The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-08
CAPITAL NEWS NOTES,
COL. coRKHILL RISES TO EXPLAIN,
Proposed Reduction OfTa1 on WhllkI-Thaats-
giving Proclamation HSttsru-PrsaI'
dsst Arthur'S IatSRtlOnI-TOpIss TO
BO Treated In His Message.


WASHINGTON, September q AT the
opening Of the Criminal Court this morn
ing District Attorney Corkhill made a long
personal explanation TO the effect that
Mr., Cook was appointed by Mr.. MacVeagh
as special assistant attorney OF the United
States charged with the prosecution of the
Star route cases, Mr.. Corkhill had, there
fore, not been consulted in connection
with the prosecution. Mr.. Cooks consul
tations had been all with the Attorney
General, whose assistant he properly
claimed TO be. He [Corkhilll could not
know anything officially Of the case or be
in the slightest degree responsible for 1t.
He deemed that the present proceeding by
criminal information had been rendered
necessary by his adjournment OF the grand
jury from the 10th Of September to the
Sd OF October, On the 9TH OF September
he called upon Attorney-G General Mac
Vcagh and informed him that he would
have no business for the grand jury when
1t assembled, and that il there were any
OF the Star route cases ready for presenta-
ton the grand Jury was at his service for
three weeks; otherwise he intended to ad-
iourn the grand jury till the first Monday
In October,
The Attorney General then informed
him that since the Presidents i assassination
he had not given the Star Route cases any
special attention; that he knew nothing
Of them, and that he (Corkhill) need not
bother himself about them; and that
when his services, or those Of the Grand
Jury, were required, he would be notified
by q person having special charge OF them.
Under the circumstances the Grand Jury
was respted for two weeks. On tho 25th
OF September he was informed by Mr..
Cook that the Attorney General wished to
sec him, and In company with Mr.. Cock
he called on the Attorney General, and
was then requested TO sign the criminal IN.
formation, He then protested against tho
abuse which he had been receiving, and
the insinuatiOns that had been pub.
liShed about the ad adjournmCnt OF the Grln,l
Jury, and he said II the Attorney General,
as his superior officer, made statement Of
simple facts, this abuse would be at once
silenCed,
TAX on WHISKY,
The Internal Revenue Bureau don't favor
the proposed reduction OF the whisky tax
from 90 to 80 cents per gallon. In his
forthcoming report Commissioner Raum
will neither recommend reduction nor
will he advise directly against It, He will
state the amount Of revenue derived from
whisky, md that the proposed reduction
will cut down that amount without benc-
fitting tho producer or consumer. Tho
revenue officials regard this movement for
reduction as inaugurated wholly by mid.
die men, who they say would make all the
profit. The whisky trade will also oppose
the reduction, as millions Of dollars worth
ofwhisky arc held In bond and to reduce the
tax would dcmoralize the trade badly The
Commissioner may, In his report, point out
this effect. There will be determined
effort made to get Congress to reduce this
tax, and II Is said big lobby with plenty
Of money will be here In the interest Of the
movement The influence Of the Treasury
and Revenue Bureau will be against the
reduction.
ARMY AFFAIRS.
General Sherman has submitted his an.
nual report to the Secretary OF War, en-
closing the reports OF Gems Drum and
Sackett, and the reports OF the command
ing generals Of divisions and departments.
Gen. Sherman says, referring 10 the reports
OF the latter, that they oil show that oul
companies are too small for efficient dis.
cipline and for economical service When
the National Treasury was poor and loaded
with debt the army endeavored to grace
fully submit to the overwork, but now
says Gen. Sherman, they appeal for relief
and 1t IL recommended that Congress re-
peal that clause Of the existing law, which
limits tho enlisted force Of the army al
25,0O0 men. Considerable space Ia devoted
TO the discussion OF the subject OF officer
servants, Gen. Sherman maintaining thai
no soldier should bo compelled 10 dc
menial labor without compensation OF
without his consent, and he recommends
that the existing law be repealed or modi.
fed 30 as to secure this end. Referring Il
West Point he says 1t has been and mus
continue to be tho fountain sotlrce OF mill
tary education In time Of peace. In Iii
Judgment the military academy at West
Point iilfills It's use, and can safely be en-
trusted TO prepare boys to become the
soldiers Of tile future.
TlIANKsGtvtSG PROCLAMATION.
The following proclamation was ISSUED
from the Department Of State to-day by the
President OF the United States OF America
| A PRocLAMATioN-I has long been The
pious custom Of our people with the closing
Of the year TO look back upon the blessing
brought TO them In the changing course Of
seasons, and 10 return solemn Thanksgiving
to the All Giving source from whom they
flow; and although at this period when The
falling leaf admonishes us that thetime oIil
sacred duty isat hand oiir Nation still lies II
, the shadow Of agreat bereavement, and tllt
mourning which has filled our hearts still
finds sorrowiul expression toward the
God before whom we but lately bowed In
priei and suppliCation, yet the countless
benefits which have shOweted upon us
during the last twelve months call for OH
ietyent gratitude and makes II fitting tina
, we should rejoice with llanklulness tina
the Lord in his infinite mercy llaa most sig
nally favored our country and Our people
Peace without and prosperity within havt
! been VouohAAfed to us. No pestllehCe liai
visited our sbores The abundant privl
lcpes and freedom WHICH out fatler
, left us in their wisdom are still our in.
crcasing heritage, and II IN parts oi oql
vast domain some ailliCtion has visited otii
brethren in their forest homes, yet evet
this calamity hns been tempered and In {
manner sanctihed by tile generous coin
passion for the sufferers which has beer
, called forth throughout our land. For al
these thing, II Is meet that the voice oI
the nation SHOULD 80 up to God In devou
. homage.
Wherefore, I, Chester A. Arthur, Presi
dent Of the United States, do reColhment
that all the PEOPLE observe Thursday, thu
24ih day Of NOyembeE instant, as q day o
I national thanksgiving and pEageI by eeas
. Inc, 10 far as may be, from their seeulal
la6os, and meeting In their several place
! ~ .rnenlit, lhnhn IN min In nanflhInI