The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-08
XIII CONGRESS- second Session.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Mr.. Sumner intro
duced bill to abolish the District Court for
the Eastern District of Texas, and extend the
jurisdiction of the Court of the Western Bis
trct over the whole State. Referred.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill vacatng GER
tain offices in Georgia, and empowering the
Convention to fill the same. f-
Mr.. Corbett introduced a bill to amend the
existing laws in reg ,rd to internal revenue
and for other purposes ~
A resolution was adopted appointing I. G.
Woolsey of Connecticut, w. B. Astor of New
York, Peter Parker OF Washington, and John
Mclean of New Jersey, Regents of the Smith
Mr.. Sumner informed the Senate that the
bill for the further security of equal rights in
the District of Columbia had been Sc mt to the
President Dec. 10th. The President having
failed to return it, he asked leave to intro.
duce bill precisely similar. -
Mr.. Sherman suggested reference on the
matter to the Judiciary Committee, as it might
be the bill was now a law.
After further debate on the point by Messrs.
johnson, Edmunds, Drake and Sumner until
the morning hour expired, the bill was SO re-
ferred.
A resolution was introduced by Mr.. Davis
instructing the Committee on Commerce to
inquire into the expediency of regulating fares
on railroads IN the United States. Referred
to the Committee on Commerce.
The bill to repeal the internal revenue tax
on cotton being special order was taken up
Mr.. Conkling withdrew his motion to post
ponc, saying he should at the proper time
press an amendment combining the suspension
to one year.
The question required on Mr.. -Johnson's
amendment exempting crops grown in 1867,
and remtining in the hands of the producers
Mr.. Williams moved an amendment exempt
ing all cotton remaining unsold in the hands
of producers when the act takes effect provid-
ing no tax heretofore collected shall be re-
funded Rejected.
Mr. Tah
The question required upon Mr.. Norton's
| amendment, reducing the tax on cotton grown
after 1867 to one cent
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend by combining
the exemption to 1868.
Messrs. johnson of Maryland, Frelinghuy-
sen OF New Jersey, and Patterson of New
Hampshire spoke in favor of repeal, and Mr..
Morrill, of Vermont against it.
Mr. Davis of Kentucky made speech
of some length, claiming that if the North
would keep its spoon out of the Southern dish
the South would soon be reconstructed, and
that free negro labor had proved failure.
Mr. Morton replied that the reason why the
Northern spoon was in the Southern di IN was
that the South had once put its spoon in the
Northern dish. The negro might have been
made lazy by freedom, but that evil would be
remedied if the Southern whites were thereby
made more industrious. He then proceeded
to support the justice of at least reduced
| tax.
Mr.. Howard said he would support the
amendment of the gentleman from Indinia,
but he could not vote to give the South privi-
leges which he was compelled to deny 10 his
own constituents, and inquired of the Chair
man of the Finance Committee (Mr. Sherman)
whether provision had been made supplying
the deficit occasioned by removing this tax.
Mr.. Sherman replied, instancing several por-
tionS of the estimated expenses OF the Govern
ment for the next fiscal year, which would be
reduced. The whole would not exceed one
hundred forty or one hundred fifty million
dollars, so that Congress might now safely
throw off one hundred million dollars taxa
ton.
Mr. Howard inquired whether that Commit
tee had considered the propriety of discontin-
uing the payment of the war debt for the
present.
Mr.. Sumner said that bill to that end was
now on the table.
After further debate by Mess1s. Williams
| and Wilson, the latter referring to recent
| case where man was tried in the South for
whisky Fraud and being convicted was par
| doned by the President, who considered him
| an old friend who could not be guilty, and
! gave him certificate of character and he went
| South to continue the business. A gigantic
| whisky ring existed in this country which
controlled the Government, furnishing any
quantity of money for electoheering an d brib-
cry, and now ins cad of a hundred mill 10 Us of
dollars the Governn collected but twenty
seven millions OF dollars of tax from whisky.
He would vote for a reduced tax on cotton re-
mlining in the hands of producers. He moved
| 20 amend by substituting tax of one cent on
raw cotton grown in 1861 in the hands of the
| producers, and not sold or contracted to be
sold at the passage of this act.
Mr.. Morton would accept the amenlment
| but for the fact that he believed that il would
| open the dor to frauds.
Mr.. Corbett spoke against the amendment oil
| Mr. Morton, which was then lost-22 to q.
Mr.. Wilson then offered his amendment
VIII oh Mr.. Sherman said was the same as that
Of the Senator from Maryland, which had
been voted down. II was lost.
An amendnent by Mr.. Morton making the
tax in 1868 half cent aud thereafter ons ceat,
was lost-2i 20 "A.
M. C1nkling renewed his amendment ex-
empting cotton grown in 1858. AdOpted-1i
| to 81.
Mr. Drake ofersa an amendment declaring
| that no further provisions OF law are required
% author a. the collection OF the tax AFT r.
/ 1853. Adopted.
Amer a discussion Of IFS necessity by Messrs.
I johnson and Drake, on mOtior OF Mr. Morrill,
/ Of Vermont, provis0 was added, exempting
| from duty cotton imported between April, 1858
and April, 1869.
The b.ll then passed from the Committee o
i the Whole aud ths question was TAX "a on tn 3
I first amendment exempting cotton grown in
is.is, which was ad0pted-yeas "A, NAYS 20.
Mr. DTake's amendment to secure a resump-
ton Of the tax amer 1868 was adopted.
/ Mr. Morrill, Of Maine offered an amendment
]
tweea April, ISIS, ami April, 1852 Adopted
/ yeas "A nays ".
The bill was then passe1-yeas %, nays IL
The Senate iheu adjourned
HOUSE.
resolution was adopted instructing the
committee on Public Lands 20 inquire into
tns expectancy Of subjecting 10 entry undes
the homestead law, aud Offering for sale and
Preempuon Tor actual settlement all the even
numbered sections aud parts of sections o
pubic Anas remaining unsold along the Lines
of railroads where the odd-numberel sections
have been granted reserved 10 AID in the
construction of railroads
The Speaker was presented with comm.
nication from the Secretary OF the Treasury
transmitting the report of the Special Com
missoners Of the revenue which wa referred
TO the Committee on Ways and Means.
| Also, a communication from the Secretary
Of tire Interior, transmitting copies of letter.
from the Secretary of War dd interim, an,
Gen. Halleck, relative TO the survey ant
bringing into market the lands of the PENN
sula of Alaska, which was referred to th
Committee on Public Lands.
The House proceeded to take up the bust
ness on the Sp 9aker's table and disposed there
Of: Passing the Senate joint re solution au