Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-02
Straps and faets.

the leading bankers and business men
of Richmond, to test the constitution
ality of the act of congress imposing a
tax of 10 per cent. upon the note issues
of state banks. A committee, compos-
ed of R. A. Lancaster, Joseph Bryan,
John L. Williams, E. B. Addison and
VIM. Habliston, has been formed and
they have retained William A. Royal
as counsel, to take test case to the
supreme court of the United States.
1t is believed that the way has been
opened to have the tax declared un-
constitutional by the income tax de-
cision of the supreme court. The COM
mittee will associate with Mr.. Royal
some of the most eminent counsel in
the United States, when the case comes
up for final argument. The committee
invites all persons who feel an interest
in the subject TO send contributions
toward the expense of the litigation to
Colonel VIM. H. Palmer, of Richmond,
who will be the treasurer Of the fund.
A Havana dispatch of Tuesday
deals more extensively with the talk of
a threatened uprising. 1t is claimed
that there is no truth in the story Of
the Cubans having already taken to
the woods; but it is stated as fact
that Havana police are being assessed
q portion of their wages, to help pay
probable expenses, and men are being
enlisted against the time when an up
rising may become necessary to secure
the independence, which, the papers
claim, has been promised to them.
General Colazo, formerly of the Cuban
army, but now the editor of The Cuba
no, says that although now Cuba is
perfectly tranquil, the suggestion OF
the appointment of civil governor to
take the place of the military governor
has brought about feeling of tension.
He does not think there will be any
uprising before the beginning of next
year; but from his talk it is quite evil
dent that he believes trouble is immi
nent unless congress speedily grants
the independence of Cuba.
- The report of the commissioner of
internal revenue just made to the Sec
retary of the treasury, shows that the
total receipts from all sources for the
year ended June 80, 1899, amount to
$273, ,4S4,573. This is an increase over
the preceding year of $lO2,6l7, 900, and
$3, ,4S4, ,57S greater than the estimate Of
the commissioner made one year ago.
The largest single item is the revenue
on spirits, amounting to $99, ,2S3, ,5S4 and
the next largest item is $50, ,644, ,55S on
fermented liquors. The revenue from
tobacco was $50, ,493, ,2O7, and the small
est item on the list of taxable items
was s7,040 from mixed flour. The
cost of collecting the internal revenue
was only 81, ,S77 $40, or 1.6S per cent. of
the total amount. This is stated to be
the smallest per centage of cost in the
history of the bureau. During the
year 2,l90 illicit stills were destroyed
and one revenue officer was killed, and
three were wounded in the discharge
of their duties.
- The text of the currency bill,
agreed upon by the Republican caucus
at Atlantic City, N. j., last spring, for
passage by the next congress, has been
made public. The main features of
the bill are the substitution of the gold
dollar for the silver dollar as the stand
ard of value. All debts are made pay
able in gold. There is to be depart
ment of issue and redemption, and
there must be gold reserve equal to
25 per cent. of outstanding govern
ment notes. The gold reserve will be
maintained by the sale of per cent.
gold bonds. The secretary of the treas
ury will have the option of exchanging
gold for other coins. Worn and mutt
lated subsidiary silver may bc recoin-
ed. Silver certificates are to be limit
ed to denominations of 81, 81 and IS. |
The minimum limit of national bank
capital is to be lowered to $25, 900, and
banks are to be allowed to issue notes
to the full amount of the government
bonds owned by them, paying only
one-6fth of one per cent. instead of
one per cent. as now, to defray the
cost of engraving and printing. The
effects of the bill, if it becomes law
will be to completely and finally estab-
lish the gold standard.
- The transport Manauense, with
three companies of the Thirty6rst in
fantry on board, arrived at Manila
last Tuesday in sinking condition.
1t seems that after she left Honolulu,
she sprung a leak and her engines
broke down. From that time on those
on board had to work at the machin-
cry and at bailing the ship with buck
cts, there being no available pumps.
The soldiers did most of the bailing
work, and for a considerable portion of
the time the water in the hold of the
vessel was up to their waists. They
were apparently unconcerned, howev-
er, and INDUCED in all manuer of GRIM
Jokes with each other as TO their chan
ces to 90 to the bottom of the sea. The
captain had offered them % cents a
day for their labor; but after arriving
at Manila they began to talk of at
taching the vessel for having saved it.
1t is charged that the vessel is an old
tub of an affair which left San Francis