The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-22
MR.. HENDERSON'S DEFENCE.
BE ReSentS the Insult Offered North Car.
Olina and Virginia by Miller.
DANIEL And RANSOM ON TARIFF BILL,
Both Say that If the Trec-Lsaf Changes are
not just to the Tobacco Growers They
will Endeavor to Amend Them.
TINEs BUREAU. RAPLrY BUILDING.
WASHINGTON, March 2l. 1894.

TINEs BUREAU. RAPLHY BUILDING
WASHINGTON. March 2l. 1884,
There Is a considerable amount of active
work going on In the matter Of the Alex
andria post-office The leading candidates
are Messrs. John A. Marshall, John Beck
ham, and the former Democratic post
master, William Herbert. Congress sman
Meredith has endorsed Mr.. Marshall AMI
the probabilities are that he will be ap-
pointed without any trouble. a delega-
tion, including Messrs. John j. Jameson.
NJ. b. Harlowe. Colonel Robert Knox
and others, called yesterday upon the
Postmaster General in the interest Of
MIR. Herbert. and were all respectfully
referred by Mr.. Bissell TO Congressman
Meredith.
Mr. Hendersons Resentment
Yesterday while the appropriation for
the punishment FOR violations OF internal
revenue laws (Which has been increased
this year from $4,000 TO $4,000. was
under discussion Congressman Honder-
son. Of North Carolina. resented a gra-
tuitous insult offered to North Carolina
and Southern Virginia by Collector OF
Internal Revenue Miller in his statement
before the committee on appropriations.
by the reasons he gave the committee
for asking for this increase Of appro-
priation.
In this statement the commissioner
singled out the State OF North Carolina
and portion OF Virginia from the rest
of the States in which distilled spirits
are made as the only places where it
was necessary TO establish and maintain
secret service system for the detection
and suppression of revenue frauds This
Increase was asked for I'm ord.r 70
create fund TO be used to pay the hire
lings, spies and nformers whom the
commissioner claimed the Government
was compelled TO employ to prevent fraud
against the Government among the small
dlstlllers OF North Carolina and Virginia
Mr.. Henderson said. I'm my opinion
the increase asked for is entirely with
out excuse. There are no more violations
OF the interna-revenue laws i'm North
Carolina and Virginia (Which State IS also
mentioned) than in any Of the other
states or this Union where the internal
revenue laws are enforced The people
OF my state are as law-abidlng as those
OF any State IN the Union"
The Hired Spies.
Continuing, he said of the operation or
the revenue laws. "The poor distilier is
not recognized at all. No favors are
ever shown TO him by the internal rev.
enue law. He IS TO be stealthily watched
and pursued by hired nformers secret
agents of the Government, whose names
are unknown TO him and 10 the commu-
nifty. What travesty upon liberty.
equality before the law. aud iustlcol
These hired spies and secret agents Of the
Government would not be- believed on
oath I'm court OF Justice anywhere
When small distllery Is seized con-
hscation Is the result, no matter whether
the accused be guilty or innocent"
After sharp criticism OF the methods
OF the internal revenue sgents I'm North
carolina Mr. Henderson said In conclu-
sion:
Now, Mr.. Chairman. I believe that the
distllers I'm North Carolina are lust as
honest as the distllers I'm any other
state IN this Union. and I believe that
the dealers I'm sprituOus liquors are lust
as honest IN the State of North Carolina
as elsewhere, and that they pay their
taxes just as honestly as the dealers
IN spirituous liquors in any other State
in this Union the storekeepers and
gaugers, too, In my opinion. are just
as honest In North Carolina as elsewhere:
and ] say II is an unfair thing that the
Commissioner Of Internal Revenue should
come before the committee and single
out the States OF North Carolina and
Virginia for condemnation as N those
were the only States where there were
any violations Of the law"
Tho small Di@tiIers
II IS claimed that most Of this supposed
fraud that the department is so desrous
10 suppress IS perpetrated by the small
distillers Of fruit brandy. And in view Of
the fact that the state Of Virginia pro-
duead orftr - e,aIlnpo % .,rI, l,,,.t..
last year. as against 1890 gallons for
the State of New Jersey, Il is rather
singular that Virginia should be selected
by the commissioner as the hot-bed Of
revenue frauds and irregularities.
The Bristol post-ofhce matter which
was postpon ID last week on account Of
the enforced absence Of Congressman
Marshall will be heard tomorrow by the
Postmaster-General. Senators Harris and
Bate will appear for the State of Ten
nessee, while Virginias interest Will be
looked after by Senators Daniel and Hun
ton and Congressman James w. Mar
shall.
Mr.. Rsnso,n's Views on the TarIn.
Senator Ransom says Of the tariff bill
reported yesterday: Il have not yet had
time TO give the bill the thorough and
critical examination which | will give 10 it
before IL is called up for discussion, and
do not care TO express any opinion at
present | will say, however. Of the fea-
tute modifying the -leaf-tobacco
clause. that # the amendment Is not en-
tirely fair and just In its provisions TO the
tobacco-grower and planter | am in favor
OF correcting it. and am satisfied that the
correction will be made either by the
committee or on the floor OF the Senate.
What MIR. Daniel Saws.
Senator Daniel has not had time TO
carefully examine the bill, but thinks that
I'm the main IL is a good one. and that II
will be much more acceptable 70 the
country I'm its present shape than when
n came from the House. "Of course
eaid no this morning. II would like 10 see
a higher rate Of duty on coal and iron
ore The duty on coal. think, should
he at least fifty cents per ton. and !
boned that the committee would agree |
N my suggestions that sulphur pyrtes be !
made dutiable at the same rate OF iron
ere. and that a slight increase be made
In the rate Of duty on soda ash. or |
course I approve OF the provision which |
a modification Of the free |
leaf clause In the revenue laws. ! con-
slider this only somewhat tardy justice 70 |
the tobacco manufacturers, and l believe |
that the change will be beneficial 10 the |
farmers and tobacco-raisers, whose III
tereests really should be considered hrSt.
.I agree with Senator Ransom that -
unon a closer examination or TINS ie"'ute