The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-27
XLIId CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, March 26.-Mr Morrill, of VT,
offered the following
ResotUed, That the Committee ON Finance be
requested to report an amendment to any bill
reducing taxes which shall repeal the internal
revenue laws now in force, imposing taxes as
follows: Taxes on Illuminating gas. Taxes i'm
posed by section 10 of the internal revenue act
OF 1864, as subsequently amended and payable
by stamps, except such as relates to distilled
spirits, fermented liquors. tobacco, snuff and
cigars.
Mr. Morton objected and Mr.. Morrill, with
drew the bill. The tariff bill came up.
On motion of Mr.. Scott, the tariff bill was
informally laid aside and the House bill to re-
peal the duty on tea and coffee, was taken up.
Mr.. Scott moved an amendment, so as to
make the law go into effect the first of July
next
l'1r. Scott's amendment to the tariff BILL
provides also that tea and coffee in bond ON the
nrst OF July shall be free, and that the duties
that shall have been paid on tea ard coffee in
bond on that day, shall be refunded.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to amend by placing
salt on the free list.
MIR. Sherman asked him to let a vote be taken
separately on tea and coffee, but Mr.. Trumbull
declined.
Mr.. Morton said he believed we could make
Tea and coffee free, and make the proposed re-
ductiOn of ten per cent. on articles enumerated
IN the second section of the Senate tariff bill
ana repeal all internal revenue taxes except
pay off $50,0OO,00O of the public debt next
year, and therefore he gave notice he would Of
Ter an amendment leaving tea and coffee free
and repeating all laws imposing taxes by stamp,
except on spirits, fermented liquors, snuff and
cigars, and all laws imposing taxes ON gas, the
repeal to take effect the LIST of October, 1872.
MIR. Scott said if Mr. Morton's amendment
should prevail he would think it a waste of time
to consider the House bill further, and would
yieid the whole subject again to the Chairman
OF the Committee on Finance.
The question was taken on MIR. TrumbulPs
amendment to include salt and was rejected
yeas ~, nays 80. The amendment to include
coal was also rejected-yeas II, nays %.
MIR. Morton then offered as an amendment to
the pending House bill, the whole of the tariff
Dill reported from the Senate Finance Commit
coffee.
Mr.. Scott appealed to him to withdraw the
amendment, but he declined The amendment
was then rejected-yeas %, nays 26.
Mr. Morton then offered the amendment of
which he had given notice.
= Mr. Morrill, of VT, offered the free list in the
Senate bill as substitute for Mr. Morton's
amendment
Mr. Sumner said he would vote for Mr.. Nor
toms amendment, although he regarded as i'm
complete, because it would leave undisturbed
the tribe OF internal revenue Office holders now
l balrdering the country. This ought not to be
left to the discretion of anybody. The bill
ought to contain positive provision of exter-
mination against the whole tribe
Mr.. Morton said the Secretary of the Treas
ury had power to discharge unnecessary rev.
enae officers, and it must be left to him or some
executive officer to judge how many could be
spared
Mr.. Morrilrs substitute for Mr. Morton's
amendment was adopted-yeas "a, nays Is.
Mr.. Wright then moved to add the second
section of the Finance Committees bin, re-
ducing the duties ten per cent. on textile fab
RIGS and manufactures of iron, steel, earthern
ware, glassware, leather and india rubber
Agreed to-yeas %, nays II.
. Mr.. Sherman gave notice that he would to-
morrow offer the tariff bill as reported from the
Committee of Finance, as a substitute for the
pending House hill.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that he would renew
his amendment for the reduction of internal
taxes.
MrTrumbull said he would renew his amend
ment to make salt free.
Mr.. Robertson introduced bill to secure uni
formihlty in gauge of the railroads of the
United States, providing that the Postmaster
contracts with railroads for carrying the mails,
that the gauge shall be 4 feet, 81 inches by the
expiration of one-half the duration of such
contracts subject to reduction of One-fifth Of
their pay therefor and also requiring the de-
partment in making contracts for carrying
through mails to Disseminate gainst railroads
that have other gauges; these provisions not to
apply however to narrow gauge roads, gauges
of which do not exceed three feet, six inches.
Several other notices of amendments were
given and the Senate adjourned
HOUSE
The bill authorizing the site for the depot of
the Baltimore and Potomac r. r. Co., ON Fifth
street, between Pennsylvania Avenue and the
canal came up as unfinished business. A good
deal of excitement prevailed in the House, it
being regarded as a contest between the Penn
sylvania Central and Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road companies the latter desiring to share in
the accommodation and to have site granted
for grand union railway depot.
After some fillibustering, Mr. Mercurof Penn,
presented conference report on the bill for the
removal of causes from State courts to the
United States courts The reports was agreed
to and the fillibustering resumed.
The day was nearly consumed in voting ON
motions to adjourn and to take recess without
coming to any settlement of the question.
Mr.. Hooper of Mass, from the Committee ON
Banking and Currency presented the testimony
before that committee in the matter of the fail
ure of National Banks with resolution that it
is the opinion of the committee that the sue
cessful working of the currency bureau re-
qulre achange in the head of that bureau.
The testimony and report was ordered print
ed and to called up for futue action.
AT ia O'clock the House adjourned.