The New York herald., 1862-05-29
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsnIN iTos, May %, 1862.

THE sENATE's PROGRESS ON THE TAX BILL.
The Senate, having disposed OF the committee amend
ments to the Tax bill have been occupied to-day in con-
siderng the miscellaneous amendments. Very little
change has been made It appears be the determination
TO reducs the duty spirits fifteen cents and to adop
Shermans proposition stock on hand ten cents
gallon
EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES or REBELS.
hcresponsibty for the reconsideration of the
cipaton bill to-day is attributed to Mr. Phelps or Mis-
souri, who presented motion reconsider and lay tho
bill on the table at the time The bill defeated by
four maorR
The practical mischief Of the inconsiderate emancipa
ton tho negroes has been demonstrated by the hun
dreds collected here and living upon the bounty OF the
government They have no work, and want mono; but
live in absolute dleness at the public expense This ex
ample however was not sufficient to deter the Jacobns
from reconsdoring the Emancipation bill to-day. They
succeeded by majority Of four Mr.. Dawes well
Mr.. Porter changed his vote, and two others who
absent when the bill rejected came in. There were
absent four who would have voted against the reconsde
ration and defeated It..
The greater part Of the session In the House to-day
was occupied In the man@uvres, pro and in regard
to this reconsideration Motions for call Of the House
and to adjourn were repeatedly resorted to, and
all the parliamentary devices for delay were called
into requistion, without avail. The bill reconsi-
dored and material amendments proposed. It is ap
parent that the sweeping character of tho
be altered so as to restrict it to particular classes Of
slave owners Provision win also be made for colonza-
tion, with vew to sugar the pill for the palate of tho
President, who is pledged to approve emancipation
bills which do not provide for the deportation of The
emancratod negroes OF tho States which they are
held rs slaves.
ia nv fars pnar nnar, ~
gress that the House bill will not pass the Senate.
The radicals there divided between Coamers and
Sherman's bill Each faction, IT is believed will adhere
to its peculiar views in regard to what is essential
render the bill constitutional: but both will oppose
tho House bill, which, if assimilated to either Of tho
bills will be opposed by the other faction in tao
Senate
CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.
In tho list OF appropriations in bills that have passed
the House. but not finally disposed or, Published in
Mondays New York papers, there omitted the
appropriation Of nvo millions for bounties to soldiers
COLLECTOR FOR BEAUFORT.
Tho President has appointed and tho Senate confirmed
John A. Hedrick Collector for tho port of Beaufort
MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL sIGEL.
Gen. sigel visited the Capitol today, aud warmly
welcomed by Congressman.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND THE STEVENS
The letter Of the Secretary OF the Navy Congress-
concerning the Stevens battery states that the appro
priaon was conditioned to take effect when was made
clear the Secretary that it would bo effective for
purposes he had appointed board to make another
animation of the battery in question. II consisted Of
Captain c. FL Davis, United States Navy; Colonel Rich.
ard Deafcld, United States Army; 8. n. Pook, naval
constructor; S. " Marrick, Esq, OF Philadelphia, and
Moses Taylor of New York. They mado themselves nc
quanted with tho views and plans OF Mr.. Stevens, read
the descriptions presented, and inspected the vess
and models and armament They express the opinion
that the Stevens plan will not result in such vessel
or battery the law requires. At the same time
they say thxt notifications may be mado in accord
with recent improvements in the art OF which
will accomplish the desired object Considering that the
appropriation designed TO carry out tho original
par tho Secretary refers the matter back to Congress
1t Is insisted by those who anxious for tho compile
ton f iron clad vessels that tho appropriation was
telded for tho completion of this battery with Whatever
notifications tho board appointed should deem peces
sary Each member OF the board has plan or modHca
tion but they have yet been presented there
not much hope that anything OF n practical nature will
be accomplished in the premises for some time. The
difficulty of creating harmonious whole frcm the ieas
Of half dozen persons Is more easily imagined than
described.
NAVAL ORDERS AND PROMOTIONS.
The following officers have beon ordered to the United
States steamer South Carolina
Commander John Almy detached from the New York
yard; Acting Mastcr r. D. Brewer, detached from tho
Minnesota: Acting Master Frederick r. Blwry, Lieu
tenant O. W. Stanton, ordered to gunboat Toga; Lier
w. H. Macomb, to command the gunboat Geresee
Lieutenant W. H. rvna, ordered to tho gunboat Tor
nessse Paymaster James Fulton, orderei TO tho Adj
rondacs s. II. Fish, Of Williamsburg, n. Y appoin oil
Acting ASSISTANT Surgeon and ordered 10 repor t. Com
D.. tt,.r Far .f,,t.t s.t,n W n
late Of the Cumberland. promoted TO Acting yolun
Lieutenant for gallant conduct aud ordered TO gunboat
Por, Royal Assistant Paymaser John Swoosow, ordered
to tho Hcusatonc.
MANEUvIEs OF THE NEW ENGLAND MANUFACTURERS
or THE TAX BILL.
Tho agents of New England manufacturers have not
spent tho winter here for nothing. Their object his
been get or the excise rates from articles manuac
tired by their establishments and they have succeeded
In a large way, 80 far as cotton Is concerned. Thc
Senate has out the tax OF per pound
cotton, which proposed by the House; and thus
productive income Of millions npon millions Il hazarded.
The pre,ence for such action Is that the burden will fail
npoa labor; bit all the fabrics used yearly By
nborer bc made from three pounds Of His
tax therefore, would not be above throo four cents
year ON that But the New England cotton manu-
acturers would millions yearly say nething or
what would fall upon Europeans.
favor TO capitalists Their to the people will DO
that thsy accomplish the object of raising large
tax from shareholders by taxing their slaves Such
motion was made to-day in the Senate by Mr. Sumner,
and since tax this head will probably prevail, Mr.
Fessenden supported the proposition In moderate way,
wing that he did not plan of Furnishing slave.
holders, but make them. well as others who
making money contribute to tho public expenditure. Is
may be asked how Senators who refused to tax retailers
of liquors because IL egslized their traffic. 60 in for
taking slaves.
THE STEVENS FLOATING BATTERY.
The Secretary OF the Navy has furnished Congress
with the result Of the examination by special board Of
Stevens battery - an efficient means OF coast de-
fence They think that for this purpose 1t
will require essential notifications owing to the
recent improvems In naval warfare. Az the
Secretary believes the intention Of Congress-
apply $500 0o0 heretofore appropriated upon the bate
ry according to the original PLAN should have been