The New York herald., 1871-03-10
Congress YestcrGay-BiI TO Repeal thS
Dniies ON Coal and SnIt-RcpressiOn o,
tho Ku Klmx Kan.

|
Duties on Coal and snit-Rcprcssion Of
tho Ku Klnx Kan.
The House of Representatives went to work
| yesterday in the right direction. The first two
bills that were introduced under the call of
States were presented by Mr.. Hale, of Maine,
that being the first State on the list, and were
for the repeal Of the dulles on salt and coal
| They were referred to the Committee Of the
Whole on the State of the Union-a reference
which is usually fatal to all measures; but on
the motion OF Mr.. Cox, and against all the
dilatory expedients of the Pennsylvania mem
bers, the House followed them up by resolving
Itself into committee, and taking up for con-
sideration the bill abolishing the duty on SALT
to which the other bill, abolishing the duty on
| coal, was tackled on as an amendments. All gen.
eral debate was shut of, but the discussion,
under the five minute rule, continued until the
time that the committee rose and the House
| adjourned.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, who believes
| in the highest protective duties, especially in
| the matter Of coal and iron, argued that the
| reduction Of revenue which this bill would
| necessitate ($1, 1913, 743 on salt and $52l,57S
on coaD would prejudice the efforts of the
| Secretary of the Treasury in floating the new
bonds issued under the Funding bill but the
inconsistency of the argument was exposed by
Missouri member, Mr.. Finkelnburg, who
| reminded the House that the gentleman who
| exhibited so much concern lest the Treasury
should be diminished to the extent of this
| million and half Of dollars had voted quite
| recently to diminish it twelve millions year
| by the repeal Of the income tax. Mr.. Kelley's
| other argument that the tax on salt only cost
| three cents head per year to the whole
| population of the United States, was no less
| insincere. That was the proportion which
the tax brought to the Treasury, but Its cost
| to the people was the difference between the
! price of salt with the high duty on, estimated
| at between two hundred and three hundred
| per cent, and what would have been its price
to the consumer if it were free of tax. The
same fallacy prevails in regard to coal and
iron and all other highly protected products.
| The amount of revenue which they bring does
not show the real figure Of imposition on the
| people, which is the difference between the
| cost of the article free of duty and its cost
under the tariff. IF the differential price to
the consumer found its way to the Treasury
there would be no reason to complaint but
where ten per cent goes to the Treasury full
ninety per cent goes to the capitalists and pro-
ducers in the country to enrich them at the
expense of the people at large.
After the committee rose some propositions
were introduced in the House, including one
by Mr.. sheilabarger, of Ohio, authorizing the
Presiden. to use the land and naval forces in
repressing outrages and executing the laws in
any State or Territory, even although the
Executive interference may not be called for
by the Legislature OF Governor Of such State
or Territory. This is another advance in the
direction of Capitalization which is more sim
pie and far-reaching than Mr.. Buffers Ku
Klux bill. II was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.
The Senate spent but a brief period in ses-
sion yesterday, being too much exercised and
interested in the caucus arrangement to dis
place Senator Sumner from the craftsmanship
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and to
reduce him to the ranks.
No further movement was made in either
house on the subject of the final adjournment !.
JUDGE BARBOUR, of the Superior Court, has
jus. given decision in divorce case that
should prove a timely warning to husbands
seeking severance of their marital relations
Twenty-Five years ago Mr.. David Halstead
was divorced from his wife. At the time of
granting the divorce Mr.. Halstead, it appears,
was comparatively impecunious, and in view
Of this fact was adjudged to pay only City
dollars annually toward his wifes support.
Since then fortune has kindly favored him.
The divorced wife naturally observed these
benignant smiles Of the fcklo goddess, and
made application accordingly for increase of
almony. Upon this application the Judge
made an order directing Mr.. Halstead to pay his
wife FIVE hundred dollars within twenty days
and five hundred dollars annually during her
life The moral is obvious. If husbands will
get divorces from their wives-though in this
case the wife got divorce from her husband,
which amounts TO the same thing, as to the
pecuniary result-they must expect their
wives will keep close watch upon their
business careers, and if successful draw
from their fuller exchequer Increasing annui-
ties in the. ratio of their progressive success
in business.
The GOLD SPEoULATIoN.-A rather unset
tied market has prevailed in the Gold Room
for few days past, owing to fears of none
f tary activity in London. Yesterday gold sold
as high as l1ls. 1t is now announced that the
Bank of England has given no reason for these
apprchensions, aad that the rate of discount
that great key to the financial situation, which
ought to and will one Of these days be in the
!, | honda of Nay York monnved man--rama Il. 8