Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-05-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondents Of the Ale1andris Gazette.]
WASHINGTON, May Z.

VIM. Jaw, one of the counsei Ior tne
onnonents of the law, the grandson OF
Chief Justice Jay, who was a member
If the court when the first decision OF
the court was made on the subject OF
direct taxes-the celebrated Hylton
case of 1794-although he did not take
mart in the decision. Assistant Attor-
ncy General Whitney resumed his ar
gument in support of the constitution
ality of the law under consideration.
lie reviewed the several acts passed by
the British government relating to tax
alton in America, up to the time OF the
adoption of the constitution, and the
income tax law of Pitt, which, he said,
was the model of all subsequent income
tax laws in England, her colonies, and
in this country, which was, of course,
familiar to the lawyers and publ
cists of the United States at the
time the constitution was framed.
Attorney General Olney closed the ar
gument on the part of the United
States. He contended that to call the
income tax tax on land was ss much
a misnomer as to call it bond tax or
stock tax or tax on merchandise. 1t
was an assessment upon the tax payer
on account of his money spending
power as shown by his revenue for
the wear preceding the assessment.
1t is intimated that, logically speaking,
if tax on real estate was a direct tax,
so was tax on personal property, and
that if a tax on rents was tax on real
estate, so was a tax on interest and
dividends a tax on the capital produc-
ing them. That the logical process was
without flaw he was prepared to admit,
and to concede further that if the single
step already apparently taken was not
retraced, the remaining steps were
sooner or later not likely to follow
''But am unable" he continued, ito
agree that the result, if fully achieved,
will be matter of congratulation or any
thing but misfortune and disaster.
To strike at the taxing power of the
government is to wound it in the most
vital part. TO resuscitate and give
new development to the practically ef-
fete doctrine of apportionment OF pub
lie burdens as between the States, is to
retrograde towards the days of the
confederation and tends in the direc
ton of disintegration. To practically
exempt incomes and personal property
generally from sustaining their just
share OF the burdens of society, is to
throw them upon that portion of the
community least able to support them
and already bearing more than its fair
share"
AS Congress is not in session to make
the requisite app opriation the admin
istration is afraid relic buyers will get
hold of the Jefferson papers recently
offered the government at moderate
price by an heir of the "Sage
of Monticello" Among the papers
are official communications signed by
Napoleon and various soverigns and q
number of personal letters to Jefferson
from the Duke of Wellington, Wash
ington, Franklin and other distinguish,
ed men. The Cabinet has considered
the offer but reached no definite con-
clGsion in the matter.
The prevailing opinion here respect
ing the income tax case now before the
q. S. Supreme Court is that the whole
law will be declared unconstitutional,
and that thus all the tax for the sup
port of the federal government be re-
imposed upon the poor people of the
country, who, for self-protection. will be
induced to flock TO the silver or popu
list, or any other party that will proms
Use them relief at the next election.
Ex.Congressman Marshall of Vir-
ginia has accepted an invitation to join
the Virginia democratic association of
this city in their excursion to Glymont
on the 4th pro1imo. In his letter he
says he will do so without money and
without price. He will be one of the
speakers on the occasion.
Congressman Elicit of Richmond is
here to-day. He says Virginia will get
neither one of the naval paymasterships
now vacant.
Commonwealth Attorney Johnson,
ef Alexandria county, who is here to-
day, says the republican ticket nominal
ed in that county, including Mr.. Dun
can for supervisor in Jefferson district,
will be elected. He says the railroad
company tried to induce Mr.. Duncan,
who was in its employ, to withdraw, so
as to allow Mr.. Hume to be reelected,
but that the formers friends would not
allow him to do so, and advised him to
resign his place in the service of the
road, guaranteeing him against loss for
doing so.
Among the recent visitors here was
Col. E. r. Cooke, who was the popu-
list candidate for Governor of Virginia
at the last election there. He says that
none of the histories of General Lee
gives an account of the Generals life
from his surrender at Appomattox to
his acceptancy of the presidency of
Westinghouse College. During that
time Colonel Cooke says General Lee
lived in Powhatan county in "a
house, and on farm, the use of which
he was invited to accept for as long
a time as he might choose, by his, the
Colonels mother. 1t was while rioi g
along a lonely road near that house
that the General was met by one of his
old soldiers, who stopped, and taking
of his hat, asked, Is this not General
Lee? and receiving an affirmative re-
ply, waved his hat and gave the Gener-
al three cheers.
Another case has been discovered in
which an officeholder here credited to
the Sth Virginia district, not only
doesn't live in that district, but even in
the State from which he halls. He still
retains his place, under the civil service
rules.
The U. S. steamship Ranger, now at
Buena Ventura, has been cabled to