Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-17
The Internal Revenue Bill
THE TAX ON DISTILLERIES
SENATE.

M
me message was read.
Mr.; Wade moved to print the message and Law il
and the bill on the table. -
Mr.. Sumner wished to know why the consideration
OF the message could not now be proceeded with
Mr. Hendricks moved to amend by making it q
SPECIAL order for some hour to be named
The Chair decided that the motion to Law on the
table could not be amended.
The motion of Mr.. Wade was then agreed to.
=, THK IRON CLADs.
Mr. crimes. from the Committee on Naval Affairs
reported joint resolution to authorize the appoint
men mem 0I examiners to examine site at or near Port
land Malne, for dfresh water basin for the accom-
modaton of the iron clad vessels of the United Stat
Nayy' ad report before the end of the present Con-
Mr. Foster moved to amend by adding, after the
"oTo 4Mslne' and also Nc7 London, Connecticut u
Mr.. feSsenden said New London had already been
thoroughly examined, and the effect of this amend
mcnt would be to defeat the object of the resolution
as more amendment would be offered and time could
NOT be had to examine all places.
Mr. Foster said he had no wish to impede The oh.
eGt of the Senator, bat only to include New London
Pending discussion the morning hour expired, and
the unfinished business of yesterday being s6e Con
su!ar and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was taken
up The bill being laid aside informally.
Mr.. Harris. from the Committee on Private Land
Claims. reported a bill to confirm VIM. Cypbax y
tormer slave On the Arlington estate in the posses
sion Of ten acres Of land bequeathed to his mother by
THE ARMY.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to fix the military
peace establishment of the United States which was
referred to Committee on Military Affairs.
PASSPORTS.
MIR. Irumbull, from the Committee on the Judi
cary, reported the House bill to repeal 23d section
of the law relating to passports with an amendment
providing that passports shall be issued to Other
than American citizens.
The amendment was agreed to- and the bill passed
U. s. TAX IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Fir. an Winkle, from the Committee on Finance
the collection of the direct tax in the State of West
Mr.. Trumbul said he noticed a provision that the
collection shall be suspended until the 1st of March
next or until the claims of the State against tho
Gnlt"d states are adjusted. This would give the
Secretary of the Treasury power to suspend the fax
forever. lie would suggest an alteration.
Mr. Van Wrinkle adopted the suggestion, and
moved to amend by making it read uniess the claims
OF the State are sooner adJusted which was agreed
TO- and the Joint resolution was then passed.
DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
Inc unfinished buslnGss-the consular and diplo-
mauG appropriation bill-was then proceeded with.
The bill was read, and certain amendments reported
by the Committee on Finance agreed to.
Mr.. SprSgue moved to amend by making the sal
instead OF $3,OOO as provided in the bill; which was
agreed to-
The only important amendment CT the Committee,
winch is IN the form of an additional section, pro
vdeS that all fees collected by any consul or com
Inerclal agent not mentioned in schedule or c. or
by any wee consul or commercial agent appointed to
perform their duties or by any other person in their
behalf shall be accounted to the Secretary of tho
Treasury in the same mode and manner as is provid
ed for IN section IS of the act Of August 1S 1856
Titled An act to regulate the diplomatic and consu-
lar system Of the United States" And when the
lSco 81 CoIltCkSu Dy any SUCl consul or commercial
agent amount to more than So 900 in any one year,
the excess for that shall be paid to the Secre
tary Of the Treasury in the mode provided for hy
said act. "
Mr.; Chandler moved to amend by appropriating
800 Tor the repair ofthe American Cemetery in the
city OF Mexico; which was agreed to.
Mr.. Sumner moved to amend by providing that
envoys extraordinary ministers plenipotentiary
appointed to any court where the United States is
now represented by minister resident, shall receive
the same salary as is now enjoyed by the minister
resident.
Mr.. Sumner explained the object of this amend
ment. The United States we're now represented AT
many OF the European Courts by ministers resident
while governments Of much less power and influence
had ministers penipOtentiary and ENJOYS extraordi-
nary. According to court etiquette these take pre-
cedeGco Of our ministers. The object OF the amend
ment Will be to give to ministers their proper
weight ana influence but as 1t does not propose to
increase their salaries will ent" 40 additional cost
Mr. Wade said that although we did not lay much
stress on titles 1t was not the in Europe There
a man consequence was measured by his rank and
title. knowing this, why not give the highest title
to our ENJOYS and thus impress upon these Govern
ments an idea of our dignity and power?
Mr.. Sherman said the salaries of ministers pleni-
pOtentiary were fixed by law, and if any gentlemen
were appointed by power of this amendment. they
would ask increase of salary at the next Congress
which could not well be refused lie w0uld snSgeSi
an amendment which would prevent this by proyid-
ing that the salaries of all ministers penpotentiary
and ENJOYS extraordinary not already fixed shall be
$500.
MIR. Grimes hoped this amendment would not be
passed. One of the gentlemen it was intended to
elevate WAS Mr.. Harvey, Minister Resident at Por-
rebels the news that Fort Sumter to be rein
forced.
