Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-22
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
FRIDAY. January 22.

n6.
ing March 4, 1875; which were read and place I'd
on the file
Mr Pomeroy presented a memorial, exclu.
slvely signed by ladies Of Niagara county, "
Y, asking the right of suffrage. Also, o her
petitions on the same SUBJECT: which We're -e-
ierred 10 the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Trumbuli, from the Committee on the
judiciary, reported, with amendments. Hous.
resolution providing for the disposition of Ger
tain papers relative TO claims against the De-
partment OF the West.
The amendment provides that the evidence
IN these claims shall be printed. Adopted, and
the resolution passed.
Mr.. Conkling presented the memorial OF Ger
tain physicians, as king that the high duties on
certain Indispensable drugs, which do not com
pete with any in this country be reduced Re-
ferred TO COMMITTEES on Finance.
Mr.. Conkling presented a memorial from the
advocates of female suffrage He said the Sem
ator from Kansas (Mr Pomeroy) seemed to
imagine that he had a monopoly in these petit
lions, but he Mr.. O. was gratified that he had
got mold OF one. II intelligence is 10 be the test
of the privilege, this movement was entitled TO
consideration, for the women had certainly
displayed intelligence in their dyocacy Of IT.
The Senator from Kansas presented these me-
morals with a great deal OF coldness and for
mallty. He (Mr. O. hoped the tagging ensr-
gies OF the male ad vocates of this movement, of
which ne was not one, would be kept up to the
mark.
Mr.. Drake, fromt the Committee on the Pa
cific Railroad. reported a resolution declaring
against the further granting of subsidies to
Y,
asked for its present consideration, to which
Mr.. Edmunds objected.
Mr.. Stewart introduced bill relative to the
refining OF gold and silver.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, in reply to the remarks
OF Mr.. Morton on the New Jersey and Mary.
land capitatlon tax, said he did not speak in the
interest Int OF the Camden and Amboy railroad.
He was under no obligations TO that road, and
II was under none to him. He did not doubt
that the Camden and Amboy would be glad to
have Congress relieve them Of this tax The
hill U lv in fhn into at ~ IN
against the interest of the State OF New Jersey.
The Senator from Ohio (Mr. ShermanJ had
also oanimadveried on New Jersey. One would
suppose that New Jersey stood at the gate of
the great metropolitan city of the continent OBJ
structing the highway, and when she allowed
the rusty gate to turn on Its hinges, that she
levied onerous toll on the way worn travellers
He would show that the very opposite of this
was the case. New Jersey had always been
true to the Union, from the dark days of the
revolution down. In the rebellion she was tie
for the defence Of Washington. 1t requires no
great hurry TO build railroads now, but at one
this Union to build railroads. The Camden
and Amboy railroad was projected ten years
before any other in New York. There was a
railroad IN every county in New Jersey, and
the average value of each one OF that State was
greater than in any other State OF the Union
The Senator from Indiana (Morton) was
mistaken IN saying that New Jersey got the
greater part of her living from this tax on the
people Of other States. Indiana was the fifth
State in population and New Jersey the SIX
teepth, yet New Jersey had In I-d6 pad four
millions more OF internal revenue than Indians.
and In lc67 three millions more. And was it
true that there was only one railroad across
New Jersey TO New York; No, there were
seven railroads, stretching across New Jersey
In every direction, and connecting with New
York. Then there was the Delaware and
Raritan Canal, one of the noblest works in the
country. New Jersey was not exactly sur.
rounded by Chinese wall, as the Senator
N a taS
sengers, no lawyer would con LradIct the propo
sition of the Senator, Mr.. Morton,) that any
such tax by State wou Id be unconstitutional
But is this tax, as levied by New Jersey.
tax Oh travel. Ii will be conceded that
State has the right to tn the property o. rail
road within its limits. There are various
modes OF taxation, and the most lust is that
which taxes the business of the railroad. This
Is not tax on passengers and freight, but a
tax on the business of the railroad relative to
passengers and freight; Of Course in the end the
consumer has 10 pay il, and does not the con.
surer have 70 pay the tax on everything This
tax the senator says is added TO the fare, but
he tMr. r begged bis friends pardon, the rail-
road had no right to add this tax to the fare any
more than II had the right to add the tax on its
stock. New Jersey had by special enactment
provided that the maximum rate of fare be-
tween Philadelphia and New York should not
exceed -, aud II was known that passengers
were carried in comforts BILE cars as low "a 8 so
From the last message Of the Govern or Of New
Jersey, II appeared that the W hole receipts into
the State treasury from this tax from the rail.
road and from the Delaware and Rariton
Canal, amounted TO only Sl67, ,OOO which was
only al the rate OF X per cent, while the
OF taxation In Indiana on railroads was 2b per
cent and he would ask his friend if the pas.
sengers in Indiana did not pay this tax. He
did not imagine the Congress Of the United
States was in the habit of violating the Consti-
tuition, yet Congress had adopted the same
theory OF railroad taxation which prevailed i'm
New Jersey. Congress had Enacted that q Ger.
tam tax should be levied upon the gross receipts
tnh md
Jersey taxed travel so did the United States
IL would be Just as competent to say that an
American citizen shall travel all over the
country without paying any tax, As to say
that be should not pay his proportion of the
tax. The Nevada case was not at all analo.
gous, tor there the attempt had been made to
levy tax directly upon the passenger. This
was all he Mr.. +. had TO say now. He might
OF mlght MOI In the future make some remarks
on that other bill, which is the companion Of
this.
Mr.. Morton insisted with all respect to his
friend from New jersey, that the question of
her right to impose this kind of tax had been
settled directly. The supreme Court has said
repeatedly that a tax Of this kind is a tax upon
passengers, AID the question is no longer an
open one.
HoUsE.-Mr. Poland (Vt) introduced a bill
to extend the fifty per cent. provision Of the
bankrupt law.
Also, bill relating to notices in bankruptcy.
Referred to the Committee on tine Revision Of
MIR. Griswold IN. " introduced rill to di-
mhlsn nuctuations IN gold, and to prov vide for
a return to specie payments. Referred to the
Committee OF Ways and Means
The regular order being demanded, the
Speaker stated that reports OF private nature
were In order from the Committee ON the Dis.
uict Of Columbia.
Mr.. KoOntz. pal from the Committee on the
District OF Columbia, reported bill to amend
the charter Of the Oorporation Of Gecrgetovn,
District Of Columbia.
Mr. KoOntz explained the provisions of the
bill, and urged ITS passage.
Mr.. Baldwin Mass opposed the bill, on the
ground that II proposed to confer on the mu.
nicipal authorities OF GeOrgetown q power
which belonged to the United States.
Mr. Chanler IN. " asked II the bill was in
accordance with the laws for collectiug rev.
enne in other parts throughout the country.
Mr.. Koonrz (Pa.) replied that those fees were
collected at all ports, eItner BY the municipal
or legislative authority.
Mr. Chanler IN. Y y said ne wanted q simi.
lar bill passed for the city OF New York.
Mr. Eliot (Mass.) said the bill was wholly
exceptionable ON that subject. 1t ought to re.
eeive more careful consideration from the
Commlttee on Commerce.
Mr. Ross (Ill.) moved to lay the bill upon
me table. Agreed to. 50 the bill was laid on
Mr.. Ingersoll, (In.) from the Committee on
tne District Of Columbia, reported q Joint reso.
lntion to change the name OF Four.and.a.Half
street TO Lincoln avenue. Passed.
Mt Wood, IN. Y.) from the same Commit.
Ee, reported q bill to incorporate the Masonic
mutual Relief Association OF the District of