The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22
Attempt to Resurrect 1t in
the Senate.
THE TARDY CHICAGO CHARITY.
Railroad Dividend Tax in the
Supreme Court.
THE KU KLUx CASE DISMISSED.
Paraguay and Brazil-The Treaty
Not Onerous.

xNOV OuCxOu6s
WASHINGTON, March q, 1872.
The 81. Croix Land swindIe I'm tho Senate |
Carpenters ChiseIlina.
The principal business OF Importance that was
considered by the Senate to-day was the bayfield,
and st. Croix Railroad swindle which was called
up by Senator Carpenter, who asked non-concur-
renee IN the action OF the House. and for commit
tee OF conference. Mr.. Sherman asked the senate
to concur IN the House amendments, whereupon
Mr.. Carpenter made q little speech to show how
this steal would rebound to The good or the people
OF Wisconsin. considerable discussion followed
Mr.. Carpenters little endeavor In behalf OF the
swindle, but while his motion was pending the
morning hour expired and further action was post
poned.
Chicago Relief and Army Appropriation in
the House.
The Chicago Relief bill, with the Senate amend
ments, was taken up In the House to-day, and au
attempt made to pass II nc once. Mr. Conger, OF
Michigan asked that time be granted to himself
and his constituents to be heard upon this question:
lie said this bin was passed without the attention
Of the House being called to 1t particularly, and he
demanded to be heard by the representatives OF the
people upon proposition that so nearly related to
the material interests OF his constituency. MIR.
Farnswortn insisted upon immediate action, and
MIR. Dawes was impatient with delay. There
Is considerable interest felt in the dis
position OF this b, but Mr.. Conger
gained his point to have 1t referred to the
Committee OF Ways and Means, and 1t will be
thoroughly canvassed before 1t passes Michigan
is wide awake, she, together with Wisconsin,
suffered deeply In The great fires which swept over
these States about the same time that Chicago was
desolated The timber which was left them from
the flames is the principal article OF trade they have
to depend upon; and this bill taking or the tax
lumber for the benefit OF Chicago, 1t is claimed,
will be OF great injury 10 them.
The Army Appropriation bill was considered IN
Committee OF the Whole after the disposition OF the
Chicago bill, with Mr. Randall, OF Pennsylvania, In
the chair. General SlOcum OF New York, made
a speech opposlng two features Of this bill.
One was the practice OF retiring onicers OF the
regular army with the rank and nay they hold at
the time they received their wounds instead Of that
held at the time OF retirement. He instanced
several cases which had come TO his especial notice.
one, the son OF Senator Fessenden holding the
rank OF First Lieutenant, VINO was retired with the
rank and pay OF General. The support OF the
Ordnance Department he also opposed, and was
facetious over the lapse OF good Old democratic
rule, when It was considered a high mlsdemcanor
fer an ofcer to have any political opinions. With
out action the committee rose and the House ad-
! journed.
| The KailronS Dividend Tax in the Supr me
court.
Nos. 1874 to $780, Observation-Disclosures CT al VS.. The
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and
the same nve otner roads.-ErrOr to the Circuit
Court for the Eastern District OF PENNSYLVANIA. The
plantns In were collectors ana officers OF the
internal revenue SERVICE and distraned properly OF
the several railroad cOmpa MES for the nOnpaymen
OF taxes claimed 10 be due on certain dividends OF
in IN nds w Ic had M and
were paid by the companies in January 1870. Suits
were brought against them trespassers. They
pleaded that the companies were liable for the
taxes for which the distraint was made. The
companies demurred to the pleas, and this pre-
sented the question whether, Under the 1921 section
OF the Internal Revenue act, as amended by the act
OF 1885, dividends declared In the month OF Decem-
Der. 1869. but payable IN the month OF January,
1870, and interest paid IN the month OF January,
1870, were liable TO tax.
Judgment on demurrer was for the companies;
but before they were rendered Congress passed the
act Of July, 1870. providing, among other things,
that the 122d section OF the act OF 1864 should be
construed to impose the taxes mentioned to the 1st
OF August, 1870. The effect OF this provision Is
therefore involved as an additional question IN
these cases.
The government insists that the act Of 1854 which
repealed all previous provisions the subject and
supplied new PROVISIONS, and its supplements, have
effected no change whatever In the character OF the
duty on railroad dividends, but that this duty
remains 1t before not limited IN duration by
virtue Of any provision therein contained. The
limitation upon the duration OF the tax on incomes
being inapplicaDle to the tax upon interest or
coupons dividends or PROFITS imposed by the act OF
1864 the officers OF the revenue were warranted IN
collecting the taxes and the Court erred in not 80
finding. The defendants In error urge that the
Income Tax law, which was In force on
The Sst OF December, 1864, dd not apply
TO incomes accruing after that day, and that
the tax on interest and dividends payable Dy rail.
road and certain other interpretations, under the
act OF 1864 was part OF, and expired WITH the zen.
eral income tax which was force on the 3lst OF
December 1869; also that the interest paid In Janu
airy, $780, must be treated as Income OF the recipi
ents for the year 1870, and not the year 1862 The
provisions OF the act Of 1870 1t Is submitted cannot
have any bearing upon the decision III these cases.
The Attorney Genera. and Solicitor General for the
government; 8. Hood and J. f. GOwan for defend.
ants.
The Naval Department Investigation.
The select committee TO examine into the charges
made against Secretary Robson met this morning,
all present excepting MIR. Voorhees,. Mr. G. A.,
Dana was present with his counsel, Willard gart-
lett. Secretary Robson was also present. After a
general conversation on the course to be pursued
q resolution was offered by Mr. Peters allowing
the accuser to produce such witnesses as he may
desire to have examined, and. by himself or coun.
sci, examine sucn witnesses In relation to any mat
tiers within the scope Of the committee, and also
that the committees preference would be to have
both sides represented by counsel.
The committee adjourned until Monday evening,
at seven O'Clock In the meantime the names Of
the witnesses viii be furnished.
CooIic slavery I'm Cuba.
Some time ago the House Of Representatives
called on the President for all Information IN the
possession of the Department OF State relative TO
the re. enslavement OF Chinese the island Of Cuba
by DEGREES lately issued oy captain General Vama-
soda, and asking what action, If any, has been