Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-13

lists In the South. IL was thelr interest to 90
so, the easier to secure Endorsement by appeals
to popular prejudice in the North. The men
whose evil deeds in the South have nearly
destroyed the Republican party, which for so
many years has upheld, and is therefore re-
sponsible for them, performed their work we'll.
No person not in sympathy with them could
obtain hearing. They retained control of
the blacks by convincing them that divis-
ion of their vote would reenslave them, and
deluded the Northern Republicans into the
belief that the majority of the white people of
the South were hostile to the Union and were
secretly preparing for rebellion. But for the
effects of these persistent Misrepresentation
upon the North, the Southern problem would
have been satisfactorily solved long ago."
Internal Revenue Investigations.
1t would seem that evasions of the rev.
enue laws are not confined to few insigni6-
cant distilleries in obscure sections of the
South, but that infractions of the laws are
conducted on magnificent scale, by respect
able wholesale dealers in the Northern and
Western cities. The unearthing of extensive
frauds, at an early day, is promised by the fol-
lowing information from Washington
For six weeks, the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury have been conducting,
with the utmost secresy, an investigation into
the methods of the manufacture and sale of
distilled spirits. This investigation has been
superintended by Secretary Bristow in person,
and by the most trusted confidential special
agents in the service Secretary Bristow' 8
frequent visits to New York have had refer
ence to this inquiry.
The basis of investigation has been the re-
markable fact that high wines can be pur-
chased in open market in New York and New
Orleans, for considerably less than the cost of
production, including the government tax.
This fact has excited the surprise of the Presl'
dent and Secretary Bristow, and they deter
mined to discover the cause. On account of
the great mystery in which the investigation is
involved, the exact situation cannot be stated,
but it is positively known that both the Presi-
dent and Secretary Bristow are convinced that
there has been an immense system of illicit
distillation. This is, for the most part, con-
fined to Western distillers.
Illicit whisky has become so common that
the special detectives report that it is regular
" known among dealers as "extras." The
following order, recently made by large
house to Western distillery firm, is probably
a sample of many others "Send us good
many extras we can make use of more OF
them" Two of the special agents charged
with this inquiry have made full reports upon
the subject. The result of their inquiries IS
summarized in what precedes 1t is not un-
likely that further result will be numerous
removals in the service.
New Revenue Commissioner.
- The President employed very neat
mode of removing Mr.. Douglass, Commission
er of the Internal Revenue, by informing him,
on Thursday last, that his successor had been
appointed. This was the first intimation Mr..
Douglass had received of his presidential de-
capitation, and the sensation produced upon
his nervous organization must have been SIM
liar to that which would be experienced by a
victim whose grave had been kindly prepared
and shown to him before the murderous blow
was dealt. Mr.. Douglass mantle falls upon
ex-senator Pratt, of Indiana, and the change
in the revenue department is thus spoken of
by the Washington correspondent of the Bal
timore Sun:
The acceptance of the commissionership of
internal revenue by ex-senator Pratt is some
what of surprise. Mr.. Pratt had only been
in the Senate short time when he expressed
great disgust with the shallowness and hol-
lowness Of Washington life and desire to get
back to the pure atmosphere of his own home.
He was only prevented from resigning the
senatorship at that time by the earnest per-
suasion of his colleague, Senator Morton,
who used the potent argument that demo-
crat would be sent in his place MIR. Pratt
must have gotten bravely over his repugnance
to the wickedness of the capital, when he is
willing to come back here to assume charge
over one of the most responsible and laborious
Offices under the government. Mr.. Pratt is a
giant in size and strength, and can stand the
labor we'll enough. He is painstaking and
industrious and of the strictest integrity. But
he is not of brilliant order of talent, and
has rustic simplicity which will never wear
of.
As said to-day by one of his friends, "there
will be no stealing going on under him that
he knows of, but there may be an almighty
sight that he will never know Of" Repre-
sentative Randall, who was talking about the
appointment to-day, said that Mr.. Pratt
would not hold it very long, for the House of
Representatives would abolish the office next
winter. Mr. Randall says that as the bulk of
the taxes are on whisky and tobacco, which
are collected by stamps, there is no necessity
for further keeping up the elaborate machine.
ry of the internal revenue bureau. This was
also the idea Of the late Senator Sumner, who
brought in bill to abolish the Office of COM
missioner of internal revenue more than year
before he died.
The Beecher Trial.
The monotony of the tedious and appa-
rently endless scandal suit was somewhat re-
lieved on Monday morning of last week by
the action of Mrs. Tilton, who, after the Judge
took his seat, approached him with the re-
quest that he read aloud written paper
which she passed to him by one of the law
yers. The Judge read the paper, and simply
remarked that it should have proper attention.
Much speculation was the result of this cpl
sode, and it was not until several days later
that public curiosity was satisfied by the pub
lication of Mrs. Tilton's communication and
Judge Nelson's reply thereto. Mrs. Tilton's
letter is as follows:
MAY BIRD, 1875.
I,rDcp NE1I CON. T ask the privilepe from