Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-12

A BILL TO AGAIN CHANGE THE DISTRICT
GovERNMENT.-Mr. Cobb, of North Carolina,
introduced bill In the House to- day which was
referred to the District Committee entitled " A
%ent for The District /, IT, of Columbia The
bill provides for the election of the members of
the Council, which shall consist of eleven men,
6ers; nxes a special election for members OF the
Of the original act as authorizes special taxes
in particular sections for local improvements:
abolishes the Board of Public Works, and
creates Board of Improvements, which shall
consist of seven members, two of whom shall be
appointed at large by the President, two by the
President from the District, tive to be elected,
and one Gan engineer) to be detailed from the
army. All improvements are to be made under
the direction of the Legislative Assembly, and
contracts are TO be given to the lowest bidders,
&C., &c.
Col. FcRTEY's REsIGNATIoN.-The following
letter was delivered Saturday afternoon to the
President of the United States by friend Of
Colonel FOrney:
DEAR SIR: When you did me the honor to
tender me the appointment of Collector of the
port Of Philadelphia l accepted it most reluc-
family. because L apprehended it would seriously
interfere with my business, and especially with
my independence as journalist. Ten months
experience have SO entirely confirmed this i'm
preston that / find myself constrained to send
you this, my resignation of that office, to take
effect on the LIST of March next. i shall then
return to my profession as q far more cOngenal
field of usefulness, and devote ali my efforts to
my newspaper, and the energetic support of the
principles of the great republican party. Most
earnestly thanking you for your Kindness and
s,n,x Enn1. remain dear General very
TO His Erceilency, President Grant.
REVENUE LEGIsLATION.-The committee Of
ways and means, at one Of their sessions last
week, resolved to keep their proceedings pro-
found secret until their bill for reduction Of the
revenue shall be completed. Notwithstanding
this, enough has leaked out to show that the
tarif tight has begun on the question of internal
revenue reduction. These OF the committee
favOrIng high tariff demanded the total abOli-
ton of the Internal Revenue Bureau; and having
failed in carrying that point, now demand that
all the internal taxes except those on tobacco,
spurious, malt and vinOus liquors, and stamps,
be abolished, and that the taxes on spirits and
tobacco be considerably reduced. The low
tariff men, in order that the tariff may be re-
duced to liberal extent, favor the abolition of
all the internal taxes except those named, but
oppose reduction on spirits and tobacco. 1t is
probable that so far as the whisky and tobacco
taxes are concerned, the committee will make
the tax on tobacco uniform at a rate not vet de-
teTmined; that tobacco bonded warehouses for
export will be allowed only for goods intended
for export; that the tax on distilled spirits will
he consolidated at some figure between Is and
80 cents per gallon, and that some measure to
facilitate expectation of alcohol will be adopted
II IL expected that the committee will conclude
the internal revenue part of the bill this week,
and commence on the tariff next week. The
tobacco question is the most ficult on account
Of the vast differences Of interests and views
among those engaged In the business. The dis
the legislation they desire, and their case is
facilitated by the fact that there are only two
sides to the question, namely, the gOvernme Mt
and united trade.