The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-11
A TARIFF SENSATION.
GENERAL WHEELER CLAIMS THE
LAW INvALlDATED

The Omission OF the Tobacco Rebate
Clause the Basis of His CIaim--what Is
Thought OF IL In washington-Justice
Miller ParaIyzed-CspitaiM Mention.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., oct. l0.-lSpecial.
General Wheeler, member Of the House
from Alabama, has made the claim that
the present tariff law is not only yitiated
but invalidated, because the clause pro-
viding for a rebate on the tobacco tax is
left out in it's enrolment. The basis for his
claim is decision by United
States judge down iu Alabama. The
decision referred to would look
as IL prima facie case for General
Wheeler's side; but like so many other
things that appear to be general in their
character, IL is but partial. To conclude
from 1t that the law In question was in
volyed would be but coming TO decision
ina case by merely examining one collate-
raj branch Of it. Such is the view Of the
matter taken By the Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue. Mr.. Mason, who repeated to-
day what he told THE TINES cor.
respondent some time ago. In other
words, the clause respecting to-
bacco will remain as it Is unless
Congress applies remedy for the omission
in enrolment. There are almost innumer-
able precedents against General Wheeler's
view Of inyalidation. And attention, while
the subject was under discussion to-day.
was called by an officer of the Government
to what was done by the Hayes admins
trati0n when in the enrolment of the sun
dry Civil bill in 1873, whole clause,
carrying with ii million and
half dollars to be asked for the improve
ment of the Hot Springs reservation IN Ar
kansas. was omitted. Not only was no idea
entertained that thereby the bill was rem
dered invalid, but the administration went
on as If the entire law was on the books
and Congress at its next session sustained
that course when it made an appropriation
to pay for expenses that had been incurred
by the administration in the matter.
SENATOR CARLIsLE's SPEECH.
The demand at Democratic headquarters
for copies of the tariff speech delivered by
Senator Carlisle near the close of the last
session OF Congress is unprecedented in
the history OF the distribution Of campaign
literature. The demand is from all parts Of
the country. AS yet the committee has
been unable to send out any copies of the
speech. Ii did not appear IN the Con-
gressional Record until day before yester-
day. The committee Immediately put II IN
the hands OF private printing llrm. and
yesterday sent proof il 10 MIR. Carlisle. IL
il hoped that it will be returned with such
corrections as may be necessary in time 10
commence filling the demand for it by next
Monday. IL 10, by the way regarded as the
clearest and most exhaustive exposition OF
the Democratic side of the subject that has
ever been put together.
REDUCTION OF LETTER POSTAGE.
PJstmaster-General Nanamaker and
Third Assistant POstmaster-General Ilazen
are receiving many letters urging that n
recommendation be made TO Congress Tor
the reduction Of letter postage from two
cents TO one be made. Such step would
doubtless meet with very great popular
approval, and j., OF course, bound tO be
taken in time. But the POstOnice Depart
ment does not think that now is the time.
Last year this question was considered
very carefully, and the Postmaster
General had at one time decided
to recommend penny postage, but he
changed his mind. After looking at the
matter in all its bearings he came 10 the
conclusion that before further reduction
in letter postage be made there ought to be
more money spent in enlargng the mail
mote from the larger pOstoilices. That, he
concluded, would be Of more real value to
the country at large than n reduction in the
postage rate. He still holds the same
opinion, and SO does Mr.. IIazen.
CONDITION OF CgoPs.
The wheat crop, ILL; oats. 1913: barley,
2i; rye, ll.S bushels. The condition Of
corn is 1915 instead of 70.l last month:
buckwheat, 80 9 instead of 90.j: potatoes,
Gil instead Of G5.7; tobacco, 81 instead OF
s2.4. There is practically no change in The
general average Of condition, except re-
duction of four points in potatoes, and an
increase Of two points In tobacco.
The wheat crop made "A very low yield
throughout the South. where the acreage is
small. In the Ohio Valley the variation in
yield in different counties, as on farms in
the same county, has an extraordinary
range, from five TO TWENTY-FIVE bushels, and
in extreme cases from one to thirty bushels.
The Rocky mountain areas made high
averages in spring wheat Oh limited areas.
The estimated yield OF oats is 1915 bushels,
which is the lowest ever reported probably
reducing the aggregate product more than
two hundred million bushels.
JUSTICE MILLER PARALYZED.
Hon. Samuel f. Miller, senior associate
JuStlcc OF the nlteu states supreme court.
was stricken with paralysis about 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon while walking on the
street, and his condition is very critical.
Justice Miller was born in Richmond, ky.,
April ), 1916. In 1862 he was appointed by
President Lincoln associate justice Of the
United States supreme Court.
PHYSICIANS ALARMED.
At "A late hour tonight Justice Miller's
physicians reported his condition as eX-
tremely critical. The paralysis Of the left
side still prevails. lie is conscious, but
the physical and mental iailings noticed
during the past few hours are such as to
Justify the most alarming fears for his re-
co
CAPIaAL NOTES.
Commodore Farquhar, chief Of the Bu-
reau Yards and Docks Of the Navy De
paftnent, has gone TO Norfolk TO Inspect
the nayy-yard there.
A PECULIAR SUICIDE.
Edward Cation, a cigarmaker, - years Of
age, committed suicide here this evening IN
the rear of the White House. lie squeezed
his head in between the iron ratings Of the
fence that surrounds the grounds, and
choked himself to death.
THE M'KlNlET LAW.
Germany, England and France to Re-