The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-26

congress Yesterday-The Income Tax-Re-
Guosion Of Import Duties-A New Way 60
Tame tho Savage Iudian-Ths Next scssiou
Of CopEress.
The abolition Of the income tax still meets
determined opposition at the hands Of the
chairman Of the Finance Committee in the
Senate and Of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Senator Sherman made strong argument
against Its abolition yesterday 10 the Senate.
aud Secretary Boutwell, did the same before
the House Committee Of Ways and Means.
The Secretary estimated the revenue to be
derived from the income tax under the present
law, which exempts two thousand dollars Of
income from taxation and fixes the rate at two
and q half per cent, as between thirteen and
fourteen millions Of dollars. and calculates tho
Sost Of its collection at less than half million.
This opinion Of the Secretary differs very much
from that of General Pleasonton, Commissioners
Of Internal Revenue, who estimates the pro-
duct Of the tax at only eight millions and the
cost Of collecting It at an equal or greater
amount The simplest way OF reconciling
these differences Of financial doctors rs to
abolish the tax altogether and have no moro
worry or bother about it,
The House bill granting pensions to the sur
vivors OF the war Of 1879 and the widows and
children Of deceased soldiers was taken up in
the Senate yesterday, discussed for a while
and then laid aside for another subject. In
fact, the Senate did nothing in its session Of
yesterday except to discuss, without any
result, the subject Of that pension bill, the bill
for the abolition of the income tax, the political
management Of the New York Custom House.
and to admit to his Scat as Senator from the
State Of Missouri the indomitable Frank p.
Blair, late democratic candidate for the
Vice Presidency of the United States.
The Indian Appropriation bill occupied
the attention of the House for the greater part
Of yesterdays session. The usual stereotyped
debate as to whether it were better policy to
fight the Indians or to feed them was carried
on with as much apparent earnestness as If it
had never been gone over before. Mr.. Gar
field, however, struck out a somewhat new
that the one thing needful to save aud to ele-
vate and to civilize the Indian race was to
endow 1t with the, ballot That gift had done
wonders with the African and must have an
equally marvellous effect upon the Indian,
We should like to have the opinion of s'Spotted
TAIL upon the relative value of red blanket
and printed slip covered with the names Of
politicians, red, white or black. The Indian
is bad enough now, without adding to his other
graces those which smanate from Tammany
Hall or the Union League.
The bill which the House passed some ton
days ago, declaratory of the meaning Of tho
act of July IA, 1870, and which was amended
In the Senate, has become q law, so far as tho
action of Congress Is concerned, the House
having yesterday concurred in the amend
ments of the Senate. The bill now allows
goods imported on the 3lst of December last to
come In under the reduced rates of duties
which went into effect ON the LIST Of January,
and it reduces the duty on imported liquors to
two dollars per gallon. 1t only now awaits the
Presidents approval and signature.
It appears, from colloquy which took place
in the House yesterday between Mr. Brooks,
Of New York, and Mr.. Dawes, of Massachu-
setts that the next Congress will undoubtedly
meet on the 4th Of March next, and continue
the session. Mr. Dawes pathetically depleres
what he believes to be inevitable, and
prophesies that Congress will continue in
session till the middle of April or the begin
ming Of May. The people will be gratihed with
the assurance, however, that whatever he
the leader of the House-can possibly do to
limit the session to day or to week will be
done. We breathe freer in the faith of that
solemn promise.