New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-14
XLIID CONGRESS-IsT SESSION.

SPEECH By SENATOR FENToN ON CUSTOM
HOUSE REFoRM-THE HOUSE VOTES TO RE-
StOvE THE DUTIES FROM COAL, SALT, TEA
AND COFFEE-A QUESTION CoNCERNING THE
XVIII AMENDMENT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEgl
WASHINGTON, Monday March 49, 1871.
The action OF tho House, to-day in voting to reduce
+bo revenues of the Governments TO the extent OF
s25 600 600 without word Of debate or minutes con-
alteration by any Committee rs considered strong adj
ditonal argument in favor OF tho Immediate appoint
ment Of the Standing Committees OF the hoie anu inc
consequent restoration Of the checks and balances
against hasty legislation provided by the ruies lnc
House. IL is said resembles ship without pase vi
der and Is ready to plunge into the widest io
h onoo Of tariff duties without the 81 shtest regard
90, c seouenees of its action its effect upon the
revenue Of the Government the industry OF the coun
fry Numerous men Of experience In the House atree
that one OF two things ought to be Done Wlehou. '
deay-either Congress should adjourn, OF Tue oPedAo
shoud announce the Committees and put egsauoh
into its regular and safe channels Inc rules oi 'ne
House explicitly state that "a Standing Committees sa
mo appointed ut the commencement OF each Col-
gross and no reason, It is said, now e1ls's
for neeecne to carry out this rule except the reuc-
ance OF the Speaker to perform the responsible duty
deyolying upon him. Leading Protectionists IN OOu-
gress agree that the action or tho House III 'no VI
slaught upon the Tariff, although manesy TAKEN WIN
the knowledge that legislation upon the suecI can
be got through the Senate this session, will cost the
country many millions OF dollars; will destroy all eon-
dence in the intention Of Congress to continue 70
afford protection 10 the great national industries; Will
cause men engaged in manufacturing to restrict Their
operations, and will prevent the commencement OF new
business enterprises The course OF the House VIII DC
taken by the people to mean that large majority OF us
members favor the abolition Of the tariff entire free
trade and the collection of the revenue By internal tax
NH. 1{otr,r and uncertainty that
he felt will be injurious to business interests than
the positive knowledge that certain reductions In the
tariff were inevitable would be.
The resolution introduced In the House this afternoon
by Mr. Gibson OF Indiana declaring that Congress had
q right to demand the ratification OF the AlVth ana
XVIII Amendments o condition OF representation on
the mart of States lately in rebellion, and affirming that
these Amendments are binding on the Executive, the
Judiciary the States and the people, placed the Demo-
Gratis in rather peculiar position. Many of them were
willing TO vote for the latter resolution, and desired
division. This not in order and they therefore
closed their eyes and voted "Nay" thus putting them
selves on record as favor Of resisting the enforcement
of these measures.
Avertsble avalanche Of bills and Joint resolutions no
less than 1856 in number, was poured into the House .o
day. under the call Of States including nearly all the
bills which failed last session and many new ones Inc
latter are generally OF little consequence, ana
will attract still less attention now as there are
no committees TO which TO refer them, ana there
ia no chance Of action on them this session. Among the
old bills renroduced by Mr. Hooper OF Massa-
chusetts to provide for the expectation OF distilled spS
"a measure warmly recommended by Commissioner
Pleasonon as needed to relieve our markets OF surplus
whisky and encourage the manufacture of that article
and one by Leonard Myers Of Pennsylvania to repeal the
Income tax. Mr. Braxton OF Virginia, emulous OF the
fame of ex-senator McCreery, introduced O
bin TO provide for the payment OF 100000 Tor
the title TO the Arlington estate. Little or no attention
was at first paid to b but few members voted
either way either on the division or by tellers The
Yeas and Nays We're however called on motion OF Gen
Butler to lay the bill the table, and on this the Vo'
stood IFS TO a. those who voted In the negative being al
Democrats except Blair, the member from Missouri
IL ia but fair however, to say that few Of the Demo
Gratis have still Of propriety and under tn
lead of Gen. socum of Brooklyn, voted with the mn
| iority. Among them were Messrs. Holman, voorhees,
Randall and Kerr.
little bill introduced by Mr. Mccormick OF Arizona
to-day TO prevent the killing Of buffaoes on the pubt
lands is Of more Importance than at first appears IL
the custom OF hunters the plains to kill from to 50
these animals in a day, and leave them without ever
cutting out their tongues, while there thousand
Of Indians who depend on them for subsistence
In December last train the Kansas Pacific Railroad
was snowbound for ten days, and nearly 800 passenger
lived during tho whole time almost exclusively o.
Buffalo flesh 1t is therefore very important to presery
them The bill imposes fine Of 500 for every ANNA
killed except for food its hide and proposes TO giv
half Of this to the informer.