The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
Deferred Debate.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1877.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1917.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| Mr. PAYNE then addressed the committee He said
that the previous day he had felt good deal of soc
Jude address the House, but he confessed that this
morning he had much less anxiety on the subject Before
he proceeded further he desired to send TO the clerk table
an amendment which he wished to be read and which
he would offer al the proper time, providing for the i'm
position OF duty of 80 per cent all articles the
free list except bullion and coin.
1t was certainly remarkable Qhe honorable gentleman
then went on to say0 that every proposition submitted
TO Congress or almost every one with view to the
prosecution OF the existing war with Mexico, gave rise
TO party discussion, in which the walls OF wrath
poured on the head of the Executive of this nation
Why was this They had proposition introduced
into the Senate which looked to the withdrawal Of the
army of the United States from Mexico but unless he
was msinformed, it hal not received solitary vote
| Even the gentleman who introduced the resolution,
himself, refused to vote Tor It What was the nat
ural conclusion? Why, il inevitable that all parties
! that every individual in either House not bold
enough to say that they not favor OF the prosecu
ton OF the war TO successful and honorable close
| proposition had been introduced INTO that House the
other day by the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. ScHENCK
looking to that result And what followed? One at
tempt was made to obtain direct vote and the gentle
man himself rose his place and asked permission to
withdraw the proposition, rather than test its popularity
These demonstrations valuable e, because they said
the OF 81 the son ,6 AND t. the peos an"
cal language that there fixed, unaerable deerm
nation the part of the representatives of the people Of
the United States and the people themselves prosecute
that a successful and honorable close Then the
question REQUIRED, why this continual, ceaseess
lentng abuse of the Chief Magistrate OF the Union for
the prosecution of that war; Could be hatal this was
done for the purpose OF making political capital with
the expectation of eilectng results at home If such
were the object he (Alr. P) did not hesitate TO predict
that it would sbe sas unsuccessful as it dsgacetu
But there another aspect of the which demand
ed attention Ii was undenabe that the Executive had
not by any received that full and united measure
of support the prosecution of this from that quar-
ter in which he had to expect the most Jealous coopera
ton What had occurred in that House some weeks ago
The finances OF the country We're IN q condition which
seemed to require that something should be done by that
department OF the federal government which alone pos
sessed the power of raising the ways and means
~ for the prosecution of the war The Secretary of the
Treasury, feeling that the public exgency important,
and acting in spirit OF the utmost candor towards the
representatives OF the people, addres ed to the chairman Of
the Committee of Ways and Means the following let
! ter:
! TREAsuRY DErARrMENr December n, 1916.
| SIR Permit respectfully to call your attention to
the views submitted IN my last annual report in regard to
These duties suggested ia view of the necessity
obtaining the loan therein proposed. and this department
that the absence of these duties, viii probably be
wholly impacteabe to negotiate the loan on such terms as
would be permitted by Congress
r. J. WALKER.
He (Mr P) asked il stronger appeal than that could
be made to the representatives OF the people TO provide the
necessary for the successful prosecution of the
war How was it met, however, by majority of that
body A gentleman from the northwest [Mr. WENT
WORTH, who stood very high Ia taught in the party OF
which he was member, introduced the following reso
luton
Resred That it is nexpedient to levy tax upon tea
Mr. WENTWORTH here rose and said Will the
gentleman from Alabama allow him TO refer to the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury
Mr.. PAYNE could not give way. The gentleman
could take some other opportunity? What was the re-
suit OF the introduction OF the proposition Why, ma
ory OF the House voted to sustain it. and voted for the
resolution, thus giving negative answer 10 the letter
submitted to Congress blythe Secretary OF the Treasury
Why, such action in the British Parliament would have
been as matter of course followed BY the resignation
of the ministry. What next' Immediately upon the
adoption of that resolution gent eman from Missouri
Mr. SIMS feeling the effect Of that extraordinary
given by the House OF Representatives upon the war,
and introduced the following resolution
Rsotced That the people of the United States too
patriotic oreiuse any necessary tax in time oil war;
That resolution the House sustained by vote of 07 10
% Well then he (Nlr P.) rose-and he spoke of himself
with great eluctanceand offered resolution the object
Of which to test the declaration contained in the
proposition submitted by the gentleman from Missouri
to test the sincerity of the House upon that proposition
and his (Mr P's) resolution proposed tax Of 90 per
cent on all ARTICLES not now taxed BY the tariff act Of
1876 But the House would not even allow the intro
duction of that resolution Now, what the
voidabe conclusion from that state OF things The Con-
gress of the United States refused raise the
necessary for the support of the He said,
fused to do that by refusing to tax those articles
upon which alone additional revenue could be
raised! That III the face too OF resolution declaring
that the people of the United States were not so unpa
rotic to refuse that any other tax which the public
might require! What, then, the inference
Why that the people had patriotism enough to bear any
tax which the necessities of the country might require
but that the House of Representatives patriotic
enough to lay the tax! That was the conclusions let
them disguise il as they might
| MI. A. JOHNSON here rose and said: BY the per-
mission of the gentleman from Alabama, would like TO
call the attention of the House 10 paragraph in the
port OF the Secretary of the Treasury the subject OF
the tax tea and coffee. He is striking al the Secretary
of the Treasury
The CHAIRMAN, Does the gentleman yield the
foor
| Mr. PAYNE No. II in The discharge of his public
duty heref in an honest endeavor to procure the
cessary which might be demanded for the pros
ecuiion of the successful and honorable close
should be his (Nlr P.s) misfortune to strike at the Sec
rotary of the Treasury any other individual in the
not helplt His duty must be performed regardless of
consequences He passed from that proposition TO
another He passed TO the message of the President OF
the United States, who submitted The following in his
message,
Additional officers well Us men, then become indis
liar proprey exists for increasing the officers especially in
the higher grades. The number of such officers who, from
age and other rendered incapable of active
vice IN the field has seriously impaired the efficiency OF the
army.
From the report Secretary of War; it appears that
about two thirds of the whole number of regenta field
officers are either permanently disabled necessarily
dethched nom their commands other duties The long
enjoyment of peace has prevented from experiencing
much emba rassment from this cause but in a
OF war, conducted in foreign country, il has produced
serious injury TO the public service.
Al eihcen organization of the army, composed of reg
s ana volunteers, whilst prosecuting the in Mexico
US believed would require the appointment OF general
field. ' " Wv
pom the conclusion of the war services of such an
officer Would no longer be necessary, aud should be dis