Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-31
THE TAX BILL-AN IMPORTANT
MEASURE.

WAsuINGroN, MAY 2S.-The House, to-
day, finally passed the Tax Bill after two
weeks consideration, with only eleven votes
against it, The negatives were Messrs.
Bergen. Eldridge, Order, Kerr, Marshall,
Niblack, Nicholson, Ritter, Ross, Sitgreaves,
Trimhle, and Wright. After the bill was
brought out of the Committee of the Whole,
all debate was cut of, and the House pre-
cecded 30 yoteon the important amendments.
Contrary To anticipation, Thad. Stevens
withdrew the amendment which he offered
on Saturday, depriying the Secretary Of the
Treasury Of the power 20 appoint officers
under this bill. \ motion was made, how
ever. a. q sort of substitute for this deprving
him of the selection of the new officer. 10 be
called the Special Internal Revenue Com
missioner whose duties are 10 investigate
the sources of taxation, and TO place the APP
pointment in the hands OF the President, but
vote resulted in giving the Secretary the
privilege. His opponents then attempted
10 strike ont the section creating this special
office, but the House also defeated this and
the Secretary Of the Treasury came out of
the attack, commenced on Saturday, with a
complete triumph.
The important amendments, which were
voted on separately by the House, occupied
nearly All OF lllt RAdN StN0ihil 1 ~ AoldNNh
and cigar tax was, perhaps, the most impor-
tant. The tax on tobacco was finally fixed
rs follows; On cavendish, plug, twist and
all other kinds of manufactured tahacco not
herein otherwise provided for, a tax Of 40
cents per pound; on tobacco twisted by the
hand. or reduced from leaf into a condition
10 be consumed without the Use Of any ma
chine or instrument, and without being
pressed swcetencd, or otherwise prepared.
tax of SOC per pound; on fine cut chewing
tobacco, whether manufactured with stems
or not or however sold, whether loose, in
hulk, or In rolls, packages, papers, wrappers,
or boxes a tax Of zoe per pound; ON smok-
ing tobacco of all kinds, not sweetened, nor
Stoned nor butted, including that made Of
stems and limitations thereof, tax Of 2Oc
per pound; ON smoking tobacco sweetened,
stoned, and butted, Zoe per pound. The
amcndmcdt of Mr.. SChenck, 20 reduce the
tax on tobacco not Stoned or Sweetened,
frsa zoe 10 Ice per pound, was rejected by
she House; SO II remained as given above.
The tax ON cigars was fixed by separate
votes as follows: On cigarettes, or small o.
gars made of tobacco, inclosed m wrapper
ar binder. and not over three and 4 half
inches in length, and on cigars made with
twisted heads the market value Of which,
exclusive ul me laAt II lh' NNNA 80 I'l
thousand, a tax Of - per thousand. On all
other cigars 81 per thousand, and 10 cents
al rIlorcm, exclusive Of the tax; provided
that in assessing said dd uiorcm duty, the
first ten dollars valuation shall not Ice as
scssed
The next important amendment voted on
hv the House was that which strikes out
Of the bill provision allowing gas compa-
mics 10 charge the consumers with the Gov
eminent tax. The Chairman Of the Ways
and Means Committee wanted this retained.
lie read letters from the Pitsburg and Cow
inCton Gas Companies, showing that il the
companies had TO pay the tax II would be a
most onerous burden the House thought
otherwise. and struck out the provision. 10
Gas companies, under this bill, when it is 4
law. will no longer be authorized TO change
their customers with the tax.
The House ,hen disagreed to the amend
,ucnt. agreed 10 in the Committee, which
Sisallows the publication Of the income re-
Turns in the newspapers. The publication,
therefore, can continue as usual. Reapers,
mowers. threshing machines and corn shell
90 were added 20 the free list
The bill, as passed, is the Longest one ever
,,,nsiaared In the House of Representatives.
N makes over 220 pages, and comprises
over 1000 lines.