Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-16
Forty-Seoond Congressional Session
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10, 1872.


Mr.. Irumbull rose to a personal explanation
i'll the senate, and contradcted the statement
concerning his acceptance from the government
IN the McArdle case alluded to in this CORE
spondence two or three days since. He showed
that he was employed by Gen. Grant, and used
very severe language in denouncing the instiga-
tor OF the ISLANDERS.
When the business hour had closed, Mr.. Sher-
man claimed the floor for the tariff BILL declar-
ing that he was sick and tired of these personal
discussions. He, however, withdrew his ohec-
ton, and MIR. Irumbul concluded his remarks.
MIR. Chandler, who has been indirectly alluded
to, then took the floor. He said that while he
knew nothing of the newspaper article, he did
know that the senator from Illinois had Illegally
accepted Il large fee. An attempt had been
made to retain Mr. EdmundS of Vermont, bur
| he had declined because he regarded it illegal
| for member Of congress to accept a fee for APP
pearing as counsel for the general government
| To substlntiate this. Mr. Chandler read extracts
| from an opinion of Attorney General William
| Writ
Mr.. Sherman at last got the floor and com
mcnced his explanation of the tariff bill before
the senate. He said, in opening the debate: 1t
will perhaps be most agreeable TO the senate
that | can state facts as to our financial condi-
ton, that enable us now, for the sixth time
since the close of the war; largely to reduce the
taxes imposed on the people Of the United
States. And will also state the general princi-
pies upon which the reductions of taxes pro-
posed are based The taxes already repealed
yielded S233 100000. Our revenues still largely
exceed our expenditures, and we are justified by
several causes in continuing the repeal of taxes.
The taxes that remain yield largely more than
the same taxes in former years, and more than
was estimated bv the most sanguine per-
son. The production of the country has
largely increased; industry in almost
every department has been actively en-
ployed. The consumption of our people,
which under our system of taxation is
chiefly the basis OF taxation, has, by the pros.
perity of our industry, been largely increased,
and at the same time the national expenditures
are diminishing; our financial condition is i'm.
proving in every particular; were are slowly but
surely, without contraction or expansion, by in
creasng the uses OF our paper money, approach
ing specie standard. The interest of our debt
is daily diminishing by the payment of the pub
lie debt and reduction of the rate of interest on
that which remains. All these favorable cir.
cumstances enable us TO approach further re-
duction Of taxes with more system and in
formation than formerly, and, | trust
with a sincere desire to make the reduction in
such a way as to yield the largest possible relief
TO our people. The only questions are, how
much and what taxes ought to be repealed. Let
me first state how the subject now comes before
us On the 14th OF March, 1871. the house of
representatives passed three bills TO repeal the
duty on coal, salt, tea and coffee. The duties
thus proposed for repeal yielded last year
EAl,Uuu,UUUs lUc cONnmlLEpe OF finance was OF
the opinion that twas not wise to consider these
bills except in connection with the whole subject
OF revenue reduction. On the 18th of April, 1871,
the senate passed the following:
Resolved that the committee of finance Is hereby
instructed during recess to carefully examine the
existing system of taxation by the United States
Win view to propose such amendments TO the bills
OF the mouse repeating certain taxes, now pending
in the senate, as viii simplify, revise and reduce
both internal taxes and duties on imported goods
now IN force, and so that the aggregate of such
taxes shall not exceed the sums required to execute
the laws relating to the public debt and to pay the
concurrent expenditures OF the government ad.
minlstered with the stricest economy, and so that
such taxes may be distributed as to impose the least
possible burden upon the people,
In obedience to this instruction the committee.
during recess, did examine in detail the differ.
cnt taxes imposed by the laws, and agreed upon
amendments to both the tariff and internal reye-
nue. laws. But in reporting to the senate our
action, we had TO consider the power of the sem
ate over the revenue bills. The powers of the
| two houses over the revenue bills is regulated
by article one, section seven, clause one, of the
| constitution of the United States, as follows:
| Gan bills for raising revenue shall originate In
the house of representatives, but the senate may
propose or concur with amendments, as on 9th
er bills" This provision has often been the
subject Of controversy between the two houses
We had three bills Of the house with unques
toned power to propose amendments 10 either
OF them. II was clear that, If the house
proposed TO repeal OF modify certain
taxes, ihe senate could propose instead