The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-11
WASHING TON.
The Senate Alive to Its Questioned
Privileges.
ACTION ON The FRANKING SWINDLE.
Civil Service Reform and tho
House Opposition.
The Gold JObbers and tho
Alabama Treaty.
WHISKEY AND TOBACCO TAXES.
wisconsin Hurryiug to the Aid OF
lis Land Steal.

Indignation meeting over the message of the Hons.
returning the Senate Tariff bill with resuke for
Its interference In the exclusive preroga:ves OF the
House. MIR. Sherman opened the debate by saying
that 1T was the unanimous opinion of the Finance
Committee that the Senate had AZ much right TO pro.
pose amendments 10 revenue bills az 10 any other.
ana that tins the first time IN The history OF the
government that sucn right had been questioned.
He proposed as this was question which affected
the privileges OF the Senate that IT be referred 10
the Committee on Privileges and Elections for IN
yestlgatioa and report which was after consider
able debate. agreed 10, Mr.. TrumOul and Mr..
Chandler pointing out, as they had done when the
Tariff bill before the senate, the unconst,tu-
tonality OF the Senate's action.
yhe Indian Appropriation bill was then taken
up ana occupied the remainder OF the days SEES
sion, beng nnally passed at u late hour.
The Frankins Question in the taouse-T!o
civil Service Reform Appropriation.
There was another attempt in the House to-day
10 ABOLISH tho lrankng privilege. or RANKING
burden, as 80 ne members style 1t. The question
was discussed by few who seemed 10 nave a duty
to perform. MI Butler, OF Massachusetts, opposed
the bill. He said 1t privilege that belonged
TO the people, and resulted IN more good To
them than tho abosnMent OF II could pos-
sbly do. lie said he voted Tor this OIL
before because ne knew the Senate would never do
so foolish a thing as to pass It, considerable .
amount OF buncombe was indulgei in ior the benz
III OF the rural districts, but when the question
came to vote Mr.. Sargent, OF Cl ornla, moved
TO recommt the bill ana amendments, which was
done. Mr.. Holman objected saving that would XII
1t, ana wnen the and noes were asked for only
thirteen voted To order them The question was
thus summary disposed OF for TINS session, as It
Will not be reached again.
The first discussion upon the merits OF the Civil
Service Reform movement was INDUCED In to-day.
upon d motion to non cOncur III The Senate amends
ment TO the Legislative Appropriation bill granting
$4,000 to pay the expenses oil advisory board to
PUT into operation the system elaborated by the
Board OF commissioners appointed by the Presl
dent. Considerable curiosity has been excited upon
the course Congress wouid adopt OH this question,
and the discussion to-day develops great strength
with the opposition, who wish to deny the President
the amount OF money asked Tor TO experiment upon
tue plan which has been adopted.
The Chairman OF the committee on Appropriate
tons spoke aarnestly IN favor oil the appropriation.
lie said thar WINE he did not approve many OF
the provisions OF the regulations reported by the
Board, he still thought that good aiLn toward the
President required item To give hun the opportu.
nifty to perfect a better plan.
Mr.. Butler alsapprovea OF the whole arrange
ment, from first 20 last Mr.. Beck took occasion TO
von,Ilatc hi, opinions In regard to the Se,or claims
and the Robson investigation Just how nc got
the matter In was not clearly seea but he managed
1t very shrewdy. lie sad lie did not see why that
form oil making appropriations need be gone
through win when there regard paid
to the law when made; and as for
any desire TO reform the service, he was
an unbeliever, wnen men like Lewis Porter, wnO
had been proved by ahidavits before the Senate
judiciary Committee to have offered $4,000 to any
person who could induce certain Senator to vote
against pending measure, was appointed and re-
tanned as Assistant Postmaster OF the national
metropolis. Pending the discussion Of TITS amcud.
ment the House AT ourmcd, ana the question went
over or another day.
Peters, tue Bond Joh5ins Lobby aud Coa-
-egucntiai GaD,aaes.
The resolution introduced INTO tile House yesler.
day W Mr. Peters OF Name. IN favor Oi Withdraw
ing the Gains ior consequential damages rom the
Geneva Tribunal was the most aTdacloiis piece OF
jobbery OF the SESSION. Peters Is well
SHOWN a. one OF the worst OF inc
iobners ia Congress. and IN THIS case he acted
with the worst lohbY III Washington The resoiu.
ton was written 10y The notorious sam ward aud
was offered by Peters for the simple purpose OF
affecting the price OF gold AMI government bonds.
There has NOT been q disposition either ON the
parr OF Congress or the President to modify QUE
case, aud there good deal OF indignation TO-DAY
over The daring and criminal speculation TO which
Peters lent hls name and position
Consolidating the Wn:sLcy mud Tobacco
Taxes.
The Committee on Ways and Means was In scs.
sion Tor several day dscu sing The revenue
bill and the proposed amendments. secretary
Boutwell, urged that the tax on whisSey should not
be less thun seventy cents. THIS The committee AID
not agree TO, as the statement furnished
by the Commissioner OF internal Revenue
showed that the revenue derived from ar
taxes oil distilled spiifts-stainp tax, barrel
lax, capacity and per dita tax together
with the cost OF storekeepcrs' aud gaugers' fees
aggregated only slxty-ive and eighG-,cntn cents
per gallon, and to comply with Secretary Boutwclrs
proposition would be TO enhance the value vi every
gallon Of wnlsGey the market over four cents per
gallon Toe committee agreed TO report the sec
tions allowing drawback on All stamp paid goods
exported AMI not Ia BONA.
The committee also adhered 10 an UNIFORM
tax on inanufaclured tobacco Of twenty cents
per pound, which IL TO 60 INT" ope'at""
Immediately the passage Oh we o"'
ii i expected, however, that even IL tho WI.
"a - Nc viii be near ;he close OF Tue nsc"'
year June 30 mat Tor convenience sake oo'n 'ho
nsv wn,sgcy and tobacco tax Wi! not commences
untn July next.
Il: orraneemenfs have been made by the Bureau
of rnoroylup and printing TO supply tue stamps
INA, may be required, hut the present series wiz nc
usco untIl new series can nc engraved
rne WISCONSIN Land steal imsnina ia 4.
Grave.
'rhc conference committee on the IS. Cro'S ana
payued Ranroai iuud stca nas iouud II lInpossiblc
IN aurcc aud the lae viii b. reported 10 the House
Tomorrow wncn the friends ol tic bill expect 10
ret the House 10 rcccde rom Us former action aud
The Din passed as /. came rom tue Senate. large
deleaauon of pr0mtncnl gentlemen nom Wisconsin
Gre mere 10 looDy tnls nnal acton through tbs
House
secretary lsn, whose resignation bas been Nv
the dl.posal o the President of some tiine past
mas unally resolved to remain IN tne Cabinet uruI
al least next March, ana he VIII reinsale himself
IA The residence Oh ex-senator Morgan Tomorrow
preparatory 10 resumlng social relations wlh VIA
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