Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-28
xxxvIIth CoXeREss-Frr.t Session.
WAsuIYGToN, March 81.
SENA TIE

AoulNNION, NldICH
SENATE.
Mr.. HALE offered a resolution asking the
secretary OF the interior to transmit all CORES
pondence in relation to the haTque Augusta =
adopted. Also, resolution that the commit
tee on naval affairs be instructed to inquire
whether there has been any laXity on the part
of the officers of the blockading squadron on
the coast, especially at Charleston and also
whether there is any foundation in the state
ment of the British consul that armed ships
OF The coniederates have been allowed 10 go in
and out of Charleston harbor, and no attempt
made tn stop them ;-adOpted.
The joint resolution, to aid states in case of
emancipation, was taken up. Mr.. HENDERSON
OF Missouri spoke in its favor.
Mr.. PEARCE, from the committee on finance,
reported bill to allow arms ordered by states
to aid in the suppression Of the rebellion, to
come free of duty.
The naval appropriation bill was taken up.
No action was taken on Stevens battery
amendmeH. After executive session, ad-
journed.
In tile committee on the tax bill, Mr.. SHEF-
FIELD offered an amendment that on all sales Of
goods, wares, merchandise, aud other proper
ty and estates, which shall be used tor con.
sumption or for investment, including all eX
changes of property, and excluding jObbers or
middle men, there be a tax of l per cent on
the amount OF such sales. Alter discussion,
the amendment was temporarily Withdrawn.
Mr.. HOOPER stated the principles which it,
fuenced the committee on ways and means in
forming this bill After much dssension, it
was decided to put large duty on liquor and
tobacco, as articles which were considered MS
luxuries by some, by others as deleterious. 1t
was also decided 10 put a duty on manufacture
ers, i'll the belief that, judiciousy arranged,
it would operate like duty on imported goods,
the consumer having to pay it-in fact simply
making the manufacturer the instrument
through whom the government would collect
the duty. He repeated that the principle
adopted was TO lay duty on the manufactured
article in the condition it is usually sold, and
to avoid, as far as possible, ltvying any tax
on the materials used tor such manufacture
There was a point, however, beyond which
they did not go-namely, when articles were
varlOusy used both for direct consumption,
AMI as material for manufacturing
Mr.. KELLOGG argued in favor Of fair dis
tribution OF the burdens of the government
among the people, the rich capitalists as well
as the humble individual Those who bepr
arms are TO pay entire taxes
MI. OWEN, while he expected to vote for
the bill, stated lie was influenced by no such
considerations those given by Mr.. Hooper
for taxes ON articles 10 which reference was
made by him.
Mr. RICE of Massachusetts dissented from
his colleagues Mr.. Hooper, views, Uud reas-
oning as TO taxes coming out OF the consumer,
said that don't depend upon the cost, but 9TH
err elements, namely: demand and supply
There is a clear and manifest distinction be-
tween the duty on imported goods and that on
articles OF domestic manufactures. In the
present stale of the country nothing should be
done 70 abate one jot Or title of the enthu,i-
asm which now pervades our country for the
suppression of this internal rebellion.
An amendment was adopted taxing anthra-
cite coal Is cents ton and biuminous coal
of cent. 1t was adopted with proviso
that it shall not go into effect until the term-
nation OF the reciprocal treaty
An amendment proposing a tax on cotton of
one cent per pound after the first OF May, was
rejected An amendment was adopted, ex
empting from duty red oil; also narafne,
whale, and fish oils. The tax on burning
fluid was stricken out. Adjourned.