The New York herald., 1862-03-28
House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, March %, 1852

ACTION on The TAX
The House, In Committee OF tho " holo tho State Of
the Union resumed the consideration OF tho Tax BILL
Mr.. sHEFrIE.p, (opp) OF II. T.. offered an amendment
that upon all sales of goods wares merchandise and
other property aud estates, which shall be for con-
sumption for investment, including all exchanges
OF property, and excluding jobbers or middle men
tax OF one per centum on tho amount of
such sales shall be levied. He said the bill ms IL
stands taxes poor woman for tho pig which sh,
raises swi1 OF her gathering, while those who
amass hundreds Of thousands OF dollars by extensive
transactions pay nothing. Such inconsistencies cannot
commend themselves to the appreciation Of his cons..
ens. 1ic did not why cotton should b, exempted
from taxation Tho bill dcrminates against agricalturc
as adopted would change the entire character OF the
b and require change in the principle of its machine.
ry This proposition would require moro attention than
the committee could nox give to It,
MIR. SHEFFIELD rcplcdThe reasons given by tho gen.
eman were an imperfect answer TO his amendment Il
was important TO New England undor II the work.
shops Of that section would Ray nearly fourth Of the
entire tax.
After further discussion tho amendment was temno.
Mr.. HOOPER, (rep.) Of Mass, stated tho principles
which influenced tho Committee OF Ways and Means In
framing this bill. After much dclbcraion 10 was de-
cidcd 10 put large duty liquors and tobacco AZ ar
c.cs which were considered uxuries by some and by
others delecrios. II was also decided TO put duty on
manufactures, in the belief that judicosiy ARRANGED
Il would operate like duty imported goods the con
sner having TO nay "; in Tact simply making the manu-
fscurer the instrument through whom the government
would collect the duty He repeated that tho principe
adopted TO lay the duty the manufactured article
in the condition which IL II usually sold and TO avoid
far possible lovying any the material used
for such manufacture. There point, however be.
yond which they did not 60, namely when articles were
va.iousy used both for direct consumption a. mate
rial for manufacturing.
Mr.. kEtLooo, (rep.) Of H., sad-Thcrc ought 10 be
some justice and fair distribution Of the burdens Of the
government among tho pcoplc--tho rich capitalist as
well as the humble individual. Those who bear arms
are 10 pay the entire taxes He asked In God g name
whether this was just, aud should this be tho policy Of
our government In this time Of immense expenditure
and taxation.
Mr. OWEN, (rep) IN. Y, said, while he expected TO
vote Tor the bi he desired tobe understood that he
was influenced by no such considc as were given
by Mr.. Hooper for tho taxes tho articles to which
reference had been made by him. " ""'O''
Mr. RICE, Crcpl OF Mass, dssentcd from his col
leagues fr. ioopcr's) views and reasoning Az 10 tbs
taxes coming out Of thc consumer that docs not enenJ
upon the cost, but other cements-namoly demand .nJ
supply. There is clear aud manifest distinction he, c
duty imported goods and that on articles of doas,i
manufacture In the present state OF the country noth,n
should be done 10 ablte iot tlc of tho en,Ins
which now pervacs country for tho suppression
OF tho informal rebellion. f''''''"
Mr. LAW, (opr.) OF Ind. offered an amenimen, av,ng n
tax of fifty cents per ton pig iron. This wouId Weld
from Pennsylvania alone about quarter of miiinn
lie had no idea that the bill would get through Congress