The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-03
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PORTLAND DALEY PRESS.
Kills: O0NGREss---Second Session.


WASHINGTON, June 2.-The bill for the aboli-
ton of the franking privilege came up, and
MIR. Pomeroy's motion, placing it at the foot of
the calendar being rejected, 25 to 81, Mr.. Har
Ian agreed that it be laid aside and the Indian
appropriation bill taken up, remarking that
everybody knew that the ranking bill would
pass
Mr.. Sumner also desired further time before
the bill was acted upon, in order to address
the Senate upon his proposed substitute for the
bill. He was unwilling to see the ranking
system cut down without suitable equiva-
lent.
Mr.. Ramsey thought the apprehension of
the New York Tribune that the bill was in
danger from its friends was verified in the case
of the Senator from Massachusetts.
MIR. Sumner-That Senator had introduced
his substitute six weeks ago aud yet he was
not prepared to go on with the bill
Mr.. Howe thought it manifest that the bill
Rad not friends enough in the Senate to hurt
anything. (Laughter.)
Mr.. POmerOy moved that the bill be passed
over. Agreed to, 80 to IS.
Mr.. Sumner and Mr.. Howard protested
against Mr.. Hamlin's suggestion that this ac.
ton should be considered a test vote.
The Indian appropriation bill was the take n
up and Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, made state
ment upon Indian affairs to show the cost OF
civil and military service on the frontier
Mr. Morrill, reviewed at length the policy of
the government toward the Indians, alleging
that we had repeatedly broken treaties with
Them and condemnng in severe terms the
Chivington and Pigeon Hill massacres. He
did not censure Sheridan personally, but de-
nounced the system of which he was willing
instrument He was followed by Mr.. Stew
ard who sustained the policy of combining the
Indians to their reservations and of allowing
the free and secure settlement of the terrific
ry. Without action on the bill the Senate
went into executive session and soon after took
recess.
EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session the bill was resumed
and amendments agreed to approprating ST.
10000 to carry out the treaty with the Sioux
That upon annuities and the interest of the
trust fund provided by treaties no taxes be as
peace commission so long as the appropriation
for their expenses shall last.
Adjourned.
The joint resolution was passed granting the
city of Poughkeensie five condemned cannon
and two hundred roud shot, to be used in the
construction of a soldiers monument.
Mr.. Paine of Wisconsin, from the Committee
on Elections, reported bill to pay the six
Louisiana members $40, 500 in all for expenses
in prosecuting claims to seats in the House,
which was passed, u to 81.
Mr.. Paine also reported q bill regulating
com pensatiOn in cases of contested elections
The first section provides that no money shall
be paid the sitting member or contestant until
| the case is determined, when the mileage and
compensation shall go to the successful con-
testantS. These conditions grant to the de-
feated opteStant the amount of money actu-
ally expended in prosecuting or defending his
| rights.
MIR. Dawes of Massachusetts stated that the
! amount paid in twelve years, up to the begin
| ming of this Congress, to men whom the House
has decided to have no just claim, was S173, 59J
| and the present Congress had added $50 000.-
| He submitted that that evil was owing to the
fact that at the beginning of this Congress there
had been sxty-tive contested cleo; ions in the
! House and only siXty-three in all the years be-
| fore. In this Congress there had been thirty
more making ninety five contested cases in
| fourteen years and sxty-three only in the fifty
years preceding. This very day $4,000 have
been voted to men who had been decided to
| have no right to dollar because they had no
right TO seats. While Mr. Dawes was speak
ing the morning hour expired and the House
| resumed the consideration of the bill to reduce
| internal taxes; the question being on the abo.
lition Of the income tax, which was favored by
| Mr.. O'Neill and opposed by Mr.. McCrary.
The discussion on the question was contnu-
| ed at great length, each speaker being Above
five minutes. Messrs. Benton, Holman, Will
son, Townsend, Woodward, Ingersoll and
| fair and equitable and not burdensome on the
people or industry of the country. Messrs
| Kelly, Myers, O'Neil Roots, Wood, Sargent
Potter, Banks and others the unconditional re-
peal, advocating 1t as a measute Of policy
equity and justice and on substantially the same
reasons as heretofore stated; while Messrs
Atwood, Moore, Hale and Farnsworth favored
an increase of the exemption to $4,000 and the
reduction of the rate to 3 per cent.
A large number of amendments were offer
ed, including those of Mr.. Brooks of Massa
chusetts, striking out the provision requiring
man to account for the income of his minol
children, and by Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts
prohibiting the publication of incomes; Mr.
Schenck closed the debate in favor of retaining
the tax, arguing that its abolition would no
only cut off $4,000, 900 of the revenue the los.
of which could not be afforded; but he would
strike out only the provisions made in the law
and the only ones, as some thought, that could
be made in the law for taxing the income or
United States bonds. In conclusion Mr.
Schenck moved the previous question. which
was seconded, and by agreement the vote OF
the sections in relation to the income tax will
all the amendments were postponed until to
| morrow.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky offered an amend
ment TO the 10Th section, the effect of which
will be to tax the interest on all government
bonds 5 per cent.