The Washington Dispatches say . . .

. . . that the Committee of Ways and Means are at present besieged by a horde of speculators some of whom have stored large quantities of goods now on the free list, and would like to see a large duty laid on their importation, to enhance their value.  Others are endeavoring to find out what articles are to be taxed and what to remain on the free list, in order that they may telegraph their confederate speculators in the large cities.  The Committee of Ways and Means, however intend to exercise the utmost secrecy until the bills are ready to be presented to the House.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2