New-York tribune., 1868-06-24


WASHINGTON, Tuesday juno 49, 1863
The principal event in the Senate, to-day, was the
swearing in of the two Senators from Arkansas
Alexander Macdonald and Benz. J. Rice. After the
presentations of their credentials. Garrett DAVIS
wished TO present the credentials of two other gen
tlemen as Senators from the same state Inc
announcement caused litter on the floor ana III the
galleries Mr.. Howard asked under what govern
ment they were elected, and Mr. Davis responded
with merry twinkle in his little gray eyes, that the
reading of the credentials would show. Messrs.
Hendricks and COnkling, who sat close
Inv. were very much amused, and the
spectators became unusually interested. Mr. How
ard said that the gentlemen alluded to were eyl-
IDENTIFY elected under Johnson's Provisional Govern
ment and he therefore Indignantly moved TO table
the documents Mr.. Conkling-bouquet in hand
explained that the effect of Mr.. lIowards motion
would be to table all the credentials In the next
ten minutes Senators became considerably puz%ed
ON points of order but Mr. Wade extricated them Dy
one of his characteristic dashes. Finally the yeas
ond navs were called on the reading of the
papers and the Senate by vote OF 90 10
H. decided TO allow them TO DO read. lhey
were the credentials of Jones and Garland
which were presented aud tabled two years ago
motion to refer the two sets of credentials 10 the
Judiciary Committee was lost and, after further dis
dents desk and the oath administered. Inc
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Appropriation
hill was then taken up Messrs Sumner and COnk-
hng had sharp tilt in the discussion OF the PROPOSE
tons to discontinue the Office OF Second Assistant
Secretary uf state and Examiner Of Claims. MI
Conkling called Mr. Sumner the Full orb OF the
State Department" and Mr. Sumner responded that
Mr. Conkling was introducing into the Senate the
manners of the other end of the capitol Mr.. Sumner
carried his point however, and the Senate adjourned
after about one-half of the bill had been finished
In the House the whole days session was spent on
the Amendatory Tax bill The first three hours were
consumed on the rate Of tax whisky, The sum
lGO cents fixed by the Committee finally beaten.
Gen. Van Wycl led oil with an amendment to reduce
the tax to 80 cents which he supported in
brief argument in vindication OF his report
of the whisky frauds, made from the
Committee on RetTenchment about three
months ago, in which he said that no tax on whisky
above 80 cents could be collected The reduction
met with considerable opposition, principally from
those who favor the retention Of the tax Mt e..
These men pretended TO wish greater reduction
than 20 cents :. but their object was to make
division, and thus keep the tax at e. When
the debate closed, nearly 80 minutes were occupied
in dspOsing of amendments. Attempts were made
10 reduce 10 40 cents then to - then 10 A. then TO
90 then to IS, and finally to 10 cents. All were
voted down by large majorites aud 20 cents was
adopted by vote of 81 to 81. Other clauses of the
bill were, then discussed, The progress was slow,
however. the disposition among members to talk
being serious obstacle TO genuine work.
The House was in session tonight but very litt'e
progress was made on the tax bill There seems to
be a disposition among the Democrats and certain
Republicans to kill the bill, if by no other way than
delay. For example tonight the first hour was con-
sumcd in having q call Of the House for quorum.
With difficulty and the loss of much valuable time,
a bare quorum was secured, and business was begun
Mr. Schenck made an appeal 10 members To attond
the sessions and get the bill completed This prac-
tce of members absenting themselves and neglect
ing business is working serious harm. Yesterday
Oh very important vote, on which the Yeas and
Nays were called, ~ members were absent, most OF
whom are Republicans.
In the Executive Session Of the Senate, to-day the
nomination Of S. S. Cox rs Minister 10 Austria, was
finally disposed of. il was agreed TO take vote on
his appointment without any discussion and the re-
suit was a rejection. The vote was II for conirma-
ton and 80 for rejection. Tho appointment Of
Eyarts was referred TO the Committee on Judiciary
who will consider it tomorrow and report about the
end of the week Senator Trumbun gives out that
he will recommend his confirmation.
The reporting Of the bill for the protection OF Amer
lean citizens abroad to the Senate today by Mr. Sum
ner was in accordance with the determination OF the
Foreign Relations Committee, which considered the
whole subject this morning. The subject of milder
clause for the reprisal provision included In the
House BILL does not meet with much favor anywhere
except in the State Department and when it comes
ND in the Senate there will be "a determined effort
made TO have il passed as 1t came from the House
Mr.. Shermans twenty million bill, which passed
l.. q ..,,,1
favor in the House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency. 1t has been informally considered, and the
impression is that the measure submitted by Mr.
Hooper which looks to a gradual reduction Instead
of an imitation of the present volume of National cur
renew Will be accepted by the Committee, and offered
as a substitute.
If the WAYS and Means Committee adhere to their
determination of to-day an amendment will, at the
proper time he offered TO the Tax bill, imposing tax
of A per barrel on all whisky now in bond. The
Committee will vigorously press this proposition on
account of the revenue it would yield to the Govern
nent, and it is very probable that it will pass.
The House Committee on Elections will report to-
morrow on the Arkansas members whose certificates
of election were referred to the Committee to-day.
All are to be admitted.
At the meeting of the Cabinet to-day the vacancy
in the Office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue
was discussed ana an eiort was maue W uecluo oh
candidate. There great diversity OF opinion Oh
the subject and no conclusion reached.
The Senate Finance Committee instructed their
Chairman to-day to report q substitute for the bill
TO regulate the appraisement and Inspection OF mposs
m certain cases summary OF which was given IN these
ispatches ofhe 18th ns and which has already passed
tbe House The substitute, which was prepared
bv the Secretary OF the Treasury. embodes
the principal points of the House bill but
adds such supplementary restrictions and regulations
as viii in the Judgment OF Mr. McCulloch prevent fraud