New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-06
CURRENT TOPICS At THE CAPITAL.
WAsHJYGTON, Monday, Al

WASHINGTON, MONDAY April D, 1870.
The Pension Bureau is Just how Overrun with APP
picatious for increase of pensions The Office dis
poses of about eco claims a month two-thirds of
which arc for increase Of pension. Under the law OF
June r. 1874 granting those persons who are now
entitled to pensions under existing laws. and who
have lost either an arm ar above the elbow, or
leg mt or above the knee 80 applications OF the
former class have been allowed and 1850 of the lat
ter Thus far during the year of 1875 ae receipt of
these classes of claims is p per cent in excess OF
what the Office il able to dispose OF. The claims SET
tied number 400 under the act of June ls 1874 rea-
tive 10 those persons who have been totally dis
abed by the loss Of the sight of both eyes or loss OF
the sight of eye, the sight of the other having
been previously lost by the loss of both hands. or
by the loss of both feet or By any other injury re-
sulting in permanent helpleSsne5s and granting to
such person. in lieu of 33l . per month, pension
of $50 per month. On the rejected file of the Pen
sion Office there 5000 claims of ali classes but
while so many claims are rejected "a not coming
within tho provisions of any law, the Commits sIoner
OF Pensions il almost daily made aware OF the fact
that pensioners under the existing law are not aware
that they entitled to any lncre2Se, but continue
10 draw the original pension unti they are Informed
that they entitled to increase under the la" Oh
June 49, 1871.
WORKINGS OF THE WHISKY TAX
The effect of the whisky tax imposed last session
was to strengthen the revenue receipts during
February and March, but they fast falling down
TO the usual average and according 70 present indi-
cations will soon fall below it. In February last
the receipts were Sl2G0O000 for the month the
preceding year they 81 100000 In te last month
OF the year just closed they were about So.5o00O,
an increase Of 500O00 the corresponding period
during the previous year. The Commissioner of In
terna Revenue states that he looked upon March of
4, -, r~l,t. /, cul III
be a great decrease in the receipts because OF the
immense rush to procure stamps during February
in anticipation of the increased tax: but he says
he is agrecaby surprised to find his estimates of
decrease ahead of the mark. lie thinks the dis
filters will exhaust their supply of Decent whisky
by July and will then pay the ~ cents increase Oh
tax INTO the revenues of the Governments; laheii
altogether. the whisky operators have made good
thing financially by the results OF the new law; Dut
the Commissioner thinks that the Government Will
also be benefited by the additional tax ana get on
the whole a s ght increase Of revenue.
RINORS OF REMOVALS COSTRADICTED.
The President on being asked whether there was
any truth in the rumOr about the resignation or
removal of Commissioner Douglass sad he had no
such knowledge and therefore the rumor was
untrue. The President was also questioned IN
regard TO other rumored removals, and he said that
Mr. Johnson. the Commissioner Of Customs, would
be retained as we'll First Controller Taylor, of
whose honesty and uprightness he was filly as
sllred and also Second Controller Broadhead The
President said there was vacancy in the Office of
Minister 10 Peru, occasioned by the resignation Of
MIR Francis Thomas Of Maryland, but DC had not
yet selected his successor.
TIE TRCMPED-UP SUMMONS TO Mr. DANA
There u much interest here IN Judge Blatchiofds
course in the Dana The fact has become known
about the City Hall that the Grand jury never re-
quesed the summoning of Mr.. Dana. and actually
dismissed all proceedings in the case for which 1t Is
claimed they wanted him on March "i as witness.
On that day, and after this acton by the Grand
Jury, the Distrct-Attorney without consulting the
Jury. took blank form of subpoena from the
clerks office filled it, and sent it to the Marshal IN
key-York IL has become known, therefore. that
the whole affair is simply an attempt 10 get Mr.
Dana within the jurisdiction Of the court IN order
10 scrye warrants Of arrest for abel.