The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-11

Invalid Pensions, reported q OIL 70
revise, consolidate and amend the laws
relating to invalid pensions. The bill
contains forty sections, covering twenty
eight printed pages and is q mere codit,-
cation of the existing pension laws with
some notifications.
After having disposed Of three sec.
tious OF the bill, the House, at 245
P. NJ, went into Committee OF the
Whole, Mr.. Garfield in the chair, and
took up the forti6cation bill. The bill
appropriates $l,9S5 200, including the
following items: Forts in Portland
harbor, Maine, $4,000; in Boston
harbor, $l9l, 500; in Newport harbor,
Ss5, 900; in New York hsrbor, $267.-
900; Fort Mif1in, Philadelphia, $72,-
900; Fort Delaware, Delaware, 49,
500; forts in Baltimore harbor, Mary.
land, $4,000; forts on the Potomac
river, Maryland, 81, 900; Fort Monroe,
Virginia, $42, 500; Forts Moultrie and
Sumter, Charleston, $4,000; Forts
Jackson and Pulaski, Savannah river,
$4,000; Forts Taylor and Jefferson.
Florida, 5000; Forts jackson and
St. Philip, Mississippi river, SlO6, 800;
forts in the barbor Of San Francisco,
$202, 500; sea coast mortar batteries,
100000; permanent platforms for
large cannon, $4,000; contingencies OF
notifications, $4,000; surveys for mill
tary defenses, $50, 900.
On motion of Mr.. Townsend, OF New
York, the appropriation for new fort
on the site of Fort Tompkins, New
York harbor, was increased from
5000 to $4,000.
Mr.. Niblock, who had charge Of the
bill, stated in reply to the objections by
Mr.. Farnsworth as to the utility Of
keeping up these forts, that a month
ago single iron clad could have en-
tered the port at Charleston and laid
that city under tribute. Since atten-
ton had been called to it, that condi-
ton of things had been changed
through the energy Of the War De-
partment, but a similar condition OF
things existed at many other points OF
very considerable importance on the
seaboard and should not be allowed to
continue even in times OF profound
peace.
The bill was then passed.
The committee then took up the tariff
and tax bill.
Mr.. Burchard moved to insert the
words ION pig iron six dollars per tom
Mr.. Brooks, of New York, called
attention TO the fact that the bill as
ordered to be reported to the House
contained these words.
Mr.. Dawes admitted that that was
so but stated that it was clerical mis-
take. He asked thatit be inserted, and
he moved that it be struck out so as to
bring it within the general reduction Of
10 per cent upon the expectation duties,
Mr.. Kerr moved TO reduce the duty
on pig iron to five dollars per ton, and
argued in support of that motion, sta
ting thatthe present rate was equivalent
to 454 per cent ad valorem.
Mr. Dickey denied that it was -!
per cent
Mr.. Kerr gave as authority for his
assertion the statement. Of the Chief
Of the Bureau of Statistics, and gave bis
reasons why the duty should be re-
duced.
Mr.. Kelly said he was sure that Mr.
Kerr did not speak Tor the great leader
Of the protectionists, Horace Greeley.
He did not speak for the revenue
reformers, and be (Mr. Kelley held in
bis hand Democratic paper Of New
Albany, Indiana, showing that he did
not speak for the Democracy Of Iudi-
ana.
In the course Of long discussion on
the opposing principles OF protection
and free trade, Mr.. Banks p ctured in
most ludicrous manner the state OF
uncertainty in which his mind was lett
by the debates on the tariff ques ion,
and by the difficulty in which he wa
placed by their beng 80 many Chair
men Of the Committee on Ways and
Means, and by that committee being
divided into go many fsctions-s hun.
dred, he thought The speeches were
very excellent, but what he complained
Of was that those who made them did
not follow their own precepts, aud be
supposed they did not intend to.
The debate on the pig iron section
was continued on the various proposed
| amendments.
Mr. Kelly said that the high price
OF iron was due 10 the immense demand
caused by the construction Of land
grant railroads and hundred tempo
rary causes, and asked what would be
the effect of the proposed reduction
when we came back to the former con-
dition OF things-when the supply was
equal to or in excess OF the demand.
He thought that reduction below the
present duty would result iu general
prostration OF the iron Industries.
Mr.. Stevenson charged want OF
good faith on the part OF Pennsylvania
10 taxing iren and coal corporations
and then asking Congress for protection
Mr. Speer, Of Pennsylvania, deuied
that special taxes were laid on coal and
iron, but said that those interests paid
with all others their proportion Of the
States expenses.
The discussion at times, particularly
between the two last named gentlemen,
became quite irregular and excited, and
they were called 70 order repeatedly.
Mr.. Blair moved to FIX the duty on
pig iron at five dollars per ton. Re
jected-yeas II, nays 81.
Mr.. Dawes amendment to strike ont
one paragraph was agreed to; ayes "a,
noes %.
The effect Of this lie TO place pig
iron with other iron in the section
proposed by Mr.. Dawes, where it
would have gone but for a clerical
er,or and which reduces the duties on