Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-10
CONGRESSIONAL.

Mr. Onsndier'e resolution 20 recognize the bel
lleerent rights OF Aey was debsted al
some length, bat % action was taken.
Mr.. Morriil's Cof Vernont) bill iu regard -
the currency was postponed ul Wednesday
next al ono O'Clock
The Senate then, after s shcrt executive ses-
sion, adjourned
HousH-Y estsrday afternoon
mr Buffers resolution. tt a. 90 m uch OF the
Presidents message as called the attention OF
Coperess 70 payment of money under The
treaty with Russia De referred 70 the Com nit
zee IN Appropriations, was debated by Nessrs.
was nourne, 3i Illinois, Waspourn, or Wiscon-
SIN, Banks, boier, RooiEson, Schenck, and
Stevens, Of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Washburne In edvocated the resolU-
fIoB, declaring tha. he wanted the Committee
on Appropriations TO ssy whether the Treas
ufy should pay for that useless trRct OF terri-
tory.
Mr. Butler supported IL because, il he sub
lec. were referred 70 the Committee on For-
eien Anairs, it would be . tacit admission that
the House was bound % make appropriation
10 carry out the treaty.
Mr. Banks denied that u would have sny
such effect
Mr.. Butler referred TO the wording OF bis res
oln.ion. under which only so m uch of tue mes
sage as asked for money 20 carry out the Grsa-
~ would be referred, leaving the main U bject
OF the acquisition Of territory 70 the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs He contended that II
the Presiden; and Senate could, py treaty,
expended as much ss they pleased, the House
mig ht as we'll surrender all Its DO wers over the
revenue OF the country.
Mr.. Stevens lPa) contended tina. a treaty
was the paramount la OF the land. and that
Congress was bound 10 pass laws 20 carry it
out.
Mr.. Butler quoted seainst that the decision
OF Judge Mclean, in I'd Peters Reports.
Mr. W 2shbur1 Wis took the same ground.
and quo ed the action OF he House OF Repre-
sentalTes in 1884 in reference 70 the acquisi-
tioD OF louisiana.
Mr Schenck IO) said Re protested utterly
sgainst the doctrine that The President ana
the Senate had made mis- So n for tne acauisi.
lion OF AlasEa debt against the United
After further debate tne vote was taken by
yeas and nays on Mr. Bu'lers PROPOSE ion, and
II was reie cted-yeas 70, nays -. So the sub
Jsct remains with the Committee on Foreign
Mr.. Brooks called for 8 separate vote on the
resolution referring part OF the message 10 a
Select Committee on Reconstruction.
The vote resulted-Yeas, lI9; nays. i3. So
the matter was so referred. The other reso-
lutions distributing the message were then
adopted.
Mr. Hubbard wv. va offered a resolution
iDs'ructipg the Committee on Banking and
Currency 10 n2uire into the expsdiency OF
amending the pational currency law SO as 70
extend its advantages 10 all persons who will
comply wi,A its provisions, and 10 restrict the
issuing ef bank notes 70 two thirds the capital
Of the banks. Adopted.
The concurrent resolution Of the Senate, re-
appointing Joint committees on repairs OF the
Presidents Mansion, and or fixing the pay Of
officers OF both houses. were concurred in. ana
The same members that composed those COM
mIttees last session were rsappoinsed.
The Senate DILL fixing quorum Of the
supreme Court AZ five was taken from the
SpS akers table and passed.
The Senate bill striking the word "white''
rom all laws and charters OF the District of
Coiumb bia 50 As 20 make colored men compe-
tent 70 hold office and 20 sit on lures. was
taken from the Speakers table and passed
yeas, 106; nays, s.
Mr.. Hooper moved TO suspend the rules. that
he might otter the following resolution:
RssO9,sd, That. in the opinion OF this House.
TIE amount OF revenue annually collected by
taxation shall not exceed 500, ,UOO OOO; that the
Committee OF Ways and Means be instructed
to repors bill so modifying internal taxation
and tariE duty 10 s300,0O0.O0O, and that the
COMMITTEE on Appropriations be instructed
not to exceed that amount, including interest
on tne pnoIic debt, in the appropriations re-
Mr.. Hooper said: The first effective step 70
Keep down the expenditures OF the Govern
ment, and TO secure al economical admins
trarion. is 10 limit the revenues 70 the sum re-.
quired for that purpose: and never was this
more important than AT this time, when the
pressed almost be yond precedence BY the con.
tinuance OF those heavy burdens of taxation
which they cheerfully bore while the war rem
dered them necessary, but which the people
now claim 10 be no longer necessary. 1t ap-
pears by the report OF the Secretary of the
Treasury that the revenue for the year ending
Jnne 30, 1867, was $4,000 600; and he estimates
the revenue for the year ending June 30, ls6S,
At s4E,tU0.O00 and for the year ending uue 30
ls6s, S3Si,G0,CO0. The expenditures for ls6;
were s3ifOOO,O0C, and are estimated for 1868 a.
S3s3O0O,00O. and for 1869, S372,OOO.MO The
Secretary Of the Treasury adds, however, that
he is hopeful ''thaf Congress will take means
to largely reduce expenditures in all bran ches
OF the service, so that a steady reduction OF
the debt may be continued without reducing
the revenue below $500 OGO,OOO." If the inter.
nal revenue laws are enforced lhe taxes NAV
be reduced S10O, coo, 600. Ii seems TO me that
Congress should hav something to do with the
estimates for future expen nditures.
MIR. Eldridge suggested an amendment about
limiting the internal taxation TO whiskey and
tobacco.
Several other suggestions were made, but as
the House refused TO suspend the rules in or.
der TO let Mr. Hooper's resolution be offered
The whole matter fell through for the present;
and the House, at 2.i0, adjourned.