The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-19
TWENTY EIGHTH CONGRESS,
THURSDAY, JANUARY ls, 1914.
FIRST SESSION
SENATE.


THURSDAY, JANUARY 49, 1914.
ST. SENATE.
A communication was received from the Post
Office Department, giving synopsis of all the
various malable matter which had passed
through the mail dur ng the month OF October
last. e S8 M
Mr. BUCHANAN presented memorial from
citizens of Western Pennsylvania, in favor OF
amending The Federal Constitution SO as to make
it sci Out With clear and explicit acknowledge
ment of the Supreme Ruler Of The Universe;
also in favor of abolishing the Sunday mails.
Mr. WRIGHT presented the memorial Of
sundry citizens Of New York, carvers and gid
ers, complaining that the duties on plate glass
were SO high that they seriously injured the bu-
sness Of manufacturing looking-g asses.
Mr. TAPPAN presented the request of the
heirs of Col. Trumbul that Congress would pur-
chase certain original valuable papers in their
possession, relative to the treaty Of "a, COM
monty called Jays Treaty.
Mr.. McDUFFIE's BILL.
Mr.. EVANS moved to take up the report Of
the Committee on Finance upon the bill intro
duced by the Senator from South Carolina.
Cribs report declares the bill TO be one for
raising revenue, which by The Constitution can
mol originate with the Senate, and, therefore,
resolves, that it be indefinitely postponed
question arose as to the mann r n which
the report should be considered, whether upon
the resolution alone, or upon the bill itself.
Mr. EVANS said that the committee had re-
ported simple resolution. which must be re-
garded as a test question if the Senate concur
red with the resolution, then the y hole subject
would be dismssed-if otherwise, then the bill
would be open to discussion. sts &
MIR. KING insisted that the merits OF the bill
itself were before the Senate. The Chair was
inclined to regard the resolution OF the Commit
tee as in The light of an adverse report, which
opened the merits of the whole subject.
Messrs. EVANS, BERRlEN, and HUNTING
TON, contended that the preliminary question
of The jurisdiction Of the Senate ought first 10 be
settled: that il would be idle to discuss bill and
propose amendments TO it, while the tirst point
of the Senate's power over the subject matter,
was undecided. M y. *
Mr.. KING finally quoted the argument by
agreeing for his friend from South Carolina, that
the question should be on the indefinite postpone
menl. The Senator from South Carolina could
say what he pleased under this question. 81
Mr. EVANS then stated briefly the grounds
upon which the committee had reported the re-
solution TWAS plain question, and one that
was contained within very narrow limits. Ii
was question of importance, and he was not
aware that any Of precis ly The same character
had ever been distinctly presented 10 the Senate
The Compromise Act was introduced and dis
cussed here, but no action was taken on II, but
that Of laying it on the table A bill similar, If
not identical with it, was afierwa DIS introduced
from the Hunse, and passed. The whole ques-
ton turned simply upon the literal meaning OF
the words raising revenue What was bil
to raise revenue? He was quite willing TO adj
nit that this bill proposed to reduce duties On
imporlations, but the idea seemed TO be enter
tanned that because the bill reduced duties, it was
not bill for raising revenue. The idea was that
the word raise was equivalent in meaning to
augment, or increase and that the word duties
was equivalent to revenue. Now this was no.,
so revenue is derived in part from duties, but
il means income, from all ordinary sources of in
come; and The word raise, as used in the Con-
stituon. means to collect, supply, or furnish.
If the bill proposed by the Senator from South
Carolina was not bill TO raise revenue, what
was it Certainly it was bill repeating one
form Of raising revenue, and substituting another.
Mr.. Z. concluded by referring to the debates In
the convention, and Showed that this very ques-
ton was, at that time, SO warmly contested as
even to hazard the report Of the trainers Of the
Constitution. T
Mr. McDUFFIE said he intended to avail him
self of thu decision of the Chair, and meant to
discuss the merits of the bill, as we'll the pre-
lininary question; as this would protract the de-
BATE he would give way to any member of the
committee who desired to speak upon the prelim-
mary question.
Mr. WOODBURY. from the minority of the
committee, gave his views in opposition to those
Of the majority. Ile asked what were many Of
the bills in reference to public lands and the pest
Office which had originated in the Senate but
bills to raise revenue, on the broad ground as
sulned by the chairman of the committee! He
cited several cases, and particularly the force bill,
to prove that this power had always been exer-
ciseI by the Senate. 5a
MrliUNTINGTON followed, and when IS
Mr. McDUFFIE rose, the hour being late,
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
A motion was made that tho use Of the Hall of
the House of Representatives, be granted TO the
American Colonization Society Tor an adjourned