Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The Senate
took up and passed the pension appro,
priatiOn bill. The only amendment the
Senate Committee on Appropriations
made to the bill as passed by the House,
was the following paragraph: For rate
of increase of pensions above the rates
heretofore authorized by law provided for
in the act of the present session, entitled
an act increasing pensions for disabled
soldiers, widows and children, deceased
| soldiers and sailors five millions. The
amendment was rejected and the bill goes
to the President.
A communication from the Board of
Trustees of the Columbia Deaf and Dumb
Asylum was read inviting attendance of
the Senate on the occasion of exercises
OF the institution Sunday next, presided
over by the President of the United States.
The Income Tax.
At 1:30 the Senate resumed the co n
sideration of the bill repeating the income
tax Dec. 81, 1870, and Mr.. Buckingham
spoke of the practical defects of the law
and the failure to enforce it, in conse-
quence of the neglect of Assessors to
enforce and collect the penalties for the
neglect and refusal of a party to make
retuIng. For these and other reasons
enumerated be would vote for repeal.
Mr.. Cole opposed the tax on incomes
as distinct from taxes on salaries and
compensation dividends, believing the
former the most Objectionable.
A striking Contrast.
Mr.. Johnson regarded the internal rev.
enue system the main cause of the pres
ent business prostration. To show the
monsirous inequality of the tax, he con-
trasted the poverty of Virginia-for four
years the theatre of war-with the wealth
of Massachusetts,, which, he said, during
the war enjoyed the benefits of war con-
tracts, and commented on the fact that, |
according to the estimated receipts of the |
Commissioners of Internal Revenue, for !
the current fiscal year Virginia would |
pay into the United States treasury
1925, 900 more than Massachusetts. If !
should arise, the required sum could be
appOrtioned equitably among the States
and raised by the ordinary tax collecting
machinery of the Treasury.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, referring to
the statement of the Secretary of the
Treasury that the revenue from the in
come tax was indispensable as a means
of meeting current expenditures, said
he would regard the repeal as an express
ion by the Senate Of confidence in the
Secretary. The effect of such legislation
under like circumstances III England
would be cause for the Ministry to retire
at once.
At 9:15 Mr.. Harlan moved to go into
executive session.
Mr.. Scott appealed TO the Senate to
dispose Of the income tax quick and
make the vote on Mr.. Harlan's motion a
test of the Senate on the pending bill
MI Harlan's motion was then rejected,
yeas 26; nays %. The pending bill was
then resumed.
Mr. Corbett suggested that if the tax
was declared unconstitutional by the Su-
prcme Court, it could not be reimposed by
Congress in any subsequent public emer-
gency. An immed date repeal would be
polite, superseding such decision.
Mr.. Johnston offered a substitute for
the bill abolishiDg the internal revenue
system, except as to the issue for sale
of stamps, and constituting Postmasters
agencies for the sale of stamps.
Mr.. Howell denied that the mass of |
The people of the country asked for re-
peal, and urged that the cutlery in its be-
half was dictated by selfish considcEa-
ions.
Mr.. Thurman favored the reduction of |
taxes and he would vote for repeal, but
did not favor the entire abolition of the
revenue system. That would likely be
he means of perpetuating a more oner-
Jus system in the present tariff laws.
Mr. J0hnston's substitute was rejected.
Mr.. Warner thought Congress could
not safely proceed further in reducing
taxes. He could not vote for he repeal |
Of a special tax bearing on the Itch while
he tsxts on the necessarie5 of life that
were out of the pockets of the poor re-
NAMED.
After further discussion, Senate bill
passed, yeas. 26, nays 90. The vote in
detail was as follows:
Yeas-Anthony, Bayard, Buckingham,
Cameron, Carpenter, Casserly, Cole,
CDnhuDP, COIDStt, ICuIOu, IldudSau,
Fowler, Hamilton, of Missouri, Hamil-
ton, of Texas, Mcdonald, Osborne, Pome-
roy, Rice, Scott, Stewart Stockton, sum
ner, Thurman, Trumbujl, WickeTs and
Ystes-2G.
Nays-Abbott, B'air, Foreman, Brown
low, Cragin, Ham'iD, Hardin, Howard,
Howe, Howell, johnson, Morrill,, Patter-
sop, Pratt, Ramsey, Sawyer, Sherman,
Spinner, Sprague, Stearns, Upton, War
ner, Wiley Williams and WilsOn-25.
McCreery, Nye and Robertson in favor
of repeal paired off with Morton,
Edmunds aud Poole, who were absent
and opposed.
The following is the new bill as it
passed the Senate:
a bill 20 repeal so much of the act approved July
"A. 1870 entitled An act to reduce interna!
taxes and for other purposes, as continues the
income tax after Dec. 81. 1863
Be it enacted, etc, That sections 6, Z,
s, 9, 10, II, u, -, IA, Is and l6, Oflan
act entitled, An act 20 reduce internal
taxes ard for other purposes, approved
18th July, 1870, be, and they are hereby
repealed.
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