The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-24
NO MORE MONEY
FOR INF0RMERS.
Kitchen, Swanson and linney Have
1t Stricken Out.
ALL THREE, ACTED IN UNISON,
When the Item in the Sundry Civil
Appropriation Bill Came Up--Bit-
terIy Opposed by Western
Members.

WASHINGTON, Feb. PA variety of
subjects occupied the attention OF the
House during the consideration Of the
sundry civil Appropriation bill to-day. Mr..
Mahany. Of New York. made an attack
on the patriotism OF some OF the social
leaders OF New York, whom, he said,
held high revel while the nation was bow
cd down with grief over the loss OF life
resulting from the Maine explosion.
Mr. Mahany referred TO the vegetable
party" given by Abraham 5. Hewitt, OF
New York. on the evening Of February
17th. lie also made "A vicious assault on
q New York paper for its opposition to
the pneumatic tube system for transmits
sion Of the mails in New York, Boston,
Philadelphia. and Brooklyn.
The item appropriating $4,000 for power
for the system occasioned "A good deal
Of debate. but IT stood in the bill.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for the de-
lection of violations of the internal re-
venue laws. caused some debate.
KITCHEN AMENDS.
Mr.. Kitchen DemocraD and Mr.. Lin
ney Republican. Of North Carolina)
were bitter in their denunciation Of the
injustice of tho system of paying for in
formation. The former moved TO strike
ont the item.
II placed q premium. they contended.
upon false prosecutions Last year MIR.
Linney said. information was lodged
against $500 persons, but there were only
$50 arrests. These wholesale charges
against the people OF his State. especially
those I'm the western portion, he said, had
preiudiced the officials here. and he APP
pealed to the House to remove the in
justice done his people.
Mr. Graf Republican. OF Illinois, warm
~ defended the appropriation. over So
600 in taxes were paid in his district.
he said by legitimate distillers. But i'm
mense frauds were praCticed on the re-
venue II was estimated that 80 per cent.
of the whisky consumed in this country
was illicitly distilled. The small number
of of convictions ne attributed 10 the
fact that communities and juries were IN
sympathy with the offenders. A fund OF
this character. he said. was necessary
to secure information Of moonshiners.
Mr.. Kitchen denounced the dirty
scoundrels" who informed for pay. and
declared that frivolous prosecutions would
not cease as long as the government pal
for testimony.
THE OPPOSITION.
Chairman Cannon explained that the In
crease I'D the AUTHORIZATIONS III lUlF luUu
from $4,000 10 SO 900 was due to the In
crease Of the tax on whisky TO Sl.lO a
gallon. gallon OF whisky cost less
than twenty cents. The evasion Of the
tax gave profit of 20 cents a gallon.
The mere statement Of the case showed
the necessity for using other than Ordi-
nary means for securing Information.
Mr.. Evans ORcp OF Kentucky. who is
an eN-Commissioncr Of Internal Revenue,
favored the appropriation, ana said the
opposition TO this item proceeded upon
the theory that the mOOnshinc industry
must and shall be preserved. lie was OPP
posed to that doctrine. He pointed out
the extreme difficulty OF ascortaining
violations OF law. yet &c was fact there
were States I'm the Union. where IL was
impossible to sell whisky for Sl.10 2 gal
lon because of the immense amount OF
iliCitiy distilled.
lie denied that any portion Of this fund
was used 10 buy testimony. j was. ne
said. q SANDER upon the appropriation
and upon the administration Of the law
to intimate that the Government bribed
witnesses. Whenever a representative
opposed this appropriation upon the floor
of the House IL Will be found that Illicit
distilling was one Of the industries Of his
district.
SWANSON SPEAKS.
Mt Swanson Oem) m advocacy OF
tn motion said that the cases trumpet
mn by the informers crowded the United
states courts and their prosecutions cost
the United States annually from one
half 20 a million dollars more than the
property seized.
After some further debate b Y Messrs.
Tate Dem. Of Georgia. and Pearson.
Rcp. of North Cardinal IN favor Of the
motion and by Mr.. Sawyers Oem. Of
Texas in opposition, the vote was taken
and the motion 10 strike out the appro-
priation was adopted.
MIR Cannon gave notice that he would
ask for an aye and nay vote when the
bill was reported TO the House.
The appropriation for continuing the
investigation of the seal question went
out on a point OF order. Forty-six pages
Of the bill were disposed of to-day.