Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-27
WASHINGTON.


senate Decides that the Income Tax
must be Repealed - The Western
bridge QuestiOn-The Blair Ham
quet.
AWAsHIsdToE, January 27.-The SEN
ate has decided that the income tax
must be repealed. general Pleasanton
made another appeal for the abolition of
the tax, in letter submitted yesterday
to the Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate special committee, who are
investigating the condition of the South
are making slow Roadway. They seem
at loss who to summon. Such as have
been summoned are very tardy IN re-
spending. II was the intention to ex
anime the notorious Colonel Kirk to-day,
who figured SO largely in the political
campaign in North Carolina last sum-
mer, but he has not put in an appearance.
1t is said the programme with regard to
North Carolina is to make out that the
Legislature was not legally elected,
thereby making pretext for some plan
by which Abbott may retain his seat in
the Senate in lieu of Governor Vance,
who has been elected to it, Absurd as
this may at first seem, it is nevertheless
seriously talked of by some Of the South
ern Republicans now in Washington.
The question of fulfilling the views of
the annual message with regard to the
appointment of commission to audit
the Alabama claims, so that this Govern
ment may assume and pay them and then
collect them of Great Britain, was again
discussed by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee yesterday. Several memoir
ais from New England, from parties who
have suffered from depredations, were
presented asking for such legislation.
J. A. Parker, of the Great Western In
surance Company, who represents
large amount Of claims, also appeared
and argued that Congress should either
allow these claimants to effect settle
ment direct with Great Britain, or pro-
vide for the commission and payment
suggested by President Grant. Mr..
Parker was willing to take Government
Alabama claim-bonds for his pay.
The Western bridge question again oc
cupied the attention of the Committee
on Commerce to-day. Deacon Smith,
of Cincinnati, spoke before the Senate
Committee against the Newport bridge,
and Colonel Kerr, of Pittsburg, con-
cluded his argument before the House
Committee. 1t isvery evident the river
interest is ahead of the railroads in
Congress, and will win in the end To
day there was petition presented to
the Committee on River Commerce,
signed by sixty-one citizens of Western
Pennsylvania asking Congress to pre-
vent the construction of the Newport
and Cincinnati bridge on the plat at
present designated, and twenty petitions
signed by 1880 citizens Of Western
Pennsylvania, asking the interference of
Congress against the construction of the
Newport and Cincinnati bridge.
The select committee on the census
have agreed to report a bill increasing
the pay of deputy United States Mar
shals who have been engaged on the
census to that for field service. The
pay will average from three to five dol
lars per day. The number of deputies
Is about fifty thousand
The House Committee on Commerce
have agreed to report favorably on bill
the Southern Express Com
pany.
The Blair banquet at Arlington last
night was attended by the entire Demo
cratic delegation in Congress, and many
prominent Democrats throughout the
country, among whom were Ex-Governor
Bigier, of Pennsylvania, and others.
Governors Seymour and Hoffman re-
GREETED their inability to attend The
banquet was superb, especially in its
floral decorations.