The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-30
Ruling by Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Forman that Hits senator
Murphy's Firm for $4,000.
CIVIL SERVICE LAW CHANGES
GORMAN'S MONEY PLATFORM IN
DORsED BY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.
Basis of the Protest Against Merry's
Appointment as Minister to Gem
traI American Republics.
Special to the Indie enapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July 29.-Internal Reve-
nue. Commissioner Forman, in the en-
forcement of his ruling that brewers must
pay full face value for beer stamps on and
after midnight, Friday. July %, had to
turn down" a United States senator for
SIS 900. Senator Murphy, of New York
owns a brewery in Troy. and on Friday
last he deposited 100000 in cash with the
internal revenue collector of his district in
advance payment for beer stamps for that
amount. which would have been a years
supply. The collector was to fill the order
later at 9215 cents. To-day Senator Muir
phys representative visited Mr.. Forman
ard was bluntly informed that the govern
ment could not engage in the business of is
suing "calls on beer stamps. and that the
distinguished laundry statesman would
have to pay 100 cents on the dollar tor his
supplies. Not only that, but brewers who
bought stamps on Saturday at 922 cents
will have to pay the additional ~ cents.
If the brewers kick" against refunding
the discount the government will proceed to
collect it summariy. 'But suppose they re-
fuse to pay the difference?' was
asked the commissioner. I'VE will sim
ply seize their property A govern
ment seizure under such circumstances
has the force of an execution, and
ten days is all the time we need to com
plete the transaction" The circular issued
by Commissioner Forman to-day to col
lectors of internal revenue follows
You are hereby Instructed to collect from
all brewers in your district the discount of
712 per cent. which was allowed on beer
stamps delivered by you on or before the
Z4th without regard to the date Of the
In of neglect
fusal of brewers to pay the same after de-
mand, you will report them for assessment
on your July list. You are informed and
will so advise all brewers in your dis
tricts that stamps purchased and delivered
before the oath inst, and upon which the
discount of 71h per cent. has been allowed,
may be used for their full face value"
The commissioner of internal revenue has
amended the regulations concerning the
bottlng of distilled spirits in bond so as to
require the data prescribed by law to ap-
pear on bottle strip stamps to be printed
or engraved thereon before they leave the
internal revenue office. Hitherto this data
has been permitted to be written on the
stamp by the distiller.
Careful study of the Presidents civil
service order increases the satisfaction
with which the so-called honest advo-
Gates" of the system were at first disposed
TO regard II, anu gives lilG ACoAuCiAO . w
ponents slight grounds for criticism. In
fact, it goes a long ways to disarm criti-
cism and pulls the ground from under the
feet of the more powerful enemies of civil
service-those whose opposition has been
directed not against the principle upon
which the system rests as against the
abuses practiced under its name and the
false pretenses and shams that had become
a part of the scheme as practically admin
istered in many places. The new order is a
notice that the abuses will be stopped and
that the spirit of the law as well as its
letter will be observed. In providing for
trial before dismissal the President pro-
tects the exit as well as the entrance to
the governmental service. and that is of it.
self one of the longest forward steps ever
taken since the law was put on the statute
books. Summary dismissals for political
cause are brutalities of the past, under the
new order of things, procedure victims
have heretofore been afraid to protest
against because of the certainty that not
only would they fail to secure reinstate-
ment but that they would be branded with
the additional slur, for the good of the
service or for cause"
In appointing Bittenger consul at Mont
real, and Smyth at Hull the President threw
down the entire Republican congressional
delegation from Missouri for National Com
mitteeman Kerens. The three Republican
Congressman agreed on five names for con-
sular appointment and left Bittinger and
Smyth off the list. None of the five got
there and Kerens's two candidates re-
ceived appointments.
The Baltimore platform is likely to be
the platform of the National Democracy in
1900, provided the ticket nominated on that
ingenious straddle is elected next fall 1t is
known here that the Baltimore platform
was written several weeks before the ad-
journment of Congress by Senator German
and submitted to Senators Jones' Vest
White and Bailey and other leaders, and
by them adopted. They all agreed that it
would be vote getter by reason of the fact
that it would not offerd either wing of the
party; that it gave encouragement to both
gold and silver men and yet meant nothing
Senator German may, or he may not win
his fight in Maryland this year, but he
has set the pace for the campaign of 1900
with the sanction of the Democratic ma
tional leaders. If he succeeds. his plat.
form, which cuts both ways, will be the
platform OF the national Democracy. and
he, instead of Bryan. stands to win the
presidential nomination.
The following Indianians were today
admitted to practice before the Department
of the Interior: James r. DufTin. English:
w. II. Bynum, Marengo; H. B. Sherman.
West Point; f. w. Willis, Waterloo.
There is excitement at the Treasury De-
partment over the silence of Hon. Robert
j. Tracewell, of Indiana, recently appoint-
aJ Of IA
Judge Bowler. and it is not known when
he will assume the duties of that office
a NEW REPUBLIC.