Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-01-30

In common times when you propose to Shackle
the commerce of Pennsylvania, to impose a
tax upon the passengers and tonnage Of al
roads-in ordinary times, shall not vote
against it. | mean this: we should lay such
an imposition upon the aoh0le and not partially;
and now, in extraordinary times, we shall re.
alze from such source vast income.
And here is another thought in connection
with this matter. The business of our rail
roads in consequence of the war has almost
doubled The tonnage carried is almost as
much again, at least vastly increased. Out OF
this result should come benefit to the gov
ernment If the war increases their business,
they can afford to be subject to little extra
expense iu order to meet the exigencieS of the
country, in support of that war. While you
impose an extraordinary tax upon individual
property to meet individual emergencies, it is
bat just and eqitable that organized systems
of wealth should be subject to the same taxa
ton to meet the same great issues. When
peace, with her sunshine and her blessings
shall again return to us-when these unwar-
ranted expenditures shall have ceased, then
this extraordinary taxation can and should be
removed both from the individual and corpora
ton. | assure you, by the by, sir, that par
take of none of that narrow, miserable preju
dice against associated capital and enterprise,
prejudice that eorrodes the hearts and over
clouds the whole mental horizon of some men
These associations have contributed largely to
the glory and development Of the country in
times of peace, and they should and will con-
tribute their full quota for the maintenance of
that country now that the terrors of war are
me to offer the present resolution. | ask the
wise and iudicious committee on Finance to
take into consideration the propriety of report
ing bill embodying the whole subject.
Mr.. BENSON. | doubt not the Commit
tee on Finance will have 10 disposition to
shrink any responsibility which the Senate
may impose upon them, but it seems to me
that peremptory demand upon that commit
tee to report bill without sufficient consider
alton, is in no wise required. | will inform the
Senator from Bradford, that the subjects of
which he has spoken are now under consdera-
ton. The Governor, same time since, appoint
ed Revenue Commissioners-able gentlemen
of the Commonwealth-a those commission
ers, in connection with the Committee on
Ways and Means Of the House, and the FL
nance Committee Of the Senate, have already
had one interview; and the subject oftaxation
is now under consideration by that commission
in connection with those committees. Another
meeting will take place, and the design is to
have report made and then upon that re-
port bill to be framed, covering all these
subjects of taxation. | trust that the Senate
will not issue peremptOry order for the Com
mittee on Finance to go to work Immediately
and draw up bill to be reported to this body.
That matter is now under investigation. Those
commissioners have been appointed for the
identical purpose of equalizing taxation, and
its proper imposition throughout the Common
wealth, and are well prepared with thel help
of the committees of both branches to digest
bill. can see no propriety in the passage OF
this resolution.
Mr. LANDON. have already gained one
very important object in Offering that resolu-
ton. | have learned and the Senate has also
learned, what has been done in regard to the
matter Now, do not wish to be considered
peremptory unless such course may be neces-
sary. No man respects the Committee on FL
nance more than do. Is the chairman of that
committee, ( Mr. Benson, to be understood as
asserting that the Committee on Finance will
report ia favor of the suggestion of taxing cor
porations? ..l ... g ..... s..I ...t..
Mr.. BENSON 1t is understood that the
subject was laid before the two committees of
the Senate and House, and the design is to
impose tax upon corporations, adjusted in
some equitable and proper manner.
Mr. LANDON. Then | will amend my
resolution, aud in lieu of instructing the com
mttee to report" merely specify that they
8 be instructed 10 inquire into expediency of
such measure" We will leave the disposi-
ton of the matte: in their hands. aa = 81.
Mr. PENNEY stated that bill for rails
ing revenue could not legally be originated in
the Senate.
Mr.. LANDON. We can make the sub
iect matter of inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
NJ. SMITH, philadelphia conceded in
the opinion that revenue measure could be
originated only in the coordinate branch.
The amendment of Mr. Landon was agreed
to and the resolution, as amended, was read
as follows:
Resolced, That the Committee on Finance
be, and they are hereby instructed to inquire
into the expediency of imposing tonnage and
passenger tax upon all the canals and railroads
in the State, to report by bill or otherwise.
The resolution was then adopted.
MAKING 4 NEEDLE. Needles are made Of
steel wire The wires is first cut by shears,
from COLES, into the length of the needles to
be made. After a batch of such bits of wire
have been cut of, they are placed in hot
furnace, then taken out and rolled backward
and forward on table until they are straight.