Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-The Vice
President presented House bill concument
resolution to adjourn June third.
NJ r.Chandler moved a substitute, Iescin-
ding the resolution to adjourn tomorrow.
| Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, moved to amend
| SO as to adjourn June 9Th, lost "A to 35.
The tariff tax bill came up.
Sherman moved to lay it on table for
purpose of taking up resolution reported by
him yesterday from Committee on Finance
applying
The Five Minute Rule
To debate on biz and amendments agreed
to.
Mr. Trumtull moved to postpone the
consideration of the resolution until the
first Monday in December next. He re-
garded this resolution he said as one of a
series of measures Which are changing the
character OF our government. From the
origin of the government debate in the Sen
ate had been free until within the last few
years when attempts had been made from
time to time to put the Senate under the
control not CT the majority but Of mere
minority of its members by means OF eau
Gus dictation. Under this system Senators
instead of voting according to their own
convictions, Were cOerced into voting as die
tSted by caucus, and if the political agita-
ton and disruption of parties now going on
in the country should result in the emanci-
patton of the Representatives of the people
and the people themselves from this party
des 'otism great good would have been
gained,
Mr.. Sherman said that no Senator had
objected to bis proposition except the Sen
ator from Massachusetts, (Sumner.) He
had been informed that that Senator thus
insisted on delaying public business be
cause he intended to engage in political de-
bate on the tariff bill, aud for bis part he
would stay in the session until tie end of
his term rather than have the Senate forced
in this way by one Senator to do that
which it did not wish to do. There had
been political debate and wrangling enough
this session, and he hoped there would be
no more.
Mr. Trumbull said that he did not now
intend to speak longer than five minutes
either on any amendment or the bill itself.
What he objected 10 was the attempt to put
the Senate in a straight jacket.
Mr.. Sherman said be would modify the
resolution so as to apply only ITO the amend
ments, leaving debate open on the bill itself,
but still excluding amendments not ger
name to the bill.
Mr.. Sumner, who had been temporarily |
absent, said he understood that Mr.. Sher- |
man had stated that he had intended to |
make a political speech on the tariff bill; he |
had no such intention. He had desired |
that he and his friend from Missouri (Mr. |
Schurz) should have an opportunity to re-
ply to the extraordinary attack made on |
them by the committee on
French Army Sales,
but be did not intend to introduce that |
subject into this debate unless the Senate |
by refusing him opportunity should compel |
him to do so.
Mr.. Sherman said if the passage of this |
tariffbill should be obstructed by political |
debate, he would abandon the attempt to
pass the bill, and no longer attempt to re-
strain his political associates from joining in
political debate. Indeed, be thought he
would take part in it himself.
Mr.. SUMMERTIME lecture Of the Senator
from Ohio, if lecture it be, ought not to be
addressed to me.
Mr.. Sherman-It is not lecture; it is
only a notice.
Mr.. Sherman's modified proposition was
agreed to.
The Adjournment Question.
The previous question on concurring in
the resolution TO adjourn at II o'clock Mon
day, June 3.
Mr.. Morrill, moved to amend so as to ad-
iourn Wednesday June 5, at s pm.
Mr.. Tipton-Make it 6 p. m. If we sit
until Sp. IN. these gentlemen will be too
late to take the evening train to Philadel-
pba. Naughter.)
Resolution to adjourn at noon Monday
June 8, was concurred in and the Senate
then resumed the consideration of the tariff
bill.
The Senate on motion of Cameron went
into executive session and soon after took
recess until 1850 p. IN.
In the evening session, Mr.. Sherman an
nounced that he had invited the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue to be present
during the balance Of the session on this
bill.
Mr.. Wright moved to strike out the
fixing the tax on
Tobacco
at 24c per pound, and leave it at zoe, as in
the House bill.
Mr.. Sherman said this was The salient
point in this bill. The existing law i'm
posed a tax of Ice per pound on smoking
and &c on chewing tobacco, and the propo-
sition of the House was to impose uniform
tax of 20 per pound. The effect of this
change would be to reduce the revenue
seven million dollars and tine effect of the
Senate amendment would be to make tie
reduction three million dollars less. As tie
bill came from the Committee on Finance
L would make the aggregate reduction of
revenue over fifty-four millions of dollars,
and the One-halt of this was a greater re-
1uction than was thought safe, and if the
present. rates were retained namely 16 cents
On smoking and 30 cents on chewing tobac-
20 the aggregate reduction of revenue by
.he bill would be only S51, 100000.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment
making tbs tax on finer grades of tobacco
81 cents per pound, and the tax on cheap
yradae avch1dinu fiDa cUt shorts 16 cents |