Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-14
CONGRESSIONAL,
WASHINGTON, February 49,.
GEM ATE .'f ''' V

.
Mr.. Conness called up the bill to establish
a mail steamship service between the United
States and China. The bill provides that
the Postmaster General shall have power to
contract with any company who will agree
for the lowest price to establish line Of
steamers to make round trips between San
Francisco and China per year, the contract
to go into effect ON the first of January,
1867. The bill passed-yeas %, nays IL.
The special order being the report of the
Conference committee on the Freedmen's
Bureau bill, was taken up. The report was
read, but no action taken. 5, u as,ss-i.,
Mr.. Sherman's motion to take up House
joint resolution reducing the duty on inn
ported paper prevailed. The question was
upon the amendment of the Senate commit
tee on Finance to strike out and insert l5
per cent.
Mr.. Sherman explained that the present
dnty on foreign paper was 20 per cent The
amount OF tax paid by home manufacturers
amountedto 10 per cent. It was manifest
that to reduce foreign tax to per cent.
would be unjust to home manufacturers.
1t was said this 3 per cent. was equal to
per cent, because it was in gold valuation.
1t was per cent. or $160 per ton. Internal
tax in this country had to be paid in cur
rency valuation,whic is about $400 per ton.
Sherman stated that he was In favor, IN the
committee, of making it 10 per cent, which
would create lively competition between
home and foreign manufacturers. The
committee .overruled him, however, many
of thenfembers being opposed to any change
whatever, He believed some change ought
to be made in the tax, because under the
present rate not one pound of paper had
been imported. Fifteen per cent. had been
adopted as a compromise In committee, but
ne thought it would be more just to put ii
down to ten. The Government was more
interested than any Individual in this mat
ter. 1t consumed more paper than any in
dividuaI, and therefore it was interested in
this question. IT. had been proposed by
some to allow the Government to import
free of duty, but this would be regarded as
MI doliamer spoke IN fayorF . Of maintain-
fng the present rate OF 20 per cent, as an
act of justice and protection to home man.
Mr.. Wade said he and his sicolleague Mr..
Sherman] had been instructed by the Ohio
Legislature to vote for hsreduetion of the
duSy.a He questioned the right Of that body
to instruct him on such q subject. He be-
| lieyed the argument in favor Of the reduc-
| ton of duty would apply equally well to
other articles. He was opposed to oopening
American manufa facturers 70 foreign compe-
| ttiOn. ,A "a insli s So ssfsvA
iaMr. Hale was in favor Of findefinite post
pofiement Of the resolution, so as to leave
| tile duty where it is now per cent. ~
| Mr.. Foster said that in Ohio, last yeai
there had been Sl,S0S 968 worth. of papel
made, and on this q tax of $54, 269 had beer
paid. This, was great and growing inter
est, and ought to be protected. no -igd ~
Considerable discussion ensuedaHA mo.
tion to postpone was decided in the mega
tive-yeas IA, nays %. ~ :. y
,3asl7s s5aousE 'ost
On motion of M Schenck, q Joint reso.
Ilutibh was adopted appropriating $4,000
II for contract with William II. Powell tt
lpainr a picture illustrative of some nava
yictC7S, Ito be placed at the head Of tn,
Grand staircase Of the Capitol.i ktIN AsfH A
Mr.. Ashley offered a preamble that n
lcWffEREAS I'm cpnsequeFice Of the re
IIBellion, andsincsthc procla nation Of enaan