The New York herald., 1871-12-12
Summers Internal Revenue Bu-
reau Commission and Tax
Abolition Bill.
Tumbull's Attack on the Doctrine Of
Party SpOils.
Fernando Woods Universal Panacea for the
Manifold Ills Of the Nation.

H10ttOD 10 AOJOurm SOn8rceo Outh tuc otu OA
January-DiscussiOn on tho New Apportion.
nent Bill.
Monday being legislative washing day In the
House. the usual stir and hustle attending the array
Of soiled linen to be disposed Of made the floor
quite lively this morning Under the call Of States
large number OF bills and resolutions were intro
nuced and referred. resolution was passed. the
Senate concurring, adjourning the House
from the 21st Of December to the 9Th Of
January, 1872. Fernando Wood, OF New
York. onered resolution calling for the
republican majority Of Congress to take measures
10 provide for the immediate reduction Of taxation,
TO abolish the Internal Revenue Department to re.
store the Southern States to equality and for va
rious other reforms. Upon vote to suspend the
rules il was lost.
The House then went into Committee Of the Whole,
having the Apportionment bill under consideration.
The discussion OF the details OF this bill very
generally participated in py Eastern and Western
members, Mr.. Maynard, Of Tennessee putting MS
finger in the pie as usual. Many members appear
somewhat befogged as to what really constitutes
The basis OF apportlonment. Some seem to be labor.
ing under the impression that the whole popula-
non. including that Of the Territories and the Dis
trict OF Columbia Is to be counted, whereas not
only ID the population therein excluded. but all
other male citizens who are excluded from the right
Of franchise on account or reasons other than those
contained In the fourteenth amendment to the con-
sntutlon There are nine cases Of these exceptions
In the different States. 1t is question between the
larger and smaller States. The former seem to pc
generally IN favor Of $50 members, smaller num-
Der, 270, would give Rhode Island, Vermont, New
Jersey and New Hampshire their present repre-
DentatiOn but would take from some of
the larger STATES. Another question entering largely
10 rA tot tho atfvnu ~
The Legislatures to redistrct the States under the
vision to arrange for an election on general State
lcket. There was much confusion during the dis
cussion, and the Chairman made several attempts
10 secure Order, but failed to make any lasting
Impression, the members acting moro like
refractory school boys than dignded law
makers. Mr. Stokes, OF Tennessee, was on the noor
to-day, comforting with the Tennessee members.
He was greeted with warmth by some Of his former
colleagues, but from his short stay the atmosphere
generally did not seem TO agree with him. The
absent members are coming in. Mr.. Schoneld, of
Pennsylvania, was In his seat to-day for the first
fime and was warmly greeted by mis- friends. The
proceedings OF the House were unmportant. and
little work Is to be expected till after the holidays.
The democracy still adhere to the determination
not to announce any policy till after the holidays,
hoping that the p0liticai fight which has been
going on in the Senate ever since the assembling OF
Congress may result in giving backbone to the anti
administration men In the House. In the Senate
the battle promises to wax very warm indeed,
and the republicans are busy fighting each
other.
To-day there were TWO distinct contests
and, singnlarly enough, the administration
vas on the wrong side IN both. The for.
uer OF these was over Mr.. Summers bill to re.
Dyta1. TntAp Dnx,n
Bureau, Mr. Sherman opposing Its reference to the
Finance Committee, Of which ne Is chairman, on the
ground that the Senate had no authority under the
constitution to originate measures anecung taxa.
lion. In mis- reply Mr.. Sumner showed that
this was not On original measure for taxation and
revenue, such as was contemplated by the organic
law, but simply modification and repeal OF exist.
Ing acts OF Congress, and Mr.. Thurman went
further, and proved that Mr.. Clay's Compromise
Tariff bill, passed by botn Houses, was sufficient
precedent for tho reference asked by the Senator
nom Massachusetts,. Any further antagonism
would have revealed too plainly at the very
outset determined hostility on the part
pf the friends OF the administration to the
measures proposed Dy tho President in regard
70 taxation, and so Mr.. Sherman nnay withdrew
his opposition 1t cannot fail to be remarked, how
ever. that this important bill has fallen into the
hands OF the Philistines. At tho last moment Mr..
Bumner added i've cents per gallon to the tax on
distilled Spirits making the stamp tax, which Is to
bs In lieu Of every other kind Of taxa
tion, eighty instead OF seventy-nve cents per
gallon. The officers employed under the
reduced system win be only o single collector
Tor each State and Territory, and consequently
there will be great looping away OF the army Of
Onnce.holders. This light was only tue prelude TO
the greater battle which was to come and which is
not Jet ended.
Tho readers OF tho HERALD viii remember that
senator Trumbull unsuccessfully eudeavored to OBJ
tain the consent OF his party in the republican eau
Gus last week to revivlng the famous
Committee on Retrenchment. His object was
% have Senator Scnurs Its chairman, so
that many things which are hidden might be
brought to rne broad light OF tho open day. Failing
IN this the determination was to oner the resolution
in the Senate; but this morning Senator Conkling
took the bun by the horns by asking that body to
take up bis resolution instructing the Committee on
Military Affairs to inquire into the facts attending
the Hodge defacation ana to report what measures
are necessary TO prevent similar defalcatlons
In the future. General Logan, himself q
member Of the Military Committee. exposed the
extreme weakness OF this proposition by showing
that II the matter was to be referred TO any OF the
standing committees Of the Senate, 1t ought 10 60
10 the Finance Committee, rs the one which had
tho closest relations with the Treasury Department.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, somewhat inadvertently, per-
naps considering the general tenor OF his remarks
took the ground that 1t was useless to inquire In
single fraud when so many defalcations were
10 DC investigated. Senator Trumbull, who to-day
acted as the champion OF the defunct Committed
on Retrenchment said that for six years the Senate
had committee for making Just such investiga.
fi0ns as that contemplated by the Senator from New
York. he pointed out that this is the era Of defal
cations alludina to the Hodge anar, the Norton de-
falcation In the New York Post once, the stokes
ana Powell swindle, and, finally, the recentlJ
discovered frauds in the Treasury itself. Senator
wilson surprised nobody by taking similar ground
thus deserting the administrator and supporting
the line OF policy TO which his colleague is com
mitted Thus matters went on for while and do
vel0pina good deal OF feeling, Till Senator Thur
man stepped into the breach bv suggesting thai
csustor Conkling's resolution should be taken vi