The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
Monday Morning, May 2S, 1866.
xxx CONGRESs---First Session.
WASHINGTON, May 26.

xxx CONGRESS---First Session.
49, ~. o
WASHINGTON, May 26.
HOUSE.
TIE Senate amendment to the House bill
| relating to passports was concIrTed in.
Mr.. Broomall introduced a bill to provide
for computing bounties of veteran volunteers
so as to protect their rights. Referred to the
Military Committee. 1t proposes to exempt
the 500 veteran bounty from the c0mpensa-
tion of what is to be deducted under the bill
to equalize bounties
After the transaction of some unimportant
business the House went into Committee of
the Whole on the Tax bill.
Mr.: Morrill,, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported new paragraph for that
amending section 103 of the existing law. 1t
imposes a tax of 1-2 per cent. ON gross re-
ceipts from passengers and mails of railroad
canal, steamboats, and stage coach companies,
provided such companies shall have the right
to add the tax to their fares.
On motion of Mr.. Farnsworth the last pro-
viso was struck out, and the amendment so
modified agreed to. @f
Mr.. HOtchkiss moved to add an amendment
for provis0 that horse railroads shall have the
right to add the tax to their fares.
Messrs Stevens and Dodge opposed it,
Inc amenQment was rejected.
The I'd section, which had been passed over
informally yesterday, was amended in some
particulars. The only important alteration,
however, of it, being the striking out of the
word alcohol from the section prohibiting stills
to be used where lager beer &c. is manufac-
tured.
While the sections relating to distileries
were under consideration, Mr.. Conkling stated
as matter of justice to Mr.. Winfield, that
that gentleman had exerted himself in the
Committee of Ways and Means, to protect the
interests of small distillers of apple-jack, and
was only prevented from renewing these great
efforts in the House by illness, which confined
him to his room.
An additional section was inserted as sec
tion 63, requiring every officer of internal rev.
enue, whose payment shall be derived in
whole or part from fees or commission, to rem
der statement under oath OF the entire
amount of such fees and commissions Any
falsehOod in such statement to be deemed will
full perjury.
Mr.. Welkcr offered an amendment, to come
in as an additional section, permitting disabled
soldiers and sailors who have served in the
late war, or whose names are on pension rolls,
to engage in certain occupations, without hay
ing to pay license. Rejected.
The paragraph repeating the section of the
existing law, was amended SO as to take effect
on the 1st of September, 1866.
The blanks for salaries were filled up as fol-
lows: Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
$1,000; deputy commissioners $1,000; solic-
itOrs, $4,000; seven heads of divisions, $685.
600. The salary of the special commissioner
was changed from $4,000 to $1,000.
Mr.. Wilson, OF Iowa, by instruction of the
Judiciary Committee, offered several addition
al sections to regulate legal proceedings under
the act, which were adopted.
Mr.. Stevens moved to amend the 65th sec
ton by striking out the words, " the Secretary
of the Treasury is hereby authorized to ap-
point an officer in his Department, who shall
in lieu of them, " Congress by concurrent ac-
tion shall elect special commissioner"
Mr.. Stevens said, 1 ANA done with giving
patronage to the Secretary of the Treasury,
When It can be avoided. He has already said
he will appoint no one to Office who will not
sustain the policy of the President. He, this
morning, distinctly so informed member of
the House, who called upon him for an ap-
pointment. He asked him whether the ante
cedents of applicant were in favor of the
Presidents policy, and when he declined to
answer him he said, l can make no appoint
ments, and will appoint no man who does not
support the policy of the President" The
Secretary then referred to an apostate Sena-
tor from that region, and said, '.Iwill con-
suit him when l make appointments, and
will appoint nobody not recommended by
him." 1t is therefore for this House to let the
people of the country know whether officers
are to be sacrificed to this determination OF
subordinates of the President. If we do not
| stand by them they will not stand by us, and
they ought not. 1t is time that we build up a
wall against such tyranny as this. 1t is mall
feasance in office. [ have already ascertained
that four of the subordinates of the President
have made the same declaration. If I were
little Younger and I shall be in a week,
think I would let those officers know that this
is grand inquest Of the nation, before which
men who are guilty of malfeasance shall be
brought, and their cases presented to another
tribunal to try them. Excitement. A voice,
Good.) Sir, we are recreant to our own dig
nity We are recreant to the interests of the
country if we do not stand by those who stand
by us. We must take care that no more pat
ronage shall be put into the hands of any man
to be abused, avowedly abused. 1t is time
that we we spoke aloud, and let our friends
abroad know that they are in no danger-thats
they shall not be sacrificed because they stand
by Congress,-because they are not the tools
of recreant President. (Great excitement.)
have authentic information that every day
this course has been taken by the Secretary of
the Treasury. He has declared distinctly that
in that State (Pennsylvania) he will consult
nobody but recreant apostate Senator who
has betrayed his party and his country. lex
| citement
| Mr. Stevens was understood as referring to
Mr.. COwan Of Pennsylvania.
| Mr.. Spaulding inquired whether the gentle
man from Pennsylvania was going to urge his
amendment seriously.
Mr.. Stevens declared that he was.
Mr.. Spaulding replied that he would serious
ly oppose it.
Mr.. Morrill, suggested that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania had accomplished his pur-
pose in making his speech. There was not
the slightest apprehension that any person
would be appointed to the Office of special
commissioner except the distinguished gentle
man who had hitherto been employed in the
service. He (Mr. Morrill) had always been in
| favor of keeping these tariff and revenue
questions apart and distinct from politics He
did not approve OF all acts of the Secretary oil
the Treasury, nor of his recent speech. He
thought his Indiana speech an able one, but
he had not so regarded his recent speech, but
rather louked upon itas an unfortunate speech
but at the same time he did not propose to
change the ordinary course of legislation. He
trusted that the amendment would not be
adopted.
Mr.. Hale called attention of the Committee
to the constitutional objections to the propos-
they would have any weight with the distin-
guished gentleman from Pennsylvania The
only powers that the Constitution recognized
as capable of having the powers of appoint
ment were the President and Senate-the
President alone and courts of law or heads Of
Departments.
Mr.. Stevens agreed that the proposition o.
special commissioner was not an office in thai
sense. Congress could depute a committee O.
| Il Io6u ON co1o -.
perform duties imposed upon special com
missioner. He repeated, the Secretary of the
Treasury had assumed to regulate his patron
age by politics and not by what was connect.
ed with the interests OF finance; that he was
prostituting his office to unholy purposes, and