Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-31

cessor be appointed, or until such vacancy be
filled. The date of the commission j. Dec m
ter", 1867.
Mr.. Butler-How did Chandler get out of
oficel
Wtness.-He resigned.
Mr.. Butler.-Can you state from me nory
what time his resignation took place!
Witness could not. He thought about a ca
or two before'the letter Of authority TO Cooper
was ise ued.
Mr.. Butler.-Louder.
Witness repeated his remark.
Mr.. Curtis.-Mr. Creecy, can You fix the
date when this change in the form of the COM
Witness thought about four days after the
passage Of the tenure. f-office act.
Senator How ard.-I would say, with great
aspect, that on this side of the chamber we
can hear neither question or answer.
Mr.. Curtis repeated his question.
Witness replied about the 9th of March.
Senator Drake.-What year
Witness.-1S67
Mr.. Butler-CsN Burt Van Horn.
Burt Van Horn sworn. Was at the War De.
partment when Gen. Thomas came there to
make demand for the property, papers and
effects of the oSice
HoVsR OF REPREsENTATIvRs.-Th House
reassembled at half past ten O'Clock this morn
ing.
Mr.. Cullom Ill.) introduced bill to amend
the act to reimburse the States for expenses in.
CURED in defence of the United States. Re-
feIred to Committee OH Appropriations
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nioation from the Secretary of the Treasury,
enclosing a communication from VIM. III. Or
ton, president of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, relating TO contract with the Pa
clfic Electric Telegraph Company. Referred
to Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Pile (Mo.) introduced a bill 10 relieve
the Quartermaster's Department of all re-
sponsibility for hospital tents destroyed at St
Louis. Referred to Committee on Military At
fairs.
Mr.. Kerr iInd.) offered a resolution, which
was referred to the Committee of Ways and
Means, directing that csmmttee TO inquire into
the expediency of so amending the revenue
laws as to prevent the transfer or assignment
of special license receipts, that successors
to a business may have authority to continue
the same With the old license
MIR. Kerr (Ind) also offered a resolution,
which was referred To the Committee on Bank.
ing and Currency, directing that committee 10
inquire INTO the eXpediency of reducing the ex-
cessiye and unequal taxation imposed upon
banks doing business under State laws, so that
they shall not be assessed to a greater amount
than that imposed upon national banks.
Mr.. Lawrence (Ohiol introduced a bill TO
authorize the construction of a ship canal from
Lake Erie TO the Ohio rlyer. Referred 10 Com
mittee on Roads and Canals.
Mr.. Bailey IN. W introduced a resolution
II cltlEg that great eXpens@ WAS involved IN the
COLI ctiOn of The taxes for internal revenue pur.
poses. and directing the WAYS and Means Com
mittee 10 inquire into the eXpediency of re-
ducing the tax gathering force and SO al usting
the internal revenue laws as TO require the
smallest possible force for the conduct of the
business. Referred To Ways and Means Com
mIttee.
Mr.. Spaldlng (O.) INTRODUCED a Joint r-soIu-
tion imposing tax upon native petroleum in-
tended for export Referred to Committee of
Ways and Means.
Mr. Lafiin IN ", from Conmittec on Print
ing, asked leave to report back the resolution
10 print 500 copies of Gen. Buffers speech for
the use of the House, and 1000 copies for dis
tributIon; but obj ction was made aud the reso-
luton was Withdrawn.
MT Schenck COhio) called up the conference
report upon the bliI TO exempt certain manu-.
been agreed 20 by the Senate yesterday
After the report had been read, Mr.. Schenck
explained il, and said the committee had
agreed to the paragraphs in relation to certain
contracts for machinery and in relation to
draw backs. as reported by the first committee
of conference. He explained that this bill re-
tanned the w o mill tax on manufacturers sales
II changes the " hisky section so as to subec
TO forfeiture of dIstiilery and materials. and to
fine not over S5,00J, and imprisonment n.
over lhree years. 1t punIshes revenue officers
conniN III at fraud also with fine and imprIs
onment. An additional section is added for
bidding compromises of any cases except upon
written permission of the Secretary of tn.
Treasury and the Attorney General.
Mr.. Brooks IN. " said that, as a member of
the committee of conference. he had signed tie
r, por', because he believed it was the best tha
could be done; but he was doubtful about the
penalty clause, and about the section relating
To draw backs.
Mr.. lngersoll (lll.) asked if the clause in re-
lation 10 compromises was intended to affect
cases OF drawback now pending.
Mr.. Schenck did not see how IL could 1t
had reference only to compromises that would
sensibly affect the revenue.
Mr.. Paine WIS., wanted some explanation
with regard 10 the exemption of manufactured
lumber.
Mr.. Schenck explained that the lumber in
terest was largely represented in the committee
OF conference, aud something had TO be con-
coded 10 them. The clause referred to lumber
III the rough which was intended for manufac-
ture.
Mr.. Ferry (Mich.) said the clause in relation
TO lumber, as he understood il, applied TO all
forms of lumber in the rough; and such As did
not take other forms of expression after being
manufactured, as moulding &c
Mr. Moorhead Pa inquired how it applied
10 lumber prepared in planning mill for floor
ing, ceiling, &c.
Mr.. Ferry replied that flooring and ceiling
We're always designated as lumber. 1t is true
they were partially manufactured, but when
ust in trade they were designated on bills of
lading, &c, as lumber, and not particularly as
ceiling, flooring, dc.
Mr.. Blaine Me inquired how il was as TO
doors, sashes, &c.
Mr.. Ferry replied that sashes, doors, &C.
Were designated as such partic ularly, and they
were consequently not among the exempted ar
ucles. lie explained at length the views of the
Committee as to lumber whether manufactured
or unmanufactured.
Mr.. Welker (O) asked whether the ith sec.
ton Ct the bill would have the effect of subject
ing to the mill tax such manufacture of agri-
cultural implements as were exempt by the tax
bill last year.
Mr.. Schenck replied affirmati yely. He said
that much was uttered here last year about
benefttng the farmer by reducing the tax on
agricultural implements The experiment had
been tried. and found that the farmer did not
get his implements any cheaper, but that the
whole exemption went to the benefit of the
manufacturer. Mr.. Schenck. referring to the
lumber question, said he could not agree with
all his colleague on the Conference Committee
(Mr. Ferry had said. His idea Of unmanu-
1actuled lumber was that il was lumber in the
condition which it left the mill and the
pianlng mill. After it was worked up into
any 1olm 1t became manu- factured lumber.
MI. Paine (Wis.) inquired in what light Mr.
Scbenck viewed shingles.
MT Schenck replied that he considered the
shingles manufactured lumber, as it came
from the knife.
Mr.. Blaine read Webster's definition of the
word lumber, and said if the Commits ssioner of
Internal Revenue was guided by Mr.. Schenck's
explanation, backed up by Noah Webster, the
lumber interest would not suffer.
The lumber question was then abandoned,
and Mr.. Schenck said before the bill was SUBJ
mitted to the House he desired to call the at.
tention Of the House to the fact that one of the
reporters Of the proceedings of the House had
undertaken to mterj ject his opinion into the re-
port. He denied the right OF any gentleman
who reported the proceedings OF this House to
interject opinions into such proceedings, and
he gave notice that If il was repeate he would
call the matter formally to the attention of the
House
The rer ort ~ the Conference Con-oittao mn.