New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-04
THE TTLDEN INCOME TAX SUITS.
THEIR DIsCoNTINUANCE PRoBA

THEIR DISCONTINUANCE PROBABLE
HISTORY or TIE CAsE-AN OFFER OF CoMPRO-
Mise on MR. TILDEN's PART-How THE MATTER
STANDS now.
II is expected that the income tax suits against
Ex-Governor Samuel j. Tilden may soon be discon-
tinued Oilers of compromise have been made by
Mr. TIden's counsel, and although they nave not
been accepted in the form IN which they were made,
it is not improbable that the Government may
withdraw the suits. Consultations are being had
between the counsel for the Government, and de-
csiOn either to press or discontinue tile case Will
soon be made The suits s,;, were af beg begun
in the United States District Court. George Bliss
was then finishing his term as District Attorney,
and the suit begun just two days before Cen
eral Woodforl, who had already been appointed,
assumed the office. The subject of beginning the
suits had been discussed IN the papers throughout
the previous campaign, when Mr.. llden was cali
dIdate for President. The complaint, which was
filed on April IL 1877, charged that Governor Ill
den had defrauded the Government by the non-pay-
ment of income taxes amounting to over S135,OO0
in the years from 1862 to 1871. In some OF these
wears Mr.. Tilden had refused to state his
income and the amount had been hNed ny assessors
and on this the tax and a penalty fixed by law had
been paid. It asserted, IN the part of the
Government, that these assessments had been too
low aud that the amount pad was much TOO small
Mr. Iilden in his answer alleged that lie had PAID
the amount levied 10y the assessors with the penalty
and that If the assessors had placed the amount too
low the Government must suter. The question was
| argued before Judge Blatchiord, IN the District
Court, by District-Attomey WOodford and Assist
ant Dlsrlci-Attorncy logger >: sherman on the part
of the Government, and by John X. Porter, \. j.
Vanderpoei and eX-Judge Emott Tor Mr.. Illden.
judge Batchford sustained the complaint. The
Ui,lrict-AtOrncy thon filed bill IN discovery pro-
pounding certain questions to Governor IIden, and
asked the Court ~ compel the defendant 10 answer
these inquiries. The counsel for Mr. Tilden de-
INJURED. and. argument before Judge ChOate,
Gen raj Noodford and Assistant DisrlcC-Attomey
Samuel b. Clarke appeared for the Government
and A. j. Vanderpoel and others for MIR. Iliden
The demurrer was overriled, and an appeal taken
by the def ndants counsel 10 the supreme Court at
Washington. This appeal has not yet been reached
In the spring OF 1850 the District-Attorney made
an effort 10 bring the To trial, desiring "a
matter of justice, it appeared to him, that de-
clsion should be reached before the Democratic
Presidential Convention met In 1880. The counsel
Tor Mr. lliden applied lOr an order OF pOstponement
and secured such an order from Attorney General
Devens, which was communicated TO tue District
Attorney through X-Judge Edwards Plerrepont
the senior special counsel Since that time
no public action has been taken, but
there have been many conferences between
General " oodlord, Mr.. Pierrepont aud Judge Ar
nOux, who one of the special counse! until he
was elected to the bench OF the Superior Court. An
offer received from Ar. Ilden's counsel to pay
the expenses OF the suits if they were discontinued
Judgment to be rendered for the amount OF the costs
The counsel favoraby considered this Offer as they
thought that there had been SUFFICIENT evidence on
when TO begin the suits, but in consequence of the
death OF OF the witnesses anu tue unwill-
ngness of others 10 testify, it might
be possible successfully to prosecute them. Tho
Secretary OF the Treasury ami the Attorney ten
crai, however i'll letters, extracts from which were
published yesterday. have decided that che suits
must either be passed withdrawn absolutely.
DlstrIct-Attoney Woodford, when asked what
would be done in tne matter said yesterday that as
the case was particularly IN the province Of
Judge PlerrepOnt, the senior special counsel,
he preferred to say nothing until the consulta,
lions were concluded: Ex-Attorney General
Pierrepont made the following statement to a
TRIBUNE reporter: "On November "a
of last year. the Disrict-AttOrney wrote "a letter to
the President in relation to the rden case, and on
| November 20 had long personal interview with
the President he having then received the District
Attorneys letter lie referred the whole matter to
solicitor General Philips, then Acting Attorney
General. The question Tor the consideration of the
| President and Acting Attorney General was
whether offer made IN writing by Mr.. Til
denis counsel, Mr.. Vanderpoe, to pay the
large expenses of the Government in
| getting testimony from Marquette and other