Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-06
ThirIy-Ninth Congress---First Session.
WASHINGTON, June -.
TIE IAx BILL.

IN LA DILL.
Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont, from the committee
Of ways and means, reported back the tax bill
with the Senate amendments. He said there
were some six hundred and fifty amendments,
many Of them Of verbal character.
The committee recommend non-concurrencei in
the Senate amendment reducing the tax on cot
ton from five TO two cents; IN the amendment al
lowing gas companies and street railroads to add
IN the tax TO their charges; IN the amendment
increasing the tax on ready-made clothes from
one to two per cent; IN the amendment reducing
the tax on smoking tobacco from twenty to
fifteen cent?; in the amendment as to taxing the
circulation Of State bank notes, ard in the
amendment as to the income tax.
The most important amendment was that in
regard to cotton. The House, By a very large
and decisive vote, had put the tax at FIVE cents
| per h., and the Senate had reduced it TO two
cents. He trusted the House would not feel dis
/ posed to yield. lie, for one, much preferred TO
/ have the tax FIVE cents. and at all events. it
| should be nothing less than three cents He be-
lieyed that it would infet no injury on the peo-
pie Of the South. but that they would be earnest
/ ly in favor If It. The reduction Of the tax
I from enc TO two cents would make sad hole in
/ the revenues Of the government.
Alr. kass0u asked whether the addition Of the
l five cents q pound to the cost OF cotton would
not make a ssdler hole in the purses Of the
people
Mr. Merrill thought not; but that ii would
add largely 10 the wealth Of the United States.
if every pound Of cotton raised in the United
States could be manufactured here.
Mr. Raymond Of y. Y, inquired what would
he the probable amount Of diminution in the
revenue If the tax on cotton we're reduced to
tEo cents
Mr. Morrill, gave the estimates at twenty-seven
millions.
Alr Raymond inquired further what the dim
iuulon would be with the tax at three cents
Mr. morrill, estimated It at eighteen millions
He went on to speak about the tobacco amend
meut, and declared his opinion that tax Of
twenty cents per pound was little enough. lie
believed himself an impartial juror between the
different sections Of the country on that subject
lie State lid not produce or manufacture To-
bacco- In regard TO the amendment allowing
gas companies TO add the tax to tie price Of gas,
whore such price is fixed 10y law, be thought 4
refusal to concur in it would be species of hard
ship and tyranny. which the House would not
Ike to be responsible for.
The amendment increasing the tax on ready
made clothing from one to two per cent. was not
concurred in The amendment reducing the
tax on smoking tobacco from twenty 10 fifteen
cents was coucurred in. The amendments al
lowing railroad companies to add the tax to
their rates Of fare, and that reducing the amount
OF income exempt from taxation from $1,000 to
5000 were not c0ncurred in.
The amendments as to the income tax were
nOn-concurred in.
The amendment taxing State bank circulation
ten per cent after the first Of August next, was
concurred in. Ayes, IS; noes not counted.
The amendments as to oil dressed leather were I
in.
The amendment allowing apothecaries to sell .
wines and spirits on physicians prescriptions,
without paying license as retail dealers, was
in.
The amendment requiring the Inspectors Of
Internal Revenue to diyest themselves, within
sixty days, Of any interest they may have in
the manufacture Of tobacco, whiskey. &c, was
non-concurred in.
This disposed of all the amendments. The
House voted to insist on its disagreement with
the Senate, and asked for a committee Of con
eTence; and then al a, the House adjourned.
The EUROPEAN WAR.-The war cloud
.hickens in Europe. On the l4tb, the Federal
Diet, by vote Of 9 to 6, agreed to the pro- {