The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-26
XLIst O0NGRESS---Third Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator elect Blair,
of Missouri, took the oath of office. He was
appointed to fill the vacancies ON the commit
tees on the Pacific Railroads and Education
and Labor.
Mr. Trumbull reported back adversely the
bill lately introduced by himself in reference
to the lie insurance. companies.
Mr. Villa ms resolution tor special Senate
committee on telegraph legislation was taken
up as the business OF the morning hour. The
morning hour expiring the resolution went
over without action.
Mr.. Sumner forwarded to tho Secretary and
had read the credentials OF his colleague, Mr..
Wilson, reelected for six years from March
next.
At 1 o'clock Mr.. Schurx was awarded the
floor upon Mr.. TrumbulPs pending civil ser
vice reform bill, but gave way temporarily 10
Mr.. Howell, on whose motion the House bill
granting pensions to soldiers and sailors and
widows of the deceased soldiers Of the war Of
1872 was taken up and read, but debate aris
ing on the amendment to strike out the re-
quiremeDt upon the pensioners to show their
poverty as condition to receiving a pension,
the bill was laid aside and the income tax bill
proceeded with.
Mr.. Scott argued to show the iuquisitorial,
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, unjust and unnecessary char
acter of The tax. He said that the Commits
si0ner Of Internal Revenue had been errone-
ously represented in saying that the income
tax cost more to collect it than was realized,
while his actual statement was that the cost of
collecting the tax exceeded that Of any other
revenue tax, and the accuracy of the statement
was fully attested. The Com missioner re cent
ly informed him (Scott) that by the repeal 500
assistant assessors would be dispensed with at
once and the estimated Elimination of expense
would be $2500 per day. The irregularity of
the tax was shown in the fact that Of the vot.
ers of the e.untry not more than one in sixty
five paid this tax, while in twenty-three Con.
gressional districts in the United STATES nearly
one-tenth of the whole amount realized from
it was not more than $1,000. The bill was then
informally laid aside and the remainder of the
time occupied by protracted personal discus
sion between Messrs. COuklin and Fent0n on
matters connected with the New York Custom
House and Collector Murphy's administration.
Mr. Fenton presented and had read letter
from Representative Sheldon, designed to clear
himself from all impu' atiOns of prejudice or
improper motives in the recent investigation
into the Custom HOuse affairs in which he was
associated with Mr.. Patterson. and sustained
at length the declaration Of the letter.
Mr.. COnkling repeated his criticisms OF yes
terday on the character of the investigation,
denying that any removals from the Custom
House had been made on account Of friend
ship to MIR. Fenton and challenged the latter
| to cite single instance of the kind.
Mr.. Fenton declined TO mention any specific
cases, and after further collOqry between the
| gentlemen the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Committee on Appropriations reported
the fertilization bill, which appropriates ST.
| 627, 900, and WAS made the special order for
Tuesday next. ...k
The Senate amendments to the bill declar.
| ing the meaning of the act of July H. 1870, to
reduce internal taxation, was cOncurred in
and the bill sent to the President.
The bill was passed extending to disabled
soldiers of the war Of 1872 and the Mexican
war the benefits of the national soldiers asylum
act.
Mr.. Negley reported a bill to repeal the pro-
viso to the 9th section of the act Of July n.
| 1868 relating to the pensions provisO, being q
limitation to five years Of application for pre-
miums after the right thereto has occurred.
Passed.
Mr.. Morgan of Ohio reported back the Sen
ate bill to 10 turn over to the Secretary OF the
| Interior for disposal by sale after appraisment
| by the United States, the military reservations
at several forts and military posts 10 the West:
Mr.. Brooks of New York made an inquiry OF
Mr.. Dawes 10 regard to the meeting OF the next
| Congress of the 4th of March, in order TO guide
him 10 the introduction of bills and in &C ion
on bills. he and the other pembers were
deaply interested in the tariff reform, and il
.ne session we're to close on the 9Th Of March,
ne proposes to ask the action of the House as
eoeh as the rules would permit him, for a
reformation Of the tariff
| Mr. Dlwes replied that be could only give
DIS private opinion on the subject As the law
session on the 4h Of March he saw T nn ; US
ab liz p. .ss e $E ,;s sa
bled on the 4th OF March, be had no reasonahIe
expectation that 1t would adjourn before the