New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-26

FRANK BLAIR TAKES THE TEST oATli-pEbAIb
ON THE REPEAL OF TIE INCOME TAA-fEk-
sONAL EXPLANATION or MIR. FENiON- IKE,
ZEAL OF THE PENSION LlMlTAIioN-ihh
INDIAN QUESTION IN THE HOUSE
10y TELEGRAPH TO SIIB TRIBuNEl
WASHINGTON Wednesday, Jan. Is, 1871.
Gen Blair was sworn in Senator to-day immediately
after the reading OF the Journal. He made no objection
of taking the test oath he had ntmaed being appa
rutly very anxious that delay should IN taking
,s csion Of his Senatorial chair He took a seat the
extreme lett Of the Democratic side, and received
with much satisfaction by the corporals guard" of that
shade 81 politics he was then appointed several com
mttocs including the Pacific Railroad, of which he will
he the only Democratic member. The proposition re-
ported by Mr. Williams, TO appoint Special Committee
Ocean Telegraph Cables discussed at some length
hu action taken. In the time the House general
IN this subject lies the table not yet acted on The
judiciary Committee reported adversely on the important
hill In reference TO life Insurance companies, introduceda
few days Mr. Trumhu by request The bill granting
pensions 10 the soldiers Of 1912 considered and much
objection made of it's provisions particularly
the clause requiring the pensioners TO prove their own
poverty. II Is thought that II amendments are made,
and the bill sent back TO the House, there will not be
time enough pass during this Congress- but il is not
certain that this win prevent some notifications. The
hin the House last session. and only failed In the
Senate by vote and hence there is much anxiety
to its fate among those who interested 1t was
said to-day that there probably not more than 5000
survivors OF the war Of 1872. Mr. Trumburs Civ Ser
Reform bill the regular order this afternoon, and
M Scnurz, who designs Offering some important amend
ments had a prepared speech upon It, he, however
consented the request Of Mr. Scott to postpone his
remarks allow the bill for the repeal of the Income
tax to be taken up Mr. Scott briefly and forcibly re-
viewed the objections to the b and in view of the fact
that tho subject has been debated until the argu-
meqts are thrcadbare, he wisely stated that ne
would abstain from repeating what he had mere
tofore said. Mr.. sherman did not follow the
cots 1ifn addressed
for an his old strain, telling the Senate, what ne
has told II dozen before that the camOr for the
reueal came only from interested persons That II the
reea were made Of the special taxes would have
Il be restored, Sc He said that the opinion
o. ofr Evarts and Mr.. Miller the unconsutionalty
OF the tax was paid opinion and he could get better
one Cor $50 Notwithstanding this desperate oinglng OF
nr sherman 70 the Income tax, he assured the senate
that I'm the not distant future he thought all Internal
1Xcs except those spirits and tobacco, may he ahol
ielrd The debate was interrupted by Mr. Fonton who
.sked permission 70 submit letter from Mr. Sheldon,
a. the House. which completely disposed Of the insinua-
on thrown out by Mr. Con6ing yesterday, that The ap
poutmcat OF Mr. Sheldon on the subcommittee,
81 investigate the abuses in the NewNork Gus
tom House, was preconccrtcd. Mr.. Conklng, In
tone somewhat domncering attempted to put
bisrolcague Mr. Fcuton, the witness stand, and de-
nanded OF him the Of the incompetent and cor
run, officers in the Custom House Mr. FentOn declined
e. connue the discussion of the troubles between his
colleague and himself his only object in abiding 10
,ho matter this afternoon relieve Mr.. Sheldon
from the unjust suspicious thrown out by Mr. Conklng
.7e latter however continued 20 challenge his coagle
until Mr. Fcntou said that when his biI relative 10 the
dsrosit on OF fines penalties, and forfeiture, came up
he would take the occasion 10 make an eJpos6 OF the
management Of the NowYOrk CustomHousen that
WAS desr red MI COnkling then cooy asserted that moi
one Of Mr. Fenous friends bad been turned out Of the
Custom-Iouse. The Senate listened with impatience,
aud "a soon rs the debate finished, adjourned.
Tho House Military Committee had the floor to-day,
during the morning hour, and reported and secured ac-
zion ON number Of bills sharp controversy arose he
tween GEN Ncgey and Mr. Benjamin OF the Committee
OF Pensions in relation TO bill reported 10y the former
non The Military Committee, extending the time within
which applications for pensions may be made MT Ben
jania claimed thatJhe Military Committee had no bust
mo- with such b and fought it at every STEP He was
Tx ten however and the bill passed The Soldiers
Homestead hin was reported, and after several amend
cnts in the nature OF substitutes had been offered the
morning hour expired and " went over till tomorrow
MI Brooks asked NJ. Dawes, Chairman Of tho Commit
Tee ON Appropriations today, how long he expected the
rf, esion OF the XLId Congress would be. He said
a, hc Democrats would be governed in their action on
r.n.i.ug business very much by their knowledge on
THIS point. Mr.. Dawes replied that he saw no
Indications OF purpose to repeal the act requiring
Congress assemble the h OF March, and though he
wished that they might adjourn within few days. he
M NOT pect TO be able TO get away before the middle
A. Ap or the Is May. He led 10 this opnioD by
H.. experience OF former years Mr. Brooks niimated
that IL l. intended bring the subject Of "reyenue re-
folm before the House either during the present ses
,,r or alcr the lth Of March The judiciary Committee
acTed th, morning 70 report adversely the bill
pealiug the law calling for the assembling Of the
n.xt Congress in March. The most OF the
day IN the House spent on the Indian
Appropriation b and one clause OF 1t gave rise to an
Interest ng the treatment OF the Indians par
,'.pltcd IN by Messrs. Fitch OF Nevada. Garfield Of
Wa-hngton Territory, Degcner OF Texas, Dawes, Car
field 81 OLio and others. The Western men, with the
exception Mr. Garfield, were opposed to all peace pol
,ces Mr. Fitch declaring that the people OF the terrific
res could settle the Indian question themselves II they
were ONLY allowed 10 do so. MIR. Dcgener, who has
long tried IN vain 10 get permission 70 Introduce
q resolution for the better protection OF the Texan
frontier made a very excited speech describing the out
rages committed by the Indians and calling on Congress
70 do something protect the lives Of American citizens
Gen Garfield believed that the Indian question could
only he solved 10y educating the savages, and at the
proper tmc giving them the ballot. Mr.. Dawes, reused
BY the blood-thrsty demands OF some OF the West
err and Southern members, came 10 the rescue OF
the peaceful policy maintained by the Adj
unin.stration. and eloquently defended the 1n-
dian against the abuse heaped upon him. He
ar.ed there must be something wrong Ia the way
in the white people have been accustomed to deal
with the Indians and called attention TO the fact that,
while other governments were able to deal successfully
with this question: history is covered with stains OF
outrage, on these people e also referred TO the fact
that while the Russians lived peaceaby for fifty years
with the natives u Alaska. one OF the first fruits OF
American possession an Indian war
The Committees OF the House, with the exception OF
on or two OF the important ones, will not do much
work b. session. Committees which report now viii
Not bc ,iei again before the adjournment, and VIII,
t..rcioIc generally suspend their meetings