The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01
ON FRIVOLOUS CHARGES
MANY OF fHE ARREsTs mr. 0OvEKS-
MENr REvEyUE OFFICIALS.
Congressman Henderson Has Introduced
BIZ to Remedy some Of the Evils.
The Alexandria Pos'- -Ofiee.
TINES BuRxAr. RApLgl BurLp'xc,
w W4Svr<Cro~ March 3i ieek.


any other State. and II is claimed by those
thoroughly conyersant with the condition
OF affairs I'm these States that this prGc-
tice by fostering a horde OF professional
informers puts bribery at premium
and offers n reward for fraud and cor
ruption. and that this inlqultous, nefari0gs
system is mainly responsible for the
unenviable position these states are
placed in by the Commissioners OF In
ternal Revenue In his annual report Tins
report shows that during the fiscal year
of 1928 five hundred and tiity revenue
suits were commenced in the Western
district of North Carolina. Nearly two
hundred of which were abandoned for
lack OF evidence. and in two hundred and
sixty eight cases sentence was suspend
ed on account of the frivolous nature
OF the charges. Many OF these suits were
brought on Information furnished by the
hired spies Of the Government anu are
OF the most frivolous character
Congressman Henderson few davs
ago received "A letter from Mir Chas. Price.
who was the United States District At
torney for the Western North Carolina
district during the last administration. in
which he stated that twenty-four out OF
twenty-five warrants issued for viola
tions OF the revenue laws We're OF a
technical frivolous character. and he
recommended that no such warrant should
be allowed TO issue unless approved by
both the attorneys for the district ana the
AItorney-General OF the United states.
These are the charges OF revenue frauds
that have deuged the dockcts of tho
courts and caused the State OF North
Carolina 10 appear I'm the annual report
OF the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
as the hot bed Of revenue frauds and yio-
lations.
Remedy for the tvl'.
One remedy for these evils could have
been applied by this Congress hail IL re-
fused TO grant the appropriation ask
for BY the commission. An appropriation
that both Congressman Settle and Hen
derson. I'm speeches delivered on the iioor
OF the House. denounced az corruption
fund. bur which was allowed notwith-
standing their earnest protests.
WIKI the view Of correcting -hese evils
as far as is possible at this time. Con-
gresham Henderson has introduced n bill
I'm the House to amend the Revised STAT
utes relating to the internal reyenue
system. The bill contains many wise pro-
visions. which should commend 1t TO The
favorable. consideration of the House.
and viii undoubtedly pass al ,hls ses-
sion one Cf the salient features OF this
bill aims TO prevent the issuing OF war
rants In petty or technical cases. and also
authorizes the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue TO compromise cases of viola
ton. with the approval of the Secretary
of the Treasury. Under this bill the small
distiler will have the same right to re-
claim his property that has been seized by
the Government that now Is accorded 10
the owners OF large distilleries,. and no
!. l.ttt .larlT fxs klF lFtf
and sold for the benefit 0f the Govern
ment.
Interesting Feature of the BIZ.
The principal feature OF the hiii, ana
one which Mr.. Henderson VIII endeaVor
TO have added as an anendment TO tho
Senate tariff bill Is OF grea, importance
10 tobacco raisers, as IL repeals the foi-
lowing statutes. which have been the
source of great inconvenience 10 farmers,
and of really no practical benefit to the
Government:
provided. however, that " shall %
the duty OF every farmer or planter pro-
ducing and selling leaf tobacco. on de-
mand Of any internal-revenue officer or
other authorized agens OF the Treasury
Department. 10 furnish said officer or
agent a true and complete statement.
verified by oath. OF all OF his sales OF
leaf tobacco, the number os hogsheads.
cases or pounds, with the name and
residence, In each instance. Of me person
10 whom sold, and the place 20 which II
is shipped. And every farmer or planter
who wilfully refuses 10 furnish sucn
information, or who knowingly makes
false statements as 10 any oF the facts
aforesaid, shall be guilty q a misde-
meanor and shall be liable To penalty
-. I.-,o.tfpar nva hundred dollars
Section. That section thirty-three
hundred and sixty-one OF the Revised Sta
tutos and all laws and parts OF laws
which impose restrictions upon the sale
Of leaf tobacco by the producers there
Of or BY guardians. executors. or trGs-
tees, having the control OF the land on
which the same was produced, or by
owners OF land who have received tobac-
60 as rent from their tenants, and AL
laws and parts OF laws imposing penal
ties therefor. be. and the same are hefe-
by. repealed; and none OF the persons
or classes OF persons above mentioned
shall be deemed dealers in ieaf-tobacco.
or retail dealers in leaf-tObacco. or he
subject to any special or other tax as
such.
The bin contains many other good foa-
lures. as Mr.. Henderson has made the
operations OF the revenue laws close
study Tor many years, and no man IN
the House Is better equipped 10 direct
legislation towards revenue reform than
he.
The Aissandria Pos Office.
A lively fight is being waged over tic
Alexandria postmastership. and Just now
n is impossible TO predict who VIII carry
of the prize. one thing is very apparent.
the friends OF Air. Marshall, who few
days ago were confident Of victory. seem
70 have received serious check IN
their march 10 success. and the Herbert
faction are correspondngly elated. Both
OF these aspirsnts. however. may bs
shelved and an entirely new man be
selected BY the President
The postmastership az Charlottesville
has not been decided yet, but as seven
out OF the eight presidential pos,masters
In the Seventh congressional district were
filled on the recommendation OF SIR. Tur-
ners predecessor. the President viii hard
Iy ignore the earnest request for the re-
appolntment OF the incumbent, Mrs Long.
especially as her administration ~ tho
affairs OF the Office for a long period os
years has been eminently satisfactory -
the Post office Department.
Hon. r. r.. Jernisan. of Raleigh. y. c.,
United States Consul 10 Shanghai. has
received his final Instructions from the
State Department, and will leave for San
Francisco on Monday next. from which
port he viii sail for China on the ioth
Df April.
Judge n. 6. Avery. OF the supreme
Court OF North Carolina. ~ at the Metro
politan.
Colonel 4. l.. Boyce and wife. of Viz
snia. are In the city.
There were no appointments OF fourth-
lass postmasters for North Carolina TO.
lay and only one for Virginia. viz: J.
Z. Hughes at Holston. Washington coun-
81. vice W. 4. Robertson. removed