The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-07-02

dies nOz or sort OF holiday. In the commence
ment or middle OF q session II would be difa-
cult to have it set apart for the consideration
Of any serious business. There can be no
more certain indication, therefore, that honora-
BILE members are intent upon speedy adjourn
ment than when the measures fixed for discus
sion on that day are Of an important character.
The work done in both houses on Saturday
last shows how eager they are to finish up the
session. In the Senate Mr.. Wilson called up
the Freedmen's Bureau bill, and moved that
the Senate insist on its amendments and agree
to the committee of conference called for by
the House; which was so ordered. The points
in dispute between the two houses relate to
the disposition of the Sea Island cotton lands.
The House prohibits the surrender of the lands
held by the freedmen under General Shermans
order, while the bill passed by the Senate has
prov sions under which the former owners may
resume possession Of them, except In GASES
where they have been sold for United States
taxes. The Senate view would seem to be that
dictated by usage and sound policy. General
Sherman's order transferring these lands was
intended to apply only TO state OF war; 1t
would be contrary to the general interests, as
well as to the practice of all civilized govern
ments, to give permanency to measure of this
character, when the exigency which called for
1t has passed away. We trust, therefore, that
the Senate's amendm ents will be agreed to.
The resolution adopted on the motion Of Mr..
Poland, calling for copy of the official oath
filed by Albert Elmorc, recently nominated by
the President and confirmed by the Senate as
Collector at Mobile, shows the loose manner in
which business is frequently disposed Of
by that body. The allegation against
Elmore is that he at one time held
Office under the rebel government We
ourselves know nothing as to the correct
ness or incorrec ness of the statement; but we
are not the less entitled to say that the inquiry
into Elmore's anteced snts should have been
made previous to, and not after, his confrma-
ton. Mr.. Wade introduced a bill of consider
able Importance in regard to Utah, and which,
through certain changes In the mode Of select
ing grand and petit jurors, aims at nothing
less than upsetung the whole Of the existing
social, religious and judicial institutions OF
chat Territory. As the republicans are, as a
party, rather tender-footed In treading upon
the "debatable grounl" Of polygamy, 1t is not
likely that anything further will be done in
the matter this session. After some other BUSH
ness Of minor importa nee the Senate took mp
the Indian Appropriation bill, in the considera-
ton Of which the remainder Of the afternoon
was spent--on the whole very Gull aad ardu-
Gus days work for the Saturday.
In the House equal industry and anxiety to
hurry up matters were shown. Afer the busi-
ness Of the morning hour tho consideration Of
the Tariff bill was resumed. On the question
OF the two several amendments increasing the
duties on squares of steel, or iron measures,
from six TO ten and six to nine cents per pound,
smart discussion ensued between the repre-
sentativos Of tho manufacturing and sgrioul-
tural interests, which finally resulted In tho
adoption ofMr. Morrill's proposition increasing
the duty to nine cents. On proposed amend
ment Of tho paragraph about railroad iron, Inn
posing on all iron imported and fitted BY pat
tern for railroads and inclined planes . duty
Of one cent per pound, another contest took
place with the defenders Of the home manufac-
turing interest Mr.. Griswold. commenting on
ON effort Of Mr. Wilson to make the duty
seventy cents per one hundred pounds, asserted
that the homo manufacturers Of railroad iron
had been losing money for the last three or
four years. When asked for the proof OF this
statement the honorable member evaded the
question. Mr.. Raymond opposed the increase
in the duty. The great complaint which no
made against protection, he said, was not that II
was wrong In principle, but that there was no
end Of II Mr.. Garfield demanded that the
iron interests Of the country should not be
eaten up and destroyed by the interests Of the
foreign manufacturers while Mr.. Allison
brought forward some powerful arguments To
show the impolicy Of increasing the duty. Mr..
Stevens, In few brief but punsent remarks,
replied to the speeches made against the in.
crease. After stating that the reason England
was able 10 send her iron over ss she does
was because the price Of labor was only sbou,
one-third what 1t Is here, he contended that II
was at labor kself that the advocates OF reduc-
ton were striking. An allusion TO Mr. Kasson,
Of Iowa, brought that gentleman to his legs
He defined In forcible terms the distinction be-
tween rational protectionists and prohibition
lists, and said that be was for defensive
measures against other countries in the In
terest Of our ewn, but he was not for entirely
annihilating the privilege OF free people to
have competition In the markets In which they
are compelled to buy and sell II that was TO
be . free trader no gloricd In the title. The
discussion on the paragraph closed with the
adoption Of tho original proposition, making
the duty one cent per pound.
From the defeat Of Mr. Wilson's amendment,
and the subsequent additions Of duty made on
scrap iron railway frogs and steel, il 10 evident
IL 49, Ia a. H. l>A.- a.