Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-12-23
By Telegraph. p).I .
REPORTED FOR THE DAILY EMPIRE
XXXVlIIth Congress ID NeSSiOn
WASHINGTON, December 81.
HOUSE.

lerred 10 the Committee on Ways and Means
The House took up the pending resolution
calling on the Secretary OF War to communi-
cate what obslruotions exist to prevent a gen
eral exchange of prisoners.
A debate ensued, in which the subject Of
retaliating the same treatment on rebel pris-
oners as the rebels bestow on ours, was dis
cussed.
Me- Sohenck said that the Committee on
Military Affairs was gathering information on
the subject Of the barbarous treatment Of
our prisoners, aud expected soon 10 report.
Finally the House adopted a resolution,
that il not incompatible with the public in-
terest, all communicative IN reference TO the
exchange Of prisoners, not heretofore publish
ed, be communicated to the House by the
Secretary Of War.
The House then proceeded 10 the consi ler-
alton Of the bill TO supply over 800 900, 900 of
deficiency in the appropriations, Tor the pres
ent fiscal year.
On motion Of Mr.. Aacona, il was Resolved
That the Committee of Ways and Means be
requested to inquire into the expediency OF re-
ducing or suspending the import duty on print
ing paper and they be and are hereby reques-
ted to report by bill or otherwise, al an early
day
On motion Of Mr. Cofrroth, the Committee
on Military Affairs were instructed to inquire
into the expediency Of amending the enroll
ment act, so as to allow any person drafted to
put in substitutes at any place where u mus
tering officer is stationed, to be credited to
any part of the Congressional district in
which the person resides at the time a snbsti-
tute is accepted
-, h.ia
alton Tor printing paper Tor the Government
Printing Bureau, Mr.. Rice Of Mass said there
was no evidence to show that paper manuiac-
tuters have combined to advance the price Of
paper. He had it charged, but he had never
got at the subtantia facts, One reason for
the high price was the scarcity, aud the tax on
raw material
Mr.. Washburne said the duty is prohibtory.
He had understood from the best authority
that there is a combination OF paper manu-
facturers, who control the whole matter, and
who have brought up the price from twelve
and fifteen to twenty-five aud twenty'six
cents pound; that there has been such an
advance in paper gentlemen could not deny.
Mr.. Davies said this was tho result, in part,
of the tax on the raw material, and the rate
of foreign exchange
Mr. Washburne resuming, said he knew of
n case where one half a naner mill Ia Illinois
was offered for sale for SIS 900. because they
saw it will nav an interest of forty per cent.
Tho tax on naper will des,rov many of the
newspansrs of tho countrv.
Mr. Morrill, asked The gentleman. chow bieh
is the tariff on paper 2
Mr.. Washburne replied that it was high
enough TO preveDt any paper from beiuy i'm
ported He Thought II was 20 per cent. Day.
able in gaIA Tbs Comasiftee inen rose.
The House passed the Deficiency bill, with
slight amendments, and adjourned.
SENATE
Mr. Coleman presented the memorial OF
Harper Bros, aud other publishers, praying
for the modification of laws relative TO carry
ing periodicals in mails. fa
Mr. Sherman reported the House bill tax
ing whisky, and asked immediate action upon
it. He said the bill proposed to anticipate
the additional tax by making its operation
commence January LIST instead Of February
lst 1t was objected that such change of
legislation indicated instability in Congress.
1t was in effect taking Judgment upon man
ufacturers, and seriously interfering with
their regular arrangements On the other
hand, it was asserted that the manufacture Of
the article would be greatly incfeasedif this
bill should not pass, and that an immense
quantity would be made, upon which only a
dollar would be paid ra.nf 8tFuF
Mr. Dougal objected that it would interfere
with contracts
Mr.. Farrell asserted that the neglect to tax
whisky had already deprived the country of
more than enough to pay up the army TO
date.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of the resolution
to repeal the reciprocity treaty.
Mr.. SUMNER had intended, on the consd.
Grafton of this proposition TO renew the whole
subject, to exhibit at length the history of the
reciprocity treaty, but after the debate few
days ago, and considering the apparent una.
nimity 10 the Senate have felt unwilling to