The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-05
The Reassemblng Of CongresS--A Quorum
in Both Houses in the Capital.
Judge Kelly After the Revenue
Reformers.
Proposed Repeal Of the Internal
Revenue Taxes.
Senator Sumner On tho Alabama
Question.

Houses-Proposnl to Repeal the Income
Tux.
The trains arriving here to-day brought an ava
lanche OF congressman and politicians, with large
proportion OF lobby members, who scattered over
the city In oil the hotels, and boarding
houses. The weather being warm, with bright
and cheerful sun shining, the day was busy passed
In visiting many Senators aud Representatives hold
Ing levees at their quarters Everybody called
upon everybody else, discussing the results OF the
late political canvass and what the future had in
store for aspirants for prominent Offices The indl-
cations are that when the hour for the meeting OF
Congress arrives tomorrow there Will be an I'M
usually large attendance. for the flrst day Of SEES
sion upon the Part OF both Senators and members.
There Is no danger OF either House lacking q quo
rum and 1t is almost safe to predict that the repub
leans will have their customary two-thirds
on the ground from the start. The regu.
lar order OF business for the day In the
House Is the call OF the States and Territories for
bills and resolutions for reicrencc but the first thing
Is the appointment OF q committee wait upon the
President and inform him that Congress is in SEES
sion and ready for business, which Is hint for him
to send In his Message. When TINS Is done the
Senate will take recess, and probably the House
Will do the same. until the committee to wait upon
the President Is ready to report II seems
to be generally understood that the Message
Will be sent In at once. After the reading or that
document the chances are that both houses win
adjourn. Very few OF the members seem to have
any programme ready III the way OF legislation Tor
the session. Some OF them think that the best thing
they can do is TO pass the appropriation bills ana
then go home 'Tne less we do beyond this, y said
prominent member to-day, "the better for tho re-
publican party and the country.n This gentleman
Is reelected TO the Forty second Congress. Unforu-
way OF thinking in the minority There are COM
paratively few members OF the present House re-
elected. Those who expect 10 60 out are I'm no
particular hurry to get away They will be anxious
to oblige both their friends and themselves by pass
ing few railroad and other bills OF kindred charac.
ter but the better part OF the members, the reliable
substantial men, nave ne desire To enter Into this
business.
Judging from what members say revenue reform
will be one OF the leading questions OF the session.
II is hardly probable that anything will be done
with 1t; certainly nothing WIN be done ~ favor OF It.
for the House, as at present constituted, is TOO
strongly high tariff. But II Is very evident THAI rev.
enue REFORM as iC has discussed in the news
papers and upon the stump, is the uppermost
thought In the minds OF members rs they
come fresh from the people. Whether
there ls anything done or not there VIII
u
change OF opinions. Judge Kelley, OF Pennsylvania,
who is regarded the leader or the protectoniss
has prepared the following resolution which he Will
introduce tomorrow u he gets y chance. I. wnl he
observed that Kelley proposes To meet the revenue
reformers on what he conceiyes TO he their own
ground. lie says he wants to test tLem
and see whether they are really ready
to abolish what n thinks the most
obnoxious features OF the internal revenue
law. Kelley says mis- idea Of revenue reform 10 TO
get rid OF the cheek stamp, the stamps on mort
cages, deeds, watches, the income tax and ali The
other taxes that are not only burdensonle bu, In
noying. He will move the previous question on the
following and bring 1t TO 3 vote:--
Resolved, That the true principles Of revenue ~.
form point to the ABOLITION OF the Internal revenue
system, which was created as war measure 20
tinuaace OF which involves the employment, at tn
cost OF millions OF dollars annually uf
sors detectives and Other ocs9s prsSosr
unknown, and requires the repeal. at the earliest
day consistent with the maintenance OF the faith
and credit OF the government, OF all stamp and other
internal taxes. and that properly adjusted rates
shall be retained on distilled spirits tobacco
mate expenses u inc government reat,irs
the collection Of any sum from internal taxeg
Senator Summers Views on the Aiabupa
Claims.
Senator Sumner, with al his reported IJngractica-
hiiy, seems after all. to be regarded as among the
NEST prominent leaders Of the republican party.
To-day he WAS almost run down with visitors among
whom we're some Of the most distinguished men OF
the party, as well as members OF The diplomatic
corps. Secretary Boutwe, mad protracted confer
ence with inn this morning. Earon Gcro the Min-
lister OF the North German Confederation. called upon
HIM later in'the day ana had along consultation
the present status OF the ''Franc0-FrlssaR Dncl''
In the course Of conversation with your CORES.
pondent the Senator said ha had been grossly mis-
represented In the interview alleged to have TAI en-
place between himself and the reporter III Chicago
paper He does not DENY that SUCH an Interview
was had, but he says there is scarcely any
truth In the report or the conversation as IL
was published. The interviewer, II sceRs,
was q witness to what Sumner regarded
az o private conversation between himself
and Isaac N. Arnold, formerly member Of Congress
from Illinois, Tne Senator talked freely 10 MR.
Arnold as one frend would talk 10 another but he
did not use the language about the President wncn
Is ascribed to him. While disagreemg with General
Grant in some things, he has the interest Of the
party that elected Grant much heart to speak
OF the President In the manner attributed
to him. With regard TO the recent letter OF
Reverdy Johnson to Mr.. Parker, president
Of the Great western Insurance Company, on the
Alabama claims, Mr.. Sumner 10 OF opinion that
Johnson5 law points are emiDcntly sound aud well
taken especially that part which relates to the law
OF Insurance. With reference to the right OF cizeas
OF the United 81 to prosecute private claims the
Senator says that is matter OF expediency. II the
government has abandoned The settlement OF these
claims the Senator does not why private claimants
may not make application to Great Britain for their
settlement. IT. on the other hand the matter IL still
pending between the tive governments, he thinks
the law OF 1899 to which Mr.. Johnson refers,
clearly bars them from any interference. The ques
ton of propriety hinges on the point whether
the government has ceased TO prosecute q settle
ment. On this point Mr.. Sumner does not agree
with Mr.. Johnson, whose letter, however,
he considers very able. Your correspondent
has information from another source that
the Views or Senator Sumner on this point
are in accord with those Of tue President.
who instead OF faycrng the idea OF private parties
tN<ti, rta 10