The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-16
WASIIISGT0N.
No Funds After July Is,.

No Funds After July LIST.
WASHINGTON, May l5.-The Secretary
OF War has notified the disbursing officers
that there will be no funds available for
the purchase Of supplies Tor the army
after July lst until Congress shall have
had time to act upon the appropriation
bill, and all advertisements for contracts,
rs well IA the contracts Themselves, will
state that the payment depends upon the
future appropriation.
The collections Of Internal revenue for
the fiscal year to date are SlO3,GOO OgS.
Commissioner Eaum entertainI the opin.
ion that the aggregate returns for the iis-
cal year will be fully mp to the estimate
OF Sl2O0O0,OO0.
cHICAGoiwHIsKY CASES.
The Secretary Of the Treasury today
made the iallowing decision relative to
various Chicago whisky cases:
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1877.
Hon. Henry =. French, ASSISTANT Treasurer ::
SR-Iour letter OF March 10 last has
not been acted on by reason OF a request
oil parties affected by the compromise pro-
posed that they should have time 10 sub.
nit formal petition for their relief. This
petition, OF date the 9th, and your letter
OF the 10th instS., are now before me, pre-
'enting the propositions for compromise
OF Hessing Powell, Rush Dickinson aud
Others, OF Chicago. in a certain class of
whisky cases. These cases present the
same general features. Most of the
proponents were men of high posit;on
not only engaged in diriliinr sniri,s
but in other branches Of the business
and recognized as prominent and innu.
entinl citizens Of the CITY Of Chicago
Some Of them have been indicted. con-
yiC,ed ard have suffered a tineand impr;s.
onmcni, from which thew have been re-.
lieyed by pardon. Their remaining lia.
bilitv to the government i. A pecmn;grv
one ior taxes and PENALTIES on bond!
either a. principals or sureties. The
amounts involved are OF larger princi.
pal. The question YOU submitto me i.
il it il the duty Of the government TO real.
iZe by compromise the larrest amount
from these claims that could probably be
collected by legal process. In ordinary
Liabilities a wise business man will not
seek to hold an insolvent debtor to rigid
payment Of the full amount OF The
debt, but regard this class Of cases as
standing on different footing; they are
partially for taxes due TO the people
OF the United States. The remission of
which, operates "a an injury to every tax
payer, and as 4 premium for fraud. The
primary rule uf all Just taxation is
equality, and certainly the evasion OF tax
laws il punished with greater severity
than the neglect to pay an ordinary
debt. II n principle il establish.
ed thai man may evade taxes by
becoming insolvenl, then the taxes on
such productives as whisky and tobacco
cannot be collected. Again these claims
are largely for penalties, The mower 10
pardon may extend to the release of
these penalties where they are mart oiI
punishncnt for criminal odenses bmt
not to a remission Of taxes or mere
penalties in the nature of liquidated
damages. The President alone can pardon
and can do no more freely than the Sec.
retary Of the Treasury can exercise the
power to compromise mere pecuniary
obligations, which il n power more dan.
gerous and likely to he used than tha. Of
pardon. These claims are not held over
the proponents as an act oil harshneqs
or injustice, but only to secure the nav.
ncnl OF jI-t and equal taxes. They are
not like ordinary contracts which depend
on the mutual agreement OF parties, but
they are prescribed by the law, Of Gen.
eraI application, well known to all
who embark in business aud ought
not to he remilted or released ex.
cept iOr clear reasons OF public
policy ! have therefore declined in n
similar case, even in favor Of sureties, to
release sucli pecnnlary obligations on the
payment Of nominal suma and shall have
to do so in these cases. The expectation
oil compromise caused by the alleged
i gptlnu nj TiFnInnnaanFa In