New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-18
WASHINGTON.
'; TTr TARIFF AND No TAX BILL.


,,rnnnr.yr c,ISnrs MApE-THE FREE LIST
xNIARGEp-THE FIRST MOVEMENT IOm ANU AIN.
sprcrr MISUNDERSTANDING CusEVms po-
TIES PAYABLE IN LEGAL TENDhhs.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE ThBUNkl
WASHINGTON. May 17.-The House WORKED all Vay
nnon the Tariff bill. No debate was IN Order anu
tha session was entirely devoted 10 readins anu
voting upon amendments, great NUMBER % WIZ. =,
were offered Some important changes were inaue
in the bill The free list was considerably eniaseu'
ths most important additions being quinine, ex-
tracts of bark for tanning purposes hcorice quoh-
silver butter of cocoa, and Peruvian bark. I'm mo
tion Of Mr.. Garfield, books printed in foreign Ian
gusges and English books which have not oeen re
yised in 20 years were freed from duty.
The most important amendment agreed TO was the
one offered by Mr. Peck to authorize the payment OF
one-third of customs duties in legal tender notes
On this the vote was "a to g. Anumber OF nefectuai
attempts were made to induce the House 10 modiiy
this decision. Mr.. Dawes moved that the provision
should not take effect until currency was al pai
with gold This was voted down by Yeas, 10 nays
e. Mr. Garfield offered proviso, that the section
should not continue in effect after any increase
should be made by law in the present volume OF
United States notes. This was also beaten, together
with an amendment offered by Mr. starkweathei
postponing the operation of the provision 1or one
wear. Ii was evident that clear majority OF inc
House was bent upon making reenbacks receivable
for portion of the customs revenue, anu ho
n turn this majority aside from their purpose had
anv chance of success The majority was made up
OF the solid Democratic force joined with about ~
Republicans
On motion of Mr.. Kelley the seventh section re-
latine 10 a drawback on ribbons not wholly SILK
which have been classified as silk ribbons, was
stricken out under the impression that somebody
had n lob in it, No one except two or three mem
bers of the Ways and Means Committee knew wha'
il meant and their mouths were shut by the resoiu
ton cutting off all debate The eighth section pro-
viding for the free importation in bond OF lumber
hemp. manila, iron, steel, copper and composition
metal used in the construction and equipment
Of wooden sailing vessels employed In the foreign
trade and in the trade between the Atlantic ana
Pacific ports of the United States. brought forth
food of amendments After more than an hours
voting the section was amended so as to extend
ite benefits to steamboats, navigating the waters OF
the United States; and also, to permit vessels re-
oeiynQ the benefits of the section to engage IN the
eoastnq trade for not more than two months in any
one wear. This section completed the tariff portion
Of the bill.
There vet remain 40 pages relating to Internal
Revenue, comprising important notifications IN the
methods of collection, and large number OF reduc-
tions in the present taxes. By the rule adopted on
Monday not word of debate is in order on this
part of the bill. Most of the members recognized,
to-day, the absurdity Of adhering to rule which
prohibited explanations of the meaning and effect
of the BILL absolutely essential to any intelligent
voting upon it's complicated provisions AS the session
of tomorrow had been previously set apart for the
Committee on Claims it was understood that nothing
more should be done with the bill until Monday
h ri 10
Tescind the resolution prohibiting debate. There
will probably be an hour or two allowed for ques-
fions and answers in regard to the sections yet
undisposed Of 1t now looks as if the bill could be
got through the House by the middle of next week.
If it should be run beyond Wednesday, it is under
stood that Mr. Garfield will feel obliged to antago-
nize the business of the Appropriations Committee
with it, and viii ask the House to lay 1t aside and
take up the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill.