The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-12
AT THE CAPITAL.
DisaIIowed West Virginia War Claims
The Iut.r.oceanIc Canal Committee Steals
a March on It's chaIrmin-A Singular
Tobacco Claim Case-The Rlder
10 the Army Blll-Democrat.
10 Senatorial Caucus.
WEST VIRGINIA WAR CLAIMS.
something In Regard to Tobacco and
Cigars.
W,sur.aroS Anr;l1l.

Of Charlestown, West Virginia, contains
some items Of interest 1t states that on
March 2s, 1862, a force Of cavalry, infan'
try and artillery, belonging to the COM
mand OF General Banks, was sent to re-
connoi:re between uarper's Ferry and
Winchester for the purpose OF ascertain
ing the whereabouts Of Johnson's column,
then reported to be advancing on that
road. The rebel advance was encounter
ed and falling back after skirmish the
Union forces went forward and took pos
session of the Odd Fellows building,
which they set on fire and destroyed, to-
gether with its furniture and regalia, the
the whole value OF the property being es-
tlmated at 1854 so. 1t was never clearly
established, according to this report,
whether the building was fred by Rebel
or Union soldiers, rs there was consider
able skirmishing between them shout the
building. A-cretifcate Of the Bngadier
General Of volunteers states that the fir.
ing OF the building was unauthorized, and
at the time prejudicial to the success OF
the United States forces, He says, 1t is
| impossible 10 determine what motive the
Federal soldiers could have had Tor setting
the building on fire, but on the contrary
II seems to have been IN act OF wanton
destruction. II this Is 50 the committee
thinks the owners have no claim against
the United States. 4E
ANOTHER DlsAL.owED CLAIM.
Another adverse report is against bill
for the relief OF the heirs Of VIM. Lucas, OF
Jefferson county, w. Va. This Is q bill
asking compensation for timber, fencing,
horses aud wheat, alleged to bave been
used by the United States army during the
late war. Mr.. Tyler who makes both OF
these reports, says 1t does not appear when
such property was taken, but Lucas was
paid a large sum OF money. Therefore the
claim is disallowed and the bill laid on the
table.
TIE INTERNATIONAL CANALS.
Owing to the absence oil ]. Floyd King,
chairman, the international Canal Com.
mittee held a meeting yesterday. For
several weeks King tried to get his canal
colleagues together, but they have be-
come SO dissatisfied with bis chairman.
ship that they paid no attention to his call
and did not meet. But yesterday he being
away in Louisiana looking after his second
term really interesting, II not important
session, was held. Fredrick. NJ. Kelly, OF
New York, who expended SIPS 900 Of his
own money in fitting out surveying parties
for the San Bias route, and Sidney Shell
burne, made arguments in favor OF adopt.
ing that as the best and cheapest line for
canal across the 1sthmus. According to
their calculations canal across that por.
ton OF the continent would only need
seventeen miles OF an open cut and seven
miles OF tunnel. The tunneling would be
through granite rock, which would re-
quire no wall or building up, and as this
proposed line is not crossed by any rivers
no extensive system OF drainage would be
required, nor would there be any danger
OF oyerhows from floods. They estimate
the cost OF the canal at $4,000, 600; the
sum calculated for the Panama route be-
ing s200,000,0O0.
TINE AND TOBACCO.
A singular claim case has recently been
decided by the Ways and Means Commit.
tee in favor Of the claimants, who were
ordered by the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue to put additional stamps upon
tobacco and cigar boxes stamped before
the signing OF the act increasing the TO.
bacco tax. The committee says:
The act of March 5, 1875, which In.
creased the rate OF tax on tobacco from 20
10 "a cents per pound, and on cigars from
s5.to So per thousand, was approved by the
then President, in the afternoon OF the Sd
of.Aisrch, 1875, probably between 5 o'clock
and Q O'Clock IN. In the morning and
fore part OF the day, stamps were affixed
TO tobacco and cigars according to the law
| In force prior to that day. The Commits
sioner OF Internal Revenue ordered, upon
his view OF the law, that all tobacco and
cigars stamped on that day were, by the
legal fiction which disregsrds fractions ot
day, and by relation 10 the first moment
OF the day, subject TO the act aforesaid as
being the law during the whole OF that
day. a.
the Supreme Court, and Is reported, under
tue ultub VI GuiS Se1o voc SAASAt 50 -.
otto's Reports.
The Supreme Court held that the act OF
March 5, 1875, became law only at the IN:
slant OF the Presidents signature, and did
not eupersede the previous law, which
therefore continued in force until the mo.
ment the new act was signed.
The committee find that all the claims
iayorably reported and provided for In
the bill, were for the additional tax as
sessed after the tobacco and cigars were
stamped under the law in force before the
act Of March 5, 1875, became a'law, and all
said additional taxes were paid BY the
several parties under protest. as fully ap-
pears by the evidence.
The conclusion Of the committee Is,
that the collection OF all money as atore;
said was without warrant OF law, and
should be refunded.
Democratic Senate Caucus.
WASHINGTON, April 10.-The Democrat
ic Senators were in caucus to-day four
hours. The question Of taking up the
spotford. Kellogg case was the subject un'
Il r. .D.1..,,;a,, onj .ha 5faonuaihn ron.