The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-18
WASHINGTON.

General Buffers Expensive Tyranny.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE lie More
Brothers were Ere nch makers of gray cloth.
Their New Orleans branch supplied the Con-
iederate army. After Butler captured New
Orleans they continued TO gsnd gray cloth to
the Confederates. For this he arrested them
and punished them without trial. A ball and
chain was put ON one. They brought claim
FOR repagation before the Franeo~Amerioan
Claims Commission, now in session in this
city. Their counsel eloquently described But
lers tyranny. Ex-Secretary Boutwell,, coun
sci for the United States, tried to show that it
was necessary act OF war. The commission
yesterday gave the brothers Sl4 ,0o0-$i0 900 to
the one who had borne the ball and chain and
SauuO TO the other-to Soothe their feelings
The committee was carried away by the
French counsel's description Of Buffers arbi-
trary conduct.
Whiskey Spectators Looking Towards
Mexico.
Preparations are making for the expectation
for reimportation of American whiskey into
Mexico. instead of paying the tax. While
whiskey in wood stored on the seaboard will
so to Bermuda or other British ports, that
stored in the west and southwest will, II the
arrangement can be made, find its way more
easily and cheaply into Mexico. Friends OF
the whiskey people aud friends OF Mexico are
engaged IN trying to bring about an arrange
ment whereby the way will be opened for send
ing American whiskey across the border and
back again. Ii the plan succeeds Ii will afford
an unexpected sourcs of business for the new
railroad into Mexico.
1t twould doubtless be a great benefit TO the
spectators who are too heavily loaded with
whiskey to have the way opened as proposed,
but it is a question whether it is the appropri-
ate thing for our government 10 do TO concern
itself specially with their interests. The whis-
key people have retained in their interest
persons of suppcs3d influence with certain de-
partments. Lively expectations are enter
tanned By them of obtaining from Mexico what
was not granted by Canada.
On the other hand, Congress will be asked
TO repeal or smend the old laws of customs re-
garding the expectation for reimportation of
whiskey. In effect, it il in direct conflict with
so much of the internal revenue laws as re-
.ates TO the collection Of the whiskey tax. As
the case stand, whiskey has advantages which
no other tax-paying article can boast Con-
gress will be asked TO place all on an equality,
either by extending 10 other manufactures
the privileges whiskey now enjoys or by With
drawing them from that article.
The New Two-cent Postage Stamp.
Postmaster General Gresham has approved
the design for the new fwc-;ent postage stamp
with the head of Washington. Orders for re-
tn n envelopes are falling off In anticipation
of changed pe.tage rates, but Assistant Post
master General Hatton does not anticipate any
considerable deficiency In the receipts from
stamps during the next fiscal year. He thinks
there will be an increase of business, due to In
creased correspondence, the uss of sealed en-
velopes for business circulars and the increase
Of Gsaled correspondence in place OF postal
cards. He estimator the falling off in revenues
the first year at four million dollars.