as amended by
the act Of July "A, 1870, that no tai
should be withheld from interest or Cou
pOns representing the interest falling due
and payable within the period of fivt
months from Aug. l, 1870, TO Dec. 81
1870; and that the interest falling due on
or subsequent to Jan. l, 1871, Is taxabl,
at the rate of q per cent if such in
terest accrued either prior to Aug. l o.
subsequent to Dec. 81, 1870, from 81
much Of it as accrued within the last fiv,
months Of 1870 no tax whatever is to b.
withheld.
Acting in accordance with the decision
the joint companies of New Jersey on th'
lst of May, 1871, having coupon interes
falling due, deducted from holders o
coupons one and two thirds per cent. tax
only being the proportion of q per cent
accruing in 1871.
On the 11lh of May, 1871, the Attor
ney General, TO whom the question haC
been referred by the Secretary of tn,
Treasury, having decided that the tax Oh
interest or coupons imposed by the 15t
section of the act of July IA, 1870,
applicable to interest paid subsequent
TO August /, 1870, and prior to Janus
ry l, 1871. The Commissioner of Inter
nal Revenue, on the 18th of May, 1871
in accordance with instructions from tn
Secretary of the Treasury, revoke
his former decision and made on
in conformity with the opiI
ion of the Attorney Genera
When the companies, who by the 10.
section above referred 10 are authorized