The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-12
RTY-SECOND CONGRESS- I'd Session
MONDAY, December IL.


SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner asked to be excused from
service as chairman of the Committee or
Elections and Privileges, and he was ex.
cused unanimously.
Mr.. Sumner presented five petitions from
citizens of Boston, asking the abolition Of
the duty on salt.
Also, petition from colored citizens OF
Rhode Island, asking the passage of his
supplementary Civil Rights bill.
Messrs. Patterson and Edmunds also
presented petitions in favor of free salt.
Mr.. Robertson, from the Committee on
Disabilities, reported back formally the
House general amnesty bill.
Mr.. Sumner introduced his bill to reduce
internal taxes and abolish the Office of
Commissioner of Internal Revenue. If
proposes to make the tax on spirits eighty
cents gallon no other tax to be imposed
Mr.. Sherman inquired what was the use
of introducing bill of this character in
the Senate, in view of the position taken by
the House of Representatives that all bills
in reference to the revenue shall originate
in that body. This bill proposes to tax the
revenue, and hence he doubted the pro-
priety of its introduction.
Mr.. Sumner said his object was to reduce
taxation, and he very much dstrusted that
the Senate should disarm itself of the
power to reduce the burdens of the people.
Mr.. Sherman did not want to inaugurate
any controversy with the House on this
subject. The House, it will be remem
bered, took such ground on the income tax
bill as to show that they will not recede
from their position. OF one thing he was
certain, that the Senate could not, under
cover of bill to reduce taxation, raise the
tax on whiskey to 80 cents gallon.
Mr.. Sumner did not propose to raise the
tax on whiskey. lie was informed that
the actual tax was about 80 cents gallon.
There was the barrel tax, the tax on the
wholesale and on the retail dealer. and
lastly the capacity tax. He proposed
merely to do away with all these and make
the tax specifically so cents gallon. He
thought this objection was premature, and
that it would better come in a report from
the committee. He stood here as the rem
resentative of his constituents.
Mr.. Thurman alluded to the compromise
tariff bill introduced by Mr.. Clay and pass
ed by both Houses, and hoped that his COL
leage (Afr. Sherman) would make no obiec- !
ton to this bill being referred.
The bill was then referred to the Com {
mittee on Finance
Mr.. Logan introduced joint resolution le- I
galizing the issue of food, clothing and ra- !
tons by the Secretary of War to the suffer-
ers by fire at Chicago. Laid on the table /
and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Conklin asked to take up his resolu- I
ton instructing the Committee on Military
Affairs to inquire into the facts attending
the Hodge defalcation, and to report wheth.
er similar defalcations cannot be prevented
hereafter.
MIR. Trumbull suggested in lieu to take
up his resolution proposing a special COM
mlttee on retrenchment and civil service
reform. The scope of his resolution was
much broader, and would cover the matter
contained in the other resolution.
Some further discussion ensued, when
Mr.. Trumbull explained that his PROPOSE
ton was to revise the Joint Committee on
Retrenchment.
Mr.. Schurz said he had been a member
OF the Retrenchment Committee, and that
committee had always considered it to be
its business to investigate all cases of fraud
and corruption arising in the service of the
government.
Mr. Thurman suggested that Mr.. Conk-
ling's resolution be allowed to be taken up,
and that Mr.. Trumbul could offer his reso.
luton as a substitute.
Mr.. Conkling's resolution was according
ly taken up, when Mr.. Trumbull submit
ted his as a substitute.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Under the call of states for bills and
joint resolutions for reference only, large
number was introduced and referred to ap-
propriate committees.
Mr.. Mercur, rising to a personal expla-
nation, called attention to a dispatch which
appeared in the New York Times of De.
cember 9th, rejecting upon his (Nlercur's)
speech in the apportionment bill last week,
and accusing him of misrepresentation and
wrong statements. Mr.. Mercur quoted
figures to show that he was correct in his
views, and alleged that the correspondent
had fallen into error by including the pop
ulation of the territories and the District
of Columbia, and by putting the number of
representatives in the present House too
low.
Mr.. Lynth introduced a resolution direct
ing the Committee on Expenditures of the
Treasury Department to inquire into the :
affairs OF that department, with view to
and reform, and to inquire
in relation to the recent defal-
cation in the Treasury office. ]
On motion of Mr.. Dawes it was resolved
{thc Senate concurring) that when the
House adjourns on the 2lst of December it n
be until Wednesday, January sth.
On motion of Mr.. Kelly, resolution
was adopted calling upon the Secretary of /
the Treasury to inform the House what :
number Of persons were employed in the
internal revenue Office on March LIST, 1869,
and what number on the LIST of December,
1871, upon what work engaged, and the !
amount of compensation.
On motion of Mr.. Farnsworth, the I
House went into Committee of the Whole,
and resumed consideration of the appor-
tionment bill.
WE extract from the splendid address of
Cianta;s,- Ianxar K;,,ex hacar1 4Lla L | :