The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-08
Things In Washington.

INTERESTING VIEWS OF CONGRESgMEN-MP0R-
TANT IIaIsLATIoN E1PEUED-TE FINANCES
AND TA1:ATIoN-oPN1oEs IN REGARD 10 THE
CURRENCY AND CONTRACTION. OF
TAXATION.
The Washington correspondent of the Balti-
more Sur telegraphs, under date Of Sunday
night:
Members Of Congress just returned from the
holiday visit to their homes report that they
have beer urged by their constituents to use
cessary legislation on questions Of finance and
taxation, to the end that these may be speedily
and wisely settled, not only in obedience to the
emergency of the times, but as well that these
grave matters may be determined before the
Presidential election, and thus keep them as
free as possible from party politics.
l These members represent that recently some
modification In sentiment has taken place on
the propositions to increase paper currency and
to contract the same, the frst-increase Of cur.
rency-bsing urged less, and the latter-con-
traction scarcely at all; that the proposition
to tax government bonds has grown in favor;
that the mode and time of paying these bonds
is engaeing the earnest consideration OF the
people; that there is well-defned division OF
opinion except in cases where the law IN e1-
press language on this subject directs the pay
ment in coin-and it is difficult to determine
whether there is a majority in favor OF re-
deemins these obligations in currency. Some
also represent that there is not such earnest
and active opposition to the national banks as
was manifested at the commencement Of the
Noyembsr session Of Congress.
But above all other questions upon which
the people express solicitude, that Of taxation
is probably foremost. The reduction Of the
aggregate sum collected labout five hundred
milhons) is advised, and the popular idea
oaoc,a ~ Lo tbof oho,11r hn fyad Ql an AZ
pertinent, for the present at least, at about
three hundred million dollars. It is also ad-
yised that the number OF taxable articles be
greatly reduced; that the cotton tax should be
at once repealed; that the income tax is odious
End inquisitorial, and should be abolished;
that tho tax on distilled spirits should be great
" reduced, some urging twenty, others nifty
cents rer gallon. They say that there is an
almost unanimous belief among intelligent
commercial men that the present tax upon
spirits can never be collected, because it ls 80
disprop portionate TO the cost OF production,
and that this tax results in q prohibition upon
fair ani open business. Such is substantially
Che information your correspondent has To-Day
obtained in conversations with congressman
fresh from conference with their constituents.
THE PHEsDENT AND THE SUPREME COURT AND
RECONSTRUCTION.
A Washington telegram to the New York
Herald says:
The cases expected to come before the Uni
ted States Supreme Court shortly, involving
the question Of the constitutio1alty OF the he
construction acts, are giving rise to a good
many speculations or course all stories pro.
fessing to unfold what will be the decision OF
the Judges on this important question are en-
tirely unauthorized and based upon the judg-
menta or imaginations Of private parties. No
one Gel know in advance what will be the con-
clusions Of the learned Judges. The latter will
hear both sides, and then make up their deci-
sions from the arguments, and legal preoes.
course, for the political bias Of each of the
Judges. But this may be said-that should
the supreme judicial tribunal Of the land de-
clare unconstitutional the action OF Congress IN
enacting the rebel States out OF the Union, dis
francaising white voters and forcing negro suf.
frage snd African supremacy upon thepeopl OF
those unhappy districts, the course OF the E1-
ecuti7e may be pretty certainly indicated even
at the present moment. The President, In all
probability, would in that event hasten to pro-