Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-04-03
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, March %.
SENATE.

Ine Senate TOOK up Ine report OF
the Committee of Conference on the
bill to relieve certain manufactures
from the internal tax.
Mr.. Sherman explained the amend.
ment.
Mr.. Nye offered an amendment for
Furnishing whisky frauds.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen said the effect
of the bill would be to close up every
distillery in the country, and asked
If such was the intention of the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Sherman said the intention of
the committee was to enable the In
ternal Revenue Commissioners to
close up every distillery in the CT
ties.
Mr.. Nye said the effect would be
to deprive the Government of any
revenue whatever from whisky and
perhaps to fill the penitentiaries with
revenue officials. The remedy lay in
another direction. He understood
that a law was in preparation to
cover the whole subject, and he sub
mitted that it would be better to
leave the matter until then.
Mr.. Morrill, said that not one eighth
of the whisky paid duty. He sug-
soetnd an amendment leaving IT in
the discretion of the Internal Revenue
Commissioners to close up disti1le-
ries.
Mr.. Sherman said it was useless
to attempt another Committee of Con-
ference, as the bill had been fully con-
sidered.
Mr.. Morton objected to the punish
ment provided for these frauds, as
there were existing laws on the SUBJ
ject. The trouble was they were not
enforced. He had inquired at the
Internal Revenue Department on the
9Th Of January and found there had
not been over a dozen persons pun
ished for these crimes up to that time.
Until it was made a personal danger
to commit such frauds they could not
collect the tax. The cases usually
result in compromise and payment of
the fines, less in amount than the tax.
Such men cared nothing about the
name of fraud.
If the power of compromise with
the whisky dealers Was taken away
from the District ATTORNEYS, and a
few of those committing frauds sent
to the penitentiary, another state of
things would soon be manifest.
Mr.. Fessenden conceded in the
opinion of Mr.. Morton in regard to
compromise.
Mr.. Williams held that the true
course to stop these frauds was a
proceeding IN re, not a prosecution of
individuals; and he argued that the
present provision was .justifable and
would be effective.
Mr.. Hendricks condemned the tax
as unreasonable and as being the sole
cause of frauds. A proper tax could
be collected, and tax of so cents
would produce more revenue than one
of 81. They should not start out
with the idea that whisky was an out
law, to be hunted down.
mf. mUIIiti VI rIatnU caid tIle.e IL
1t was to be put upon moral grounds,
he maintained that the government
shOnld not receive dollar from euoh
a source Of crimes. As, however,
this was matter that might be left
to the States, he was in favor of tax
ing it as luxury to the highest pos
sible point.
Mr.. Sherman said the only question
now was, whether the bill was in such
form as would be approved by the
people. 1t could not be further
amended without another Committee
of Conference. He expressed some
surprise that the Senator from Yer
mont and others We're opposed to
the section taxing wholesale manu-
lacturers.
Mr.. Morrill, said he had no been
aware that lumber, breadstuffs, &C.,
had been included.
Mr.. Sherman called attention to the
fact that it would not impose a tax
OF more than two cents on a barrel
of flour, merely placing a tax of one
fifth OF one per cent. on amounts over
$4,000. 1t was not tax on bread
stuffS but on the wholesale products,
and entirely too insignificant as a
reason for the delay of the bill. He
regretted that the provision in regard
to the whisky fraud had been includ.
ed, for which, however, neither the
House nor Senate were responsible.
1t was inserted at the urgent request
OF the Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue., who had told them that he could
not collect the tax on whisky without
it. 1t would not affect the country
districts, because there the distilleries
could be controlled, but it would pre-
vent the immense frauds committed in
the cities. He appealed for a vote
tonight.
After further debate, the Senate, on
motion of Mr.. Howard, disagreed to
the report by vote of % to Q, and
ordered another Committee of Con.
ference. The chair appointed Messrs
Sherman, Howard and Morton.
HOUSE.
The bill to admit Alabama to re-
presentation in Congress was taken
up.
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio offered a sub.
Stitute.
Mr.. Kerr of Indiana followed in
advocacy of the bill. He thouobt if