Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-08
THE TILDEN INCOME TAX SUITS.
Their DiscOntiuuance PFObable-An
Oner of Compromise on Mr.. TIL
denis Part.



Neto York Tribtite.
1t is expected that the income tax suits
against Ex-Governor Samuel j. Tilden may
soon be discontinued Offers of compro-
mise haze been made by Mr. Tilden's coun-
sci, and, although they have not been SC
cepted in the form in which they were
made. It Is no. improbable that the govern
ment may withdraw the sIl'ts Consulta
lions are being had between the counsel for
the government, and = decision either 70
press or disc Gnttuus tho ease will S1on he
made The suits wers begun on Jauuqry22 %,
1877, by the filing OF pTecipe in the United
States District Court. Geo. Bliss was then
finishing his term IS District Attorney, and
the suit was begun Just two days
before General Woodford, who had already
been appointed, assumed the Office. The
subject of beginning the suits had been
discussed In the papers throughout the pre-
vious campaign. when Mr.. Tilden was a
candidate for President. The complaint
which was filed on April IA, 1877 charged
that Governor Tilden had defrauded the
government by the non-paYment Of income
taxes amounting to over $135 900 in the
wears from 1862 to 1871. In some of these
wears Mr. Tilden had refused to state his
income and the amount had been fixed by
assessors, and on this the tax and penalty
ed. on the part Of the government, that
these assessments had been too low ard that
the amount paid was much too small. Mr.
Tflden, In his answer. alleged that he had
maid the amount levied by the assessors
with the penalty, and that If the assessors
had placed the amount too low, the gov
eminent must suffer The question was
argued before Judge BlatchfOrd, in the Dis.
trict Cour, bY District Attorney WOodford
ut
Sherman on the part OF the government. and
by John K Porter, A. j. Vsuderpoel aud
ex-Judge Emott for Mr. Tilden. Judge
Blstchford sustsined the complaint The
District Attorney then filed a bill In dis
covery, propoundiBg certain questions to
Governor Tilden, and asked the court to
compel the defendant 10 answer these in
quiries The counsel for Mr.. Tilden de-
INJURED, and, on argument before Judge
Choste, General WoodfOrd and Assistant
| District Attorney Samuel B. Clarke appeared
for the government. and A. ]. Vsnderpoel
and others for Mr.. Tilden. The demurrer
was overruled, and an appeal taken by the
defendants counsel to the Supreme Court
at Washington. The appeal has not yet
been reached
In the spring of 1880 the District Attor-
ney made an effort TO bring the case to trial,
desiring as q matter of justice, as 1t appear
| ed to him that a decision should be reached
before the Democratic Presidential Conven-
| ton met in 1880. The counsel for Mr.. TIL
| den applied for an order of postpOnement
and secured such an order from Attorney
| General Devens, which was communicated
to the District Attorney through ex-Judge
Edwards Pierrepont, the senior special coun-
| sci. Since that time no public action has
| been taken, but there have been many con-
ferences between General Woodford, Mr..
Pierrepont and Judge Armour, who was one
of the special counsel until he was elect
ed to the bench Of the Superior Court.
An offer was received from Mr.. TIL
| denis counsel to pay the expenses Of the
suits IL they were discontinued, judgment
to be rendered for the amount OF the costs.
The counsel favorably considered this offer,
as they thought that there had been sufh-
cient evidence on which to begin the suits,
| but In consequence Of the death OF some of
the witnesses and the uuwillinguess OF
others to testify, II might not be possible
successfully to prosecute them. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the Attorney Gen
eral, however, In letters, extracts from which
| have been published, have decided that the
suits must either be passed or Withdrawn alb
solutely.
District Attorney Woodford, when asked
what would be done in the matter, said
that as the case was particularly in
| the province Of Judge Pierrepont, the
senior special counsel, he preferred to say
nothing until the consultations were con-
| cluded. Ex-AttorneY General Pierrepont
made the following statement to a Tribune
| reporter: "On November "a Of last year, the
| District Attorney wrote a letter to the
President in relation to the Tilden case,
and on November IS l had a long personal
interview with the President, be having
then received the District Attorneys letter.
| He referred the whole matter to Solicitor
| General Phillips, then Acting Attorney
General The question for the consid-
Grafton of the President and Acting Attor-
ney General was whether an offer made in
writing by Mr.. Tilden's counsel, Mr.. Van
! derpoel, to pay the large expenses OF the
| government in getting testimony from Mar
| quette aud other places, the expenses at
| New York, the fees that the government
had paid to the two special cOunsels, and sll
| the costs and expenses incident to the suit
should be accepted and the case thus COM
promised After a conference with the
| Acting Attorney General, 1t was deemed
important BY Mr.. Phillips that the
| counsel should make a full report
in writing of the conditions Of the case,
/ the estimated expense of an actual
/ trial. If one were held, and the probabilities
| of success on the part Of the government.
! To that end made an elaborate report In
writing OF the whole case, and sent 1t to the
| Acting Attorney General on November %.
| FROM tnAo ume 70 tnIs Cnere nave oeen SEW
| eral interviews between myself, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, Gen. Raum, the Com
| missioner Of Internal Revenue, the District
| Attorney and Judge Armour, one of the
counsel in the case, and up to this time
there has been no definite decision arrived
at as TO what disposition snail finally be
made of the case, aud there will not be until
much further consultation is had"
AS to the remark in some of the dis
| patches that some of the counsel are de-
/ sirous of having the case dismissed, for the
reason that they would be pecuniarilY bene-
flied by such q course, they suggested that
as they received their pay from the govern
ment, and as any money that was paid IN
settlement would 60 10 the government, aud
their compensation would not be increased,
| 1t was impossible to see how the withdrawal
of the suit could be to their personal advan-
| tage.