Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-08
HOUSE OF REPREsEN TATIvEs.

COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX.
The Speaker laid before the House letter from
the Secretary of the Treasury with enclosures rea-
tive to the collection of income 1868 from the
estates of persons who died after Dee 81 1863 and
prior to the levy for that year Commissioner Rollins
says that such chected for 1863 as far as
practicable, by direction of Commissioner Lewis and
that it does not appear from the records that any
thing has been refunded He further states that such
taxes Tor 1863 upon incomes of persons who died dur
ing 1861 but were afterwards refunded, and that in
comes of 1864 in similar cases Of subsequent death
were not assessed in accordance with instructions
from Commissioner Lewis. These rules. though diff
ferent, were uniform In their applications He does
not state what caused this change of opinion of the
commissioner,
BILL DEFINING PARTS OF INTETNAL REvENUk act.
The House took up bill to declare the meaning Of
certain parts OF the internal revenue act and for
other purposes, reported from the ways and means
committee Jan, 81. 1t declares that all dividends
IN scrip OF money are to be known all dividends
in scrip money whenever payable, and all stock
holders policy holders, depOsors parties whatso
ever, including nOn-reSldants, whether citizens or
aliens. Il also provides that it shall be the duty of
all persons required TO make returns or lists of in
come and articles, objects charged with any tax To
declare in such returns whether the several rates and
amounts therein continued, stated according to
their values in legal tender currency. In case Of
neglect to make such returns the assistant assessor
required TO make the returns for such persons as
neglect or refuse to do so, and to add the proper
penalties in such cases.
1t also provides that whenever the rates and
amounts contained IN the returns shall be stated in
coined money, it shall be the duty of each assessor
receiving the to reduce such rates and amounts
to their equivalent in legal tender currency accord
ing to the value Of such coined money in said cur
Iony at the time and place where said lists are re-
ceivable. and which value the assessor shall deter
mine. And the lists required by law to ba furnished
to collectors by assessors shall n ali contain the
several amounts of taxes duties assessed estma-
ted OF valued in legal tender currency only Tho
bill was passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont. said that the object of
the bill TO obViate defect in the internal reve
law alluded to in decision of some circuit cour
in Maryland. He cited the fact that three millions
of dollars of Pennsylvania railroad securities were
held abroad lOQ-reSlueQtS This bill wnuii
such cases. as well as those OF parties who made their
internal revenue returns in gold.
Mr.. Stevens, from the Committee Q. hpprOpria-
tions, reported the Consular and Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill fe- the year ending June 81. 1867. Re
ferred 10 the Committee of the Whole.
REPRESENTATIVES, FROM ALABAMA.
Mr.. Brooks Of New York, rose to question of
privilege and presented tho credentials ofsx repre-
sentatives elect from Alabama. He said that he
supposed that the credentials must go to that tomb
OF the Capuets, the Committee on ReconstfaetiOn,
So ordered.
the United States praying for the extension their
sex Of the right of suffrage. 1t also referred 70
the Committee on Reconstruction.
PUBLIC LAMBS.
Mr. Julian. from the COMMITTEE or Public Lands.
reported bill for the disposal Of the public lands
actual settlers IN Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
The bill provides that ftcr its passage, ali the
public lands in the States named shall! he disposed of
according to the stipulation of the homestead law OF
May 20 1867, and the supplemental act 20 the same
of March 2l 1854 but with this restriction, that no
entry snail lie maze Tor more taan nan q quarter
section SO acres and that public lands in said
States shall be disposed of in no other manner after
the passage of this act
Mr.. Julian said that the bill simply extended the
provisions of the homestead bill to the States named
with the single exception that so instead cf l6O acres
are to be given to actual settlers. The passage OF
this bill would prevent speoulators and Others from
getting hold Of these lands. Under the bill no one
was deprived on account Of color for the ne
gro had now become citizen of the United States
Mr.. Taber Of n. Y, offered al amendment that nc
who participated in the late rebellion and who
had or shall be pardoned by the President shon he
| deprived of the benefit of the bill NH'' ~
A report of the Commissioner OF the Land Offcs
was read shoying that there were thirty-six millions
of acres OF public lands in these States
Mr.: Rice, OF Maine, said this bill originally intro
duced by him, was an important part Of the great
question Of restoration 1t was the duty to give The
| oppressed people of the South home and to edu,
| cate, them; 1t was not much freedom to give thS
freedmen the ballot and other liberty He favored
making those homes in the South the citades of ber
ty, so that the power of the oppreSsors should bs
| broken forever in that portion Of the country.
| Mr.. Taber, of New Y Ork said that if his amend
| ment was not adopted every man in the South whC
/ had been forced into the rebel army would be de
prived Of the right Of actual settlement, He urgeS