The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-08-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.


sonnel of the court OF inquiry,
named by Secretary Long. to in
quirc into Rear Admiral Schlcy's
conduct during the war with Spain
has been all one way highly lau-
dntory. Secretary Long has also
been commended for instructing
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 IL is quite ccr-
tain that whatever opinion may be
rendered or recommendations
made by a court composed OF Ad-
miral Dewey and Rear Admirals
Kimberly and Bcnham, will be
accepted and endorsed by the
American people. The choice Of
Capt. Lcmly. who has been Judge
Advocate General of the Navy for
more than nine years, for Judge
Advocate Of the court, was quito
n happy ~ that of the members
OF the court proper. lie l. cmi-
nentiy well qualified for the po-
sition, not only by his expert
knowledge, hut by record OF
fairness toward everybody. Moth
ing but evidence will cut any tig-
urc before that court, which IL n
Il should b.. All honor to Sccrc-
tnry Long for having So chosen
the court ~ to shut out prejudice
and open the way for that unbias-
cd truth. Secretary Long IL par
ticulnrly anxious That the inquiry
shall cover not only everything
donc by Admiral Schlcy in the
campaign against the Spanish
fleet. but also everything donc by
any other officer that has been the
subject oi public controversy. In
a conversation. after saying that II
was unnecessary to mention In de-
tail everything in the prcccpt is
sued for the guidance OF the court,
he added: "Should there he any
additional matter which Admiral
Schlcy desires inquired into, the
Court wi, comply with his wish.
The purpose Is 10 have n complete
investigation" Another popular
thing that Secretary Long has
done was issuing the order forbid
ding Naval officers to publicly dis
cuss ,hc Snmpson-Schlcy coniro-
vcrsy.
Porto Ricans do not have To pay
informal rcvrnuc taxes on their
products consumed at home, be-
cause It will require an act Of Con-
grcs, to extend the internal rcven-
uc laws to the islands. 1; was at
first thought that IL would be dit
ncult, now that Porte Rico enjoys
free trade with Us, to collect the
internal revenue taxes upon such
taxable Porto Rican products rs
muy bp scnt 20 the the L. S., the
master OF the vessel bringing them
shall deliver To the collector Of
customs sworn manifest In the
form required by customs rcgulo
tion-, aud ihcreupon the collector
shall issue n notice To the collector
of internal revenue for the Dis
trlct In which the goods are land-
ed, and the goods are 10 be do
liverod into bonded warehouses
and hold until the taxes are paid
The regulations are elaborate and
SO framed that evasion or fraud Is
well nigh impossible.
The receipts from internal rev.
cnyo taxation for the last fiscal
year, rs shown by the annunl re-
port OF the Commissioner OF In
tarnal Revenue, broke all records,
thu total amount being S3O6,S7i,-
$50 am incrcase OF Sll, ,555,I6i over
the previous year. The report al
so shows that the cost OF collection
was less, the percentage being l.5j
agains, I rs for the previous year.
The ordinance bureau Of The
War Department hasawarded con-
tract for 10000 pound of smoke
less powder for the army at 20
cents pound. The contracts were
divided among the big powder
making concerns Of the the coun-
try.
The chairman Of the last Inng-
uration Committee has submitted
plan TO the Commissioners OF the
ni-trf,t af 1olun, III n fnr tn K n % thp