The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-06

uIenV Auu SaIlS1acClOn Oh CLAIMS OF
American citizens for spoliations by
the French prior to the 31st of July,
1901, provides that satisfaction shall
be made to an extent not exceeding
five millions of dollars. Three COM
missioners are to be appointed to
examine and determine the validity
and amount of the claims. The
claims are to be paid whenever Con-
gress shall make an appropriation for
that purpose. All claims not pre-
sented to the commission within the
period of three years from the pass
age of the Act, shall be forever
barred.
The bill introduced by Representa-
tive Morrill,, rs to the meaning of
certain parts of the internal revenue
Act, declares that the words in Sec
ton 120, call dividends, or scrip, or
money, thereafter declared due, and
whenever the same shall be payable
to the stockholders, policy-holders or
depositaries, shall mean all dividends
or scrip or money to whomsoever pay
able; and all stockholders, policy
holders, depositaries or parties what
soever, including non-residents,
whether citizens or aliens. In section
122, the word stockholders" shall
include non-residents, whether citi-
zens or aliens.
It is declared the duty of persons
making returns of. the lists of in
comes or property taxed, to state
whether the amounts given are stated
according to the value in legal tender
currency. and that the penalties im-
posed by law in every case of refusal
so to state shall be charged by asses
sors. Section 4th provides, that
when the returns are stated in coined
money, the assessor shall reduce them
to equivalents in currency. The Sec
setary of the Treasury is authorized
to prescribe rules by which this prin-
ciple is applied to all returns, lists,
assessments and collections.
The rumor of Secretary Stanton's
positive sesignation, to take effect to-
morrow, gained wide circulation on
the street late this evening, but, like
all former ones, appears to rest on q
slender foundation of fact. Judge
Hughes, Of Indiana, was reported to
be his successor, but as he denies the
soft impeachment, it is probably
untrue. The readiness of the public
to believe such reports is, however,
suggestive
A motion to admit Messrs. Byers,
Keefe and Thompson, Arkansas mem
bers, to the floor of the House,
brought out the conservative strength
to-day. 1t was proposed merely to
extend the same courtesy to Arkansas
as thatalready extended to Tennessee,
yet the radicals argued that Arkansas
was most tainted by rebellion, and
voted the motion down by reduced
aajority. Such Republicans as Hale
and Davis, of New York, Kasson, of
Iowa, and Dawes, of Massachusetts,,
voted for it, however
The Committee on Banking have
had another meeting recently, for the
purpose of considering the principal
recommendation of the Comptroller
of Currency. The proposition to
extend the capital of the National
Banks to S40O, 900, 600, was adjourned
over for further consideration. The
committee determined not to take any
definite action upon any of the pro-
positions before them until the Su-
preme Court have decided upon the
question whether the States have the
right to tax Government bonds. If
the court decides that States have the
right, then the committee will have
to change the present tax upon Ma
tional Banks.
A special despatch to the Baltimore
Sun, dated Washington, January 81,
says: What I telegraphed last even
ing, to the effect that the radicals
were throwing off disguises as to hos
tility to the President, was exhibited
in full force by Mr.. Stevens to-day.
The resolution for amending the
Constit tuition which passed the House
is vague. Certainly not two-thirds
OF the States will adopt it; for as the
Executive, as stated in the proclama-
ton from the State Department, re-
cognized Southern States as now un-
represented in the Union, they must
be so considered hereafter. Besides,
the resolution implies that States
may deny certain races OF color the
right of suffrage, whereas it has been
assumed by the radicals that Congress
had the right to control that matter
under the portion OF the Constitution
which provides for o republican form
of government in States.
1t will he seen that, by the pro-
posed Constitutional amendment,
that if all negroes are not allowed to
vote, none of that race shall be
cOunHe1 fn,. ranrasan ia +ion Tb,c q