The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-25
Washington Matters.
THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.


Considerable canvassing of the members of
the Senate has taken place to test the sense of
that body relative to the suffrage amendment
as it passed the House. The result of this
sitting shows that the action of the Senate is
somewhat doubtful, the Republican Senators
being pretty we'll divided upon the House reso-
luton. Senator Stewart who takes charge in
the Senate of the proposed amendment, has
hopes of obtaining sufficient number of votes
to carry motion to refer the resolution to a
Committee of Conference, which motion he
proposes to make. But failing on that, he will
move that the Senate concur with the House
amendment. There is much anxiety manifest
ed by the Republicans on the subject as they
regard this opportunity as the only hope of
carrying the amendment. Left to future
Congress, the probability is that two-thirds
vote could not be obtained in favor of the re-
solution.
THE CIVIL OFFICE TENURE ACT.
The fate of the bill to repeal the Civil Office
Tenure Act is yet in some doubt, put the in
dications of sentiment are that the act will rot
be repealed, but will be modified SO as to give
the President the right to appoint and remove
Cabinet officers at will and also making some
changes as to the mode Of suspendng officers
during the recess of the Senate.
THE BANKING BILL.
The Senate Committee on Finance decided to
strike out of the House Banking Bill, Coburn's
redistribution section, and they will probably
insert therefor the Senate Committees own
provision to increase the National Bank cur
rency twenty millions. This increase, it is ex-
pected, will of course got to the Western and
Southern banks. The belief founded upon a
careful counting of noses is, that the House
bill will finally pass the Senate without material
change; also, the same interests and combina-
lions are found at work in the Senate to carry
it through as proved potent in the House. The
Senators regard the proposition to prohibit the
Secretary of the Treasury from selling gold
and bonds secretly, and paying commissions
therefore, as necessary legislation, and there
is no doubt that it will become law. The
President being likewise averse to this pernici-
Gus practice, will Of course approve the bill.
TIE TAX BILL.
The Senate Finance Committee is also OPP
posed to taking up the Tax Bill, especially on
account Of the seeming impossibilty of getting
through with it before the close of the session.
There is, however a powerful lobby here urging
favorable action upon two features Of the bill,
whether any other be considered or not. These
features are the extension of the time for re-
moving Whiskey in bond, and the modification
of the tobacco tax. The whskey extension
proviso was smugged through the House when
1t was in Il dozy evening session, and when
there was Il slim attendance. The Senate will
probably be more cautions of its action on this
winding up Of the most gigantic scheme to
swindle the Government that ever before
proved even partially successful. Shond the
Senate pass it there is scarcely doubt that
the President would pocket the BILL and it
" ould the rofore fail.