Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-01-16
III. Remarks ot Hon, Frederick
q, Woodbridge, in the uousr
at Representatives, Jaa,
~, 1865.


question had hycn seconded and III, main
question ordered, The chairman Vi the
committee Of ways and mean, Gen,
Schcurk WA, cutitlca t. the aoor lot one
hour 10 close the debate.
Mr.. ,Schcuck yielded the hapr 10 Mr.
Pile Of Missouri. aud after debate by Mr..
Pile and Mr. Marshall Of lllnoi., M
Schonck said
| viii now sicld for ton minute. 10 the
gentleman from Vermont,
Mr. Woodbridge spoke a. follows:
w. Speaker: will not, perhaps, want
ten minutes. am somewhat surprised
that on q question Of this character thcr,
should hc such latitude 10 debate II,
seems Ia me strange when e business que>-
tun is being discussed. involving morr OF
less the interests of the country, thu de-
bate should degenerate into political L.
sites or party asperity. Sir, the people OF
this nation are looking Ia Congress for
measures which will relieve them from the
burden they are carrying and enduring
with as noble patriotism a ever adorned
people, and am glad the Committoc OF
WAY, and Means thus early in the session
are bending their energies to the relief OF
the people 4 day or two ago We passed
"a bill in respect to bonded warehouses,
which was step in the right direction.
1t is followed by the proposition now I'M
der consideration.
Let us for a moment return TO the
question apd see what the proposition is.
We learn from the committee that there
are meters which will accurately measure
the proof and quality of distilled spirits
manufactured at the mill. The Ticc mo
tire has been adopted by the Government.
| understand outside that It has proved to
be failure, and from the chairman oi
the committee learn that il is not per
feet. ana when adopted other meters had
not received fair trial Now the COM
mittcr ask that there may be an opportu-
nifty through commission of scientific
gentlemen for the examination OF the va
rious meters which may be presented.
Mr.. Van Wyck--l ask the gentleman
to yield to me,
Mr.. Woodbridge have not time.
The inventive genius of this country
has been directed to these meters, and
whenever an article of this or any ether
kind is demanded which genius may in
vent it is always. forthcoming.
The gentleman from New York Mr.
Van Wyck says there is no Importance
in this commission for the reason that the
committee may examine the matter them
/ selves and report on the knowledge derived
| in the committeeman. Under any circum-
stances that would be impossible This
not only requires the examination OF
! skilled men, but it takes AN amount of
time the committee cannot give. They
|cannot be expected to visit distilleries and
put meters to the practical test, and as
certain which one presents the highest
merits.
Sir, it i, idle, in my Judgment, TO say
that this revenue law, So far as the wills
KEY tax is concerned. Is so imperfect that
II cannot he executed. t. The fault rs moi
in the law it il i'll those who are APP
pointed to execute 1t. impute to no OF
feer of this government either corrupt
conduct or improper motives. ! have
heretofore looked upon the Secretary %
] the l TtlSuIN as an hiAt anu il'li'7t A4i'Ai
and faithful official. | believe that tn
. Commissioner of Internal Revenue is per
sonally beyond reproach. But, sir, i'll tn
execution Of this Office more courage /
required than in the execution Of any ottic
under the government. The Commission
er of Internal Revenue should be master
, of his position, and he should have TIN
moral force when the collector or assesso
of any district does not return To the GOV
ernmcnt what might reasonably be ex
: pcctcd to discharge him from his office
I Ii these officers fail III their duty, instea
I I uf sending -aH army al -saies- to Mntc
. them and be themselves corrupted the
should at once be dismissed and propc
men put in their places. The people de
a mand the execution of this law, The
y know that S1000Oop00 or more should
G received from the whiskey manufacture
. in this country. They are groaning III
der the burdens of taxation which q
presses the industry of the country. The
- will not bear it much longer. There Is
Il fault somewhere Where 1t is do IL
Is know. But it is idle to say that a law
, plain As that upon our statute-book
relation tn the whiskey and tobacco Il
II cannot be executed. | hope that we sha
n pass this Measure, for by the aid OF tn
l. commission the Department may get II
sistance in executing the law and {
though the people hold them responsih
t. for the failure i'll the last two years, y
'e We, the Congress OF the United STATE
r should do everything to exonorate OF
o. selves from blame, Sir, the people kno
= that there has been failure. They
- not know whether it arises from incl
s. cheney or fraud and dishonesty but III
he do know, and they demand at the han
of of the dominant party i'll Congress, ii
~ some means should be adopted whereby
revenue may be realized to some reaso
able extent at least to what they have
le- right to expect.
It, One word more. seldom digresS fl,
x the proper subject of debate when Occur
as ing the attention Of the House; but
n must be pardoned a single remark i'll rel
81, to the gentleman from Illinois, MIR. NJ
shall, whom | regard AZ friend, a
VI whom respect for his great ability.
It'll told US yesterday that the whiskey
IA could never be collected and that
government could never be carried
., with integrity until the Republican pa
- was displaced and the Democratic pa
og- again placed i'll power; and he intimat
ct If he did not charge in words, that
vas Republican party were robbers a
an. thieves. Sir, no party is pure; | am
:, great partisan l was Wing unit
;. joined the Republican ranks, and | rem
iid there firm and faithful still But d
est not the gentleman remember that for