Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-08-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washindton, JIIy 29th 1901.

|
war with Spain, has been all one way
| highly laudatory. Secretary Long has
also been commended for instruct1ng
the court to render an opinion and
make recommendations on the facts
| brought out by the inquiry. This
promises a final settlement Of the
controversy which has been deeply
regretted, as it is quite certain that
whatever opinion may be rendered or
recommendations made by a court
composed of Admiral Dewey and Rear
| <Admirals Kimberly and Benham, will
be accepted and endorsed by the mer-
| lean people. The choice of Capt.
Lemly, who has been judge advocate
| general of the navy for more than nine
years, for judge advocate of the court,
was quite as happy as that Of the
members Of the court proper. He is
eminently we'll qualified for the posi-
| ton, not only by his expert knowl-
edge, but by a record of fairness
dence will cut any figure before that
court, which is as it should be. All
honor to Secretary Long for having
SO chosen the court as ito shut out
prejudice and open the way for the
unbiased truth. Secretary Long is
particularly anxious that the inquiry
shall cover not only everything done
by Admiral Schley in the campaign
against the Spanish feet, but also
everything done by any other officer
that has been the subject Of public
controversy. In a conversation, after
saying that it was unnecessary to
mention in detail every thing in the
precept issued for the guidance Of the
court, he added: "Should there be
any additional matter which Admiral
Schley desires inquired into, the
court will comply with his wish. The
purpose is to have a complete inves-
tigation." Another popular thing
that Secretary Long has done was
issuing the order forbidding naval
officers publicly to discuss the Samp
SON Schley controversy.
Porto Ricans do not have to pay
Internal revenue taxes on their prod
ucts consumed at home, because it
will require an act of congress to eX-
tend the internal revenue laws to the
island. It was at first thought that it
would be difficult, now that Porto
Rico enjoys free trade with us, to col
lect the internal revenue taxes upon
such taxable Porto Rican products as
may be sent to the United States, but
Commissioner Yerkes has issued reg
ulations which it is believed will make
the collection of the tax easy. These
regulations provide that upon the ar
rival Of these goods in the United
States, the master ofthe vessel bring
ing them shall deliver to the collector
of customs sworn manifest III the
form required by customs regulations,
and thereupon the collector shall issue
a notice TO the collector of internal
revenue for the district in which the
goods are landed, and the goods are
to be delivered into the bonded ware
house and held until the taxes are
paid. The regulations are elaborate
and so framed that evasion or fraud
is we'll nigh impossible.
The receipts from internal revenue
taxation for the last fiscal year, as
shown by the annual report Of the
commissioner OF internal revenue,
broke all records, the total amount
being $500, S71 $3.50, an increase of SILL
BOD, sci over the previous year. The
report also shows that the cost Of col
lection was less, the percentage being
1.55 against 1.58 for the previous year.
The ordnance bureau Of the war
department has awarded contract for
400, 600 pounds Of smokeless powder
for the army at 20 cents a pound. The
powder making concerns of the coEn-
try.
The chairman of the last Inaugural
ton committee has submitted plan
to the commissioners of the District
of Columbia for taking the necessary
steps toward change in Inauguration
day to sometime in April or May.
The plan provides for the appoint
ment Of a national committee, to be
composed Of the governors Of states
and territories and fifteen represent
alive citizens. This committee to
select suitable day and then to ask
congress to provide for amending the
Constitution, making that Inaugural
ton day.
Not a few shrewd observers are be-
coming convinced that one Of the
important subjects that will have to
be taken up by congress at the COM