The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-06-29
From the New York Herald
What Radical Taxation Is
For.
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTING.
The Committee Oh ways and
Means Going "ACE1Ss the CONT
Dens" On a Pleasure Trip al the
Public EXpense--G0Od Time En-
GseCyeE.
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1869.

pectea.
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1869.
On the lst of April last, in the House
Of Representatives soon after the read
iRg of the journal, and when there was
scarcely quorum present, Mr.. Schenck
arose in his place and said
"Mr, Speaker, ask unanimous con-
sent to submit the following resolution
which the Committee of Ways and
Means have unanimously instructed me
to offer"
The resolution was entitled "Resolu-
ton authorizing the Committee Of Ways
and Means to revise the tariff law" &c,
US follows:
Resolved, that the Committee on
Ways and Means or such sub,commit-
tee as the committee may designate,
are hereby authorized to make exam
ination and revision of the tariff law
and regulations relating to customs and
bonded warehouses; and are authorized
to examine witnesses, take testimony, and
sit during vacation for purposes of such
examination, and at such times and places
as they may deem advisable. And the
ordinary and necessary expenses of such
committee and their clerk shall be paid
during the time they are engaged in such
examination, and no other or additional
expense shall be incurred. And such
committee shall report to the House on
the second Monday of the next session
of the present Congress by bill or other
wise"
No objection was made, and as the
official record states, the resolution was
considered and agreed to.
Mr.. Schenck, having got his resolution
through, took the precaution to move to
reconsider the motion by which the res
olution was agreed to, and also TO lay
that motion upon the table, thus clinch-
ing the matter, and putting it beyond the
power Of any member to bring it up
again by motion to reconsider. From
that day the rowing trip Of the Ways and
| Means Committee was settled fact, and
the members thereof soon after commen-
ced making preparations for a trip "across
the continent" to ''revise the tariff laws"
The committee met in New York about
the middle of May, and after spending q
short time there, went to Philadelphia.
What they did in New York beyond con-
tracing huge hotel bill, will a supple
mentary one of respectable dimensions,
composed mostly of ''incidentals,' y has
not been made known. 1t is alleged that
so far as ''revision of the tariff laws re-
lates to whisky, wines, cigars. hacks, DC.
the committee will be able to make an
elaborate report to the House from &C
tual experience. The committee in Phil
adelphia had number of suites Of the
most expensive rooms at the Continental
Hotel, and during their stav there went
through repetition of the "revision Of
the tariff law on the articles of liquors
and cigars Judge Kelley, the great
tariff champion in the House, who is 4
member of the committee, and who re-
sides in Philadelphia, did not allow the
opportunity to pass of showing the Wes-
tern members of the committee the man
ufactories of the Quaker City. Hacks
daily rolled through the streets with the
sage committee, going from workshop to
workshop. Of course, there were any
number of private dinners, arranged for
by the astute Kelley, given by the large
manufacturers The free trade Western
members were overwhelmed. 1t is said
Allison, of Iowa, was almost persuaded
to become tariff man, while Blair, Of
Michigan, and Marshal, of Illinois, went
entirely over. Schenck kept saying,
81 told you these tariff men were devil
lish good fellows"
What was done in New York au6 Phil
adelphia about, regulations relating to
customs and bonded warehouses" is not
known. Nothing has been heard from
the committee, so far, on this branch of
their inquiry at the Treasury Depart
ment. 1t is well known that the main
object of the committee was to get up a
huge story about the mlsmanagement of
the custom houses and internal revenue
department under Andrew Johnson's adj
ministration. This was to be done for
political capital and by way of demon
strating the purity and economy of Grants
reign. Those who were examined be-
fore the committee belonged to the new
regime They were questioned as to the
condition in which they found matters,
and as to the reforms they had made.
OF course their answers were ofthe char
acter expected by the committee.
The sittings in New York and Phila-
y -, 81 h,, ,,,,>ln-t />f S.J : 0nl
for which the chairman of the committee
drew upon the Clerk Of the House. The
Clerk paid the draft, but at the same
time informed the honorable chairman
that the miscellaneous appropriation"
was exhausted and if more money was
wanted they must devise some other way
and means to obtain it than by drawing
upon him.
The trip to California IS the 'big
thing" connected with the iunketing eX-
pedition of the Ways and Means. 1t is
the clay which comes after tue work
''sore labor's path" as Shakespeare has
it. Turning their backs upon the Gus
tomhouses, and workshops and manu-
factures of the East, the committee are
determined to see what "revision Of the
tariff laws" is needed in the West
The foIlowing-named members Of the
committee go on this trip Samuel Hoop
er, William +. Allison, William d. Kel-
lev, James Brooks, Austin Blair, Den
mis- Mccarthy, and Samuel $. Marshall.
General Schenck the chairman of the
committee, goes to Europe, and the
other member, Horace Maynard, is at
work in the campaign in Tennessee.
In addition to these the committee
have taken along with them several black
messengers of the House Of Representa-
tives to act as caterers, BARRIERS, servants,
DC, besides two or three doorkeepers and
deputy sergeant-at arms. Each men,
Der is allowed not only to take his fami.
ly, or us may lady friends as he chooses,
but also to invite one or more personal
friends-ielows learned in the art of
revising the tariff laws and we'll posted
in the regulations relating to customs
and bonded warehouses"
H. 1ao,l,,.a &c r.