New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-12
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
COMPROMISE CASES UNDER THE INTERNAL
REVENUE LAWS.


Representative Beck's bill, introduced to-day and
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, au-
thorzing compromise of cases arising under the
Internal Revenue laws, in which penalties and for
FIXTURES may have been incurred without fraudulent
intent provides for a summary investigation by the
Judge of the District in which the alleged oifenso
was committed, on the application of the accused
and after due notice to the District-AttOrney and
Collector of Internal Revenue. The summary in
vestigation may be held before the Judge TO whom
the petition is presented, or if he shall direct be.
fore any United States Commissioner or Internal
Revenue Collector for such District, and the facts
appearing thereon shall be stated and annexed 10
the petition, and together with certified copy O.
the evidence transmitted without cost or expense to
the petitioner, to the Commissioners of Internal Rev
epue who shall thereupon have power to mitigate or
remit such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, or remove
such disability or any part thereof IT, III his opinion
the same shall have been Incurred without wilful
neg gence any intention Of fraud in the person
or persons ncurrIng The same and To direct the
prosecution. if any shall have been Instituted for the
recovery thereof to cease and be discontinued upon
such terms conditions Is he may deem reasonable
and just.
EQUALIZATION OF SOLDIERS BOCNTIEs
The House Military Committee have authorized
Mr.. Gunckel to report bill to equalize soldiers
bounties, which he will do tomorrow The bill has
been long and carefully considered, the Committee
having taken testimony of the PaYmaSter- General
Controller, Second Auditor and others 1t provides
for the payment of IS 30 per mouth for all the time
of service, deducng bounties already paid. In case
the bounty amounts to 500 or over, the soldier may
at his option, take warrant for 100 acres of land
for which lie may, without residence or settlement,
obtain a patent. 1t ALSO provides that widows or
minor children of those who enlisted Tor q period
less than one year, and were killed or died IN tne
never been provided for before. This BILL IL is be-
lieved is framed as 10 cover all deserving cases,
and yet is so well guarded as to make the total sum
required much less than was called Tor by any preN
Gus bill.
THE WESTERN SURVEY INQUIRY
Licnt George VI. Wheeler. t. s. Engineers, IN
charge of surveys west of the Tooth meridian, was
examined by the House Committee on Public Lands
to-day. from 10 a. III. till noon. Lieut.. Wheeler was
requested to state the extent of his operations
during the years he has been employed, ana detail
the results attained in mineralogy, meeorology, and
topography the composition Of his exploring par
ties and the relative amount expended each year
in comparison with the numbers of persons en-
ployed, and the extent of country trayersed and
surveyed. The information conveyed was substan-
TALLY the same that given in a letter published IN
tO-day's TRIBUNE. At noon the Committee adjourned
until tomorrow, when Lieut.. Wheeler will complete
his statement. The COMMITTEE have also summoned
Major Powell the Colorado explorer, and III. V.
Hayden the Yellowstone traveller The object of
tins examination is TO consider the proprley of
solidating all the SURVEYS % the West, under sls
direction of one Department.
RIVER AND HARBOR APPROPRIATIONS.
The River and Harbor Appropriation bill, as it
passed tho House to-day, embraces the following
New-York items: For the removal of instructions
at He'll Gate S22j.0OO improvement of the Hudson
River, $4,000; improvement OF the harbor at Dun
kirk, S35,O0O: at Buffalo, $75 900; at Olcott, Oak
Orchard, Pultneyville, and Washington, each
$4,000; at Oswego, $7j0oO; at Ogdensburg. $1,000;
ut Plattsburg, 5000; at Black River, $4,000. An
appropriation of $4,000 is made for the improve
meot OF the Passaic River, n. j.