New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-17
WASHINGTON.


PRIATION BILL PASSED IN THE HoUsE-THE
INCREASE or CLERKS SALARIES DEFEATED
THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE-THE
WHISKY FRAUDs-THE INDIAN COMMISSION
Frs REP ORT
~ TELEGRAPH TO THN TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON Monday, Dec is, 1867.
| In the SeDa te to-day number of unimportant
bills were introduced including a remarkable docu-
| m { rom Garrett Davis for the establishment of a
tribunal to decide Constitutional questions. Mr. Van
Wrinkle introduced bill for equal distribution of
the National banking capital among the States ac-
cordng to population. Mr.. Edmunds introduced
bill providing that the National bank shares
shall be subject to State and municipal taxa
ton. which was referred to the Finance Com
mittee The bill for the repeal of the cotton
tax came up at o'clock, and was debated
during the remainder of the session. 1t was strongly
opposed by Messrs Morrill, of Vermont and Fessen-
dCn and earnestly advocated by Messrs. Sherman
Wilson. Williams and Reverly johnson. The latter
offered an amendment, making the repeal apply TO
this years crop in cases where 1t is held by the pro
ducers. Mr. Morton offered substitute, reducing
the tax to lc per pound. No vote was reached but
the opposition TO repeal seemed much more fOrmi-
| dable than was expected.
In the House to-day the principal feature was the
defeat of the 20 per cent increase of Government
| clerks salaries Mr. E. b. WashbuTne reported dc.
| fciepey bill from the Appropriations Committee, and
| Mr. Stevens of Pennsy lyana offered an amendment
TO increase salaries of clerks 20 per cent MIR Wash
| burne who is acting as tbs champion OF retrench-
| meDt in the House, fought the amendment; but 1t
was passed by three majority. Afterwarm, a
| motion WAS made TO lay the whole bill on the
| table which motion was carried, number OF mem
bcrs who were opposed to Steyenss amendment hay-
nr been brought into the House from the Committee
rooms and obbes This killed the increase OF clerks
salaries and the Deficiency bill proper was aiterward
| passed. Mr.. Benjamns resolution pledglng Con
crcss against any retrogade action III The matter Oh
Reconstruction was passed 10y strict party vote.
A thorough investigation into the operation of the
present law of the whislS tax is being carried on by
| tho Committee of Waysand Means The various de
vices which have bee, offered for the prevention of
fJoud and the variou suggestions offered by persons
| familiar with the sbject are receiving consldera-
| ton. The question OF taxing the capacity OF the
still. which was dicused by Commissioners Rollins
Will receive fuEher attention The eNaInl-
| nation into the statistics Of the manufacture
| of spirits vii further develop tho falacy
of the proposition Of taxing the capacity OF the stils
| paper IS bein, prepared Tor presentation to the
Committee OF Ways and Means in which the stats
ncs of the manufacture of whisky will be fully set
| forth This examination will show the great disprO-
portion between the producing capacities OF the dls
tilleries and tn, consumption, disparity when eA
| lists in no OTHER branch OF manufactures
! The lice mder adopted last Spring by inc
| Government is now being apphed 10 the
distilIe,ies in York Its effect Is to stop the
| production. Under the order compelling disuIIeres
TO use his meter some zoo applications were regis
tered and the capacity as stated by uo applicants
themselves. made an aggregate of 1929 gallons per
diem of q hours or grand total Of lj2 tG 200 gallons
pe1year Of 200 wnrL days The tax bClngS per gal
lo Government should have derived $500 Jth4oO last
yer whereas but 81 0O0 or less than 10 per cent
| wac received by Commissioners Rollins From OIL
cia and unofficial sources II is estimated that there
are over 600 disilces in the United states act"
! ally recorded, of which 2Oii dsui gram ana mo
lasses and the balance fruit juices. II is supposed
the Government loses in an equal proportion Oh an
these 3. eco disteres, with tie known loss Oh tue
| aforementioned 100.
! The report Of the Indian Commission will not be
ready for the next 10 or "a DAYS 1t being the mlen-
tion Of the gentlemen composing IT 70 recommend az
couplete and statesmanlke measure as possible Tor
| the future treatment Of the Indians. The Conlmis-
sion started for the Indian territories ana leSeINa
tions fonr months ago, during which time they ie-
NAMED there travelling from point to point. lhey
| enSeayOred by personal observation To make theh-
selves ACQUAINTED with the exact CONDITION oil aihIs
| the alleged expressions and swlndlnR operations vi
the whites the wants of the Indians the means pest
calculated 10 insure their future protection and the
probabilities of Winning them over to civilization 10y
any course OF legislation and kind treatment Inc
| Commission Investigated everything in any way
hearing on the subject and the report now in course
of ureparation will not only the above grounds
Int will also map out plan of reconstruction OF the
| Indian Department Of the Government. There rs
| very great unanmity OF opinion IN the Commission
rs TO what should be done, and II IS understood tat
report will recommend, among other things, that
that section of country north OF the Nebraska hhe'
| west of the Missouri River and east OF the Black
Hills be set apart new Indian reservation, and
that the different tribes be removed there and placed
| in contiguous, though not eonnterminous' settle
ments. The section Of country around the Black
Hills is almost totally worthless to the Government,
but is well adapted for the support and sustenance Of
Indians. The Commission will also recon-
mend that the Kansas Indians be removed
IN the Indian Territory Reservation, and
| that that portion of the State Of Texas
north Of direct line from the south eastern point of
| New-Mexico to the initial monument III Indian Ter
ritory be added to Indian Territory, the whole to
| form a Territory and be admitted into the Union as
State when the inhabitants thereof shall ASK such
| nermssion According TO the present organization
| of the Indian Department, the Commission has not
! t,e sole control Of Indian affairs. No jurisdiction
over them is claimed and exercised by the War De-
nartment The Department of the Interior and the
Denartment of tIndan Affairs the divided authority
| If which the Commission thinks gives rise
70 multiplicity of counsels, and as the history Of
Indian affairs shows, is not very well calculated to
promote the interests OF the Government or confer
| inch benefit on the Indian. In view Of the facts
| tbo Commission will recommend the creation Of an
| rJ;a, Rureau and that ITS head be invested with
fII noNer and lie accountable only to Congress and