The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-02-22
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
From the Pittsburg Commerciall =
WASHINGTON, Feb. ~.

TAX ON CIGARS.
The House this evening amended the
law relating to tax on cigars, so as 10
read as follows: On all cigars, cigar
cites and cheroots a tax of five dollars
Der thousand and twenty per cent. ad
yalorem on the market value thereof.
BLUNDER.
1t was dicovered to-day that by
blunder of the House the Senate Com
pouud interest note funding bill had
been referred to the Banking Committee,
which prevents its consideration IN the
House. The Ways and Means Commit
tee, however, have decided TO report It's
features in the shape of an amendment
to another bill in time to pass the Sem
ate, and thus virtually save the meas
ure.
THE PRISONER SURRATT.
1t has been discovered that the in
dictment which has been found against
Surratt is very defective. A new one
will be drawn up. Good lawyers say
the one presented would have been
ouasled in open court and the prisoner
discharged. Surratt has spent his first
day in Jail. He told the warden he in
tended not to give HID any trouble.
He asked particularly about his sister,
speaking of her in tender terms, and
said he thought that she was dead. Inc
warden informed him. that he believed
she was in Maryland. The ~ardsn told
him that it was his duty to keep HIM
safe, but would grant him all proper
privileges, and asked him if there was
ANYTHING he wanted. Surratt replied
that he would like to have the privilege
of smoking, and this was granted hlm'
THE MILITARY BILL.
The House to-day, in accordance with
the agreement of last night, took up
the Senate amendment to the Southern
Government Military Bill, and after
amending it SO rs to recognize the pres
ent Southern State Governments as
merely provisional, and disfranchislng
all of those who are disfraDchised by
the pending constitutional amendmenI.
passed it in that shape by l2o to 10.
Messrs. Hubbell, of Ohio, and Hawkins,
of Tennessee, were the only Republl.
cans who voted against it. The bill
then went to the Senate, where 1t vas
again debated and finally passed. The
most important feature of the Senate
debate was the fact that Reverdy John
son declared that he should vote tor it,
not because he liked it, but because he
believed it was the best terms the South
could get. The bill now goes to the
President, who, notwithstanding he can
pocket and thus kill it, will return it
to Congress with a message approving
some aud disappearing other features OF
it. 1t will then be passed over the
veto.
A Washington special of yesterday
saws: The Democrats arc confident of 8
veto, and it is intimated that the Presi.
dent has said he will not delay his veto
hut permit it to he sent in in time fol
action previous to the fourth of March
In reference to this report the Chronicl'
of this morning says: "If We could rely
upon any promise coming from Andrew
Johnson, such concession would ena'
Bile the two houses to complete the wori
before adjournment, the denial of it un:
der any other administration in the fact
of the admitted power of Congress tc
| finish the mission confided to 1t, wonlt
be set down as the very madness OF fac-
tion, and the fact may not DO without 10
EFFECT upon the present Accidental Ex
u scafiyN. .frss q ! q - n r. = \
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