Mr.. Sumner asked for the vote to be taken on tho
amendment, as reported by him.
The amendment was then disagreed to.
Mr.. Sumner moved amendment that the titles
and Dominica should hereafter be that Of Ministers
Resident, with no increase of salary; which was
agreed to.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment to be inserted
as aQIltlODa al section authorizing he 10
several clerks of the Department of State 20 per
centum increase on their present salaries, to com
ordered by Congress.
Mr.. Sumner sent to the desk and asked for the
reading of the petition of clerks aforesaid asking an
increase OF salary, on account of increased cost OF
living, &c. and stating that their salaries are The
same as when gold was at par.
Mr.. Sumner said the salaries of the clerks in the
Treasury Department had been increased, and some
NEED OF justice was due to thJse faithful public ser
wants.
Mr.. Fessenden said the increase of salary of the
Treasury clerks had not been general The Secreta-
had been authorized to raise the salary of certain
clerks whose services were Indispensable and could
command higher salaries elsewhere. He would Sug-
gest to the Senate that the proper way was for the
Secretary of State to recommend an increase
if he thought his clerks were entitled to IT, but the
Secretary could not be gotten to recommend any
thing.
Mr.. Conness favored an increase of salary of that
Mr.. Hunter.
Mr.. Sumner then offered an amendment, fixing the
salary of VIM. Hunter Esq, Chief Clerk of the State
Department, at S3 500 per annum.
Mr.. Grimes acknowledged the eminent services of
Mr.. Hunter, but opposed to setting the precedent
of engratting provision of this kind an appro-
On motion of Mr.. Grimes, the Senate then nd
journed without diSposing of the amendment.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS
Mr.. Washburne, of ILL.,, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported bill to further provide for the
safety OF the lives OF passengers on steamboats, and
10 regulate the duties and pay of inspectors and for
other purposes which was passed. (Ihis bill regu-
ates the shipment of crude petroleum and nitro giy-
cerlne and increases the of steamboat inspectors
THE TAX BILL.
The House resumed, as in Committee of the Whole.
the consideration of the Internal Revenue bill and
proceeded to dispose of the 9th section relating to the
duties of assessors. Having disposed of this the
tOns relating to licenses was next considered When
the question of requiring disiliers pay one hun
dred dollars license came up
Mr.. 1ngersoll, of Illinois. moved to increase this
sum to one thousand dollars. He thought that by
the imposition of SO large license the Government
would break up large number of small disilleries
who mostly evaded the law and defrauded the reye-
nue.. He proceeded to show that the frauds commit
ted in the distaton of liquors was so great that all
the country whisky being sold at less rate
than the Government tax.
Mr. Stevens of Pa, said that he did not think that
would do as the Government derived special rev
enue from the license, but from the product.
Mr.. Hooper, of Mass, said that inspectors were
provided for their diSeres in the SD section of the
Mr.. Morrill,, Of VT, said that an exorbitant license
would not remedy the evil complained of.
MIR. Latiin, of n, L, thought it would have been
best, if the Committee on Ways and Means had re-
duced the tax on distilled spirits and thus followed
the advice of the Internal Revenue Commission.
England had found the policy of low taxation to be
the most productive OF revenue from this source.
Mr.. Dodge, of n. T., said that all that was wanted
is law to find out these small distillers in the gar
rets and cellars over the country. He hoped the
amendment to increase the license of wholesale dis
tlers would be increased from one hundred to one
thousand dollars.
Mr.. Morrill,, of VT. said such an amendment would
defeat itself Whenever we undertake to levy an ex-
orbitant tax it cuts off the revenue
The amendment was lost. and the license for whole
sale dlsters therefore remains at one hundred dol
lars per annum.
In considering the license tax of hotel keepers
When they charge more than S. per day. they shall
pay tax of two thousand dollars per year; over IS
per day. tax OF thousand dollars not less than
81 per day, one hundred dollars.
The amendment was rejected.
A large number of amendm ents were offered but
voted down. Pending final vote on the sec,
tions fixing the license tax. the bill was laid aside
The Speaker laid before the House letter from
"one who signs himself r. NJ. Patton, Governor O.
Alabama without the seal of the State relating IL
direct taxes. Referred to the Committee on Wsy,
and Means. Adjon ned.
A WoRD TO TIE LOVERS OF THE ARpEST.-Some
body sends brick follows after the lovers Of tn
ardent as gentle reminder of what may be- The,
them. We have done our duty when we send III
brick along for their benefit and longevity.
, LII Is not generally understood in medical circle
tnat persons who are not addicted to strong drink
cholera. Drunkards are the men attacked; the,
never recover. In Tifis, Georgia (Asia) ever,
drunkard is dead. During the last visitation o
cnolera In New York. out of two hundred and fou
cases, only SIX were temperate people. In Albany
out OF hye thousand temperate men, only two ar
known 70 nave been attacked during the last vista