The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-02-22
Letter from Washington.

General Buffers Opinion in Regard to Per-
sonal Tares- Conditions apon tohich he is
telling TO Serue as CongresSmdn.-Th
Debt and Credit Of the Forty Fifth Con-
QresS.-dc., DC.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. II, 1879.
Not long ago 5en. b. F. Butler sent a letter
TO the District Commi isioners IL which he
claimed exemption from the personal lax laid
upon citizens OF the District on the ground that
the personal property II have in this District
istOr nv convenience and comfort while serve
in the National I.enslature, and without the
possrsson Of which 1 WOO d not have cone
here" In f0ct General Butler Gained exemp.
tiOn because O' his position a. COnPI essman
The Commissioners referred the matter to Dis
tTlct.Attorney Fiddle, and to use cOlloquial
expression Il was nuts to that bilious Official
f'r he was thus en- bed to Uay the General
back In the sarcastic con which was flung at
him so liOerally by the General lately in the
ceebraIed case of strong Va District OF COlum.
bia, before the SUpr' me Court Of the District.
Mr.. RIDDLE has rem Tered his opinion. and he
very cOnclusiyely shows that the Massachus
etis lawyer and Congressman IN attempting to
evade his tax by one OF those smart lodges in
IN astute criminal LAWYER, has not exhibited
that comprehensive knowledge OF the statute
under which the pers Inal tax in this District is
imposed, which he usually brings 10 bear when
dealiug with a legal question. The personal
property of General Butler, lich is sought to
De subj cted to personal tax in this case, Is his
furniture, carriages and horses, &C., and when
the General strtes that he pays personal tax III
another State. It Is very evident he does not
mean to include this class Of his property ex.
cept in the wy Of an evasion. Mr.. Riddle re-
eommen II that the Commissioners proceed TO
collect the tax US usual and as Butler In his let
ter declares II TO be his intention TO test the
matter in the courts, II remains to be seen
whether Congressman owning a residence
here, and personal property to large or snail
amount, can evade the tax imposed on other
residents DY pleading MS privilege as a Con
gres man,On the ground that he couldn't come
here without surrounding himself with the
comforts and cOnveniences OF lIfe" IL is TO be
Bpprehended that in the latter eventuality our
COnGI essionnl sSlOus would bring the entire
amount Of their personal property here, and
thus secure immunity from paying personal
lax In any ir1sdicuOn.
In fortnight another Congress will have
passed Into history. and the political Tide that
tossed upon our shores the HOnOrables frOm
every qlRIter Feceding. will have carried with
II those worthy members and their wlves-whO
strutted upon our stage awhile elated by a
little brief authOuty"-lntO the innermosr re-
cesses of rustic obScurity, Among other items
which the FOrty.dfth Congress counts upon its
credit side--1n the score Of economy. Of 90 uTse
lis the diminuit'On VI clerical force In The De
plrtmcSt, aud reduction ~ the sa aries OF those
retained Just where the economy comes in,
however. u an enigma as vet unsOlved-this
yaR,ing Of numerous Congressional Gays the
esf Of legislation haStng been proven by actual
cnmputat Sn 90 be nOl less than 81 900 an hour
IN discussins the saving Of a tew thousands By
Hurtailmeny of the weliearned plitaDce needy
clerks seeiye, an hour. passlns the river aud
harbOr Oill with 4 ehee. ful generosity ediiyinR
80 0eho d. thus giving away six Of seven mil
nons Of the poop e's none, the returns Of which
tor the pat twenty years have ceased IN be ap
parent IL Is stated that within the past quar-
trr.oentu.y not leas than Que hundred All ht
tSen uill ous of eOllors have been appropriated
oar ryeis and harburs, as taough the face
oi tue county were outlined with w3ter.colrses
IiKe ehevker-boaId, every run roaring tor
I-ft, sB1 .ye.y ts3 bJaId OF r.ysi Y--sg' q Lgr