Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-16


\ session. He only knew that in the report ol
the secre taTy of the treasury, and in the Pres
ident's message, reference is made TO the fact
that large number of public buildings had
been authorized by the last congress, on
which work had not yet been begun. 1t had
been suggested that work might be suspended
or, rather, not begun, and, consequently,
three or four millions might be covered back
into the treasury. 1t was so, perhaps, in re-
gaTa 10 fertilization, rivers and harbors, etc.
He was able 10 see q number OF places where
q reduction could be made without damage 10
the public service, even in expenses for the
current year, still more he should think for
: next year. The house would notice that the
total estimates for the next fiscal year were
fifteen millions OF dollars more than the esti-
males of last year.
Mr. Davis thought It hardly possible TO cut
down the estimates TO the limit of forty or
forty-two millions Of dollars as required. He
thought that before congress undertook 10
revive any taxation that had been removed ii
should show TO the country its disposition 10
call of every redundant expenditure and to
reduce every salary possible under Its juris-
diction.
Mr. Cox asked the chairman of the ways
and means committee for some definite state
ment as TO articles so taxed, the rate of tax
4 alton and whether 1t was the Intention of the
governmental enlarge the volume of cur
rency.
Mr.. Dawes said that a letter from the secre-
tary of the treasury had gone to the public
prints to-day, and that that conveyed all
the information which he felt at liberty to
extend. 1t had made 1t incumbent on the
cOmmittee-althoukh urged TO take up and
pass, before the holidays, bill to raise forty
Two millions Of dollars by increased taxa
tion-to ask congress to make this appeal to
the heads Of departments in order to ee,when
N congress returned after the holidays, whether
it was then possible 10 refrain from this ex-
treme measure. O..
Mr.. Butler said If The increased tax was to
be on whisky and tobacco, and the tax on tea
and coffee restored, ii should be done instant
| Is, otherwise IL will Yield no revenue, because
in addition to the immense amount of whisky
that would be distilled, all the tobacco would
be forced into consumption, into such
hands as that IL would escape taxation, and
merchants would import all the tea and cof-
/ fee wanted for a year before the tax would
! reach IL, 50 that we shall have raised the tax
on tea, coffee whisky, and tobacco. without
| any advantage to the government.
| Mr.. Dawes-DOes my colleague mean TO sug-
gest the propriety of al once imposing such
taxi
| Mr. Butler-I say that all advantage OF such
taxation win be taken away from the govern
| ment, and simply put into theShands of the
| owners Of produce, or imported goods, to en-
| hance prices. 1 wonder, therefore, why there
| has not been another suggestion TO the coun-
| try, and that is, TO reduce the interest on the
| public debt, by substituting non-paying in
! terest notes, which the people demand Ior the
| hlgh-paying interest bonds which are abroad
| in Europe. That will be, in my
| Judgment. an immediate relief, relieving in a
! variety of ways. 1 think the people demand,
| and the country demands, such a measure {,
| instead of a measure 10 find out how a few
| and then attempting a taxation which will
| be fruitless-nRy, more. l think all this
method Of taxation and this proposition Will
| only result to the good OF those who desire
shrinkage N values, by coming back 10 that
] mischieVOus dogma, the idea of specie pay
| ments. want our currency made as good as
| Gle payment for II is a deiusion and
| snare. There never was specie
payment in any country, and there never
/ will be. because under any system of banking
/ that was ever had or proposed, whenever
! specie to the amount OF five million dollars
was called for, the banks shut down. would
IN hay frnT Ii frTul N ~ he
mtttee on ways and means report OF anoth-
er measure Tor relief by loan at a low rate OF
interest, convertible and recoverable into
greenbacks.
Mr.. Dawes says a suggestion from the
proper authority that it was necessary for
/ us, instead of retIenching, to borrow
money to meet the current expenses
/ would be a fatal blow TO our credit
abroad. He continued, fear that reduc
tiun in the estimates may not be much below
/ that; it will not be much. Could have my
/ way about il the knife would 90 into that
DoOk o. estlihales, anu WIN CONVECTION S on
/ my part that would not be impairing public
| service one atom, until the difference between
| current receipts and current expenditures
would no longer exist. Sir, the book of esti-
mates is a marvel TO me. When take
up that broad book, unlike that
which 1 used TO carry here under
/ The only thing about il 1 can realize and un-
derstand, is that year after year estimates are
going on increasing, until this year, IN the
/ face of this eXigeDcy, the grand total OF the
| estimates is about twelve millions more than
| IL was last year, and about fourteen millions
more than the actual appropriations last year,
and besides that, we have deficiencies, which
| recent exigencies have made neceSsary,which
we have got to meet, and which no patriotic
| heart can resist There are other deficiencies
10 which, in my opinion, II is our duty to ap-
| ply law THAT renders them illegal and all that
| pertains 10 the enactment Of them.
| Mr.. COX-l ask the chairman of the COM
mittee on ways and means whether or not the
/ reduction OF the tariff has been considered
| with view TO increase the revenue. Has
. H.fraf hf1 mi
/ Mr.. DdWeS-NO measure to meet this eNi-
! gency beyond that which ! have communi-
| Gated TO the house, has the committee had
| Mr. Cox-Wouid it be in order to suggest TO
! the honorable gentleman whether during
I the holidays the committee on ways ana
means might not properly consider the re-
ductiOn of the tariff on the various articles
which We ali know Y'uld enhance the
/ Mr.. Butler-AIy colleague talks about affect
| ing our credit in Europe. have heard that
before; and want TO say here and now that
| we have had too much credit in Europe for
| our bonds. We have had il until We are now
sending one hundred and twenty-five mil
| lions of dollars in geld every year to pay the
| interest on them, and the quicker they stop
| taking our bonds the better. When the gem
! tlefnan comes here to accuse the Republican
party OF increasing the estimates year by
| year for we are responsible for the admins
| tration OF the goyeTnmentl, want him 10 put
| il IN some paper, 10 that men cannot quote
one without also quoting the ogher-that we
:
| creasing in greater proportion. Let the bane
| aud antiuOte 90 out together.
| Mr. GARFIELD asked Mr.. Dawes, OF the COM
| mittee of ways and means, II he had thought
| Il wise TO divulge to the country the desire OF
the secretary OF the treasury that the tax on
| tea and coffee be restored, and additional tax.
! nut upon whisky and tobacco. He thought II
! exceedingly imprudent.
Mr.. Dawes said that he did not know how
the matter had become public. Heknew that
/ on the receipt of the secretary's communion
ton the committee OF ways and means had
resolved itself into seeresy upon the mater,
/ and that while twas doing so the whole mat
| ter was published in the New York dailies.
Mr. Dawes remarked that the reasons why
i ths committee of ways and means had
thought 1t wise to proclaim it were reasons
which had been suggested by his colleague
Nj. Butler.
him az a plain business proposition. The i'm
| position OF increased taxes was of course
| a very ungracious thing for the house to do
| condition OF the country, but he presumed
! that gentlemen, on all sides OF the house,
would be willing 10 impose Whatever taxes
| were necessary to sustain the public credit II
| no very Important reduction could be made
in the estimates, the proposition would al last
have the effect Of satisfying the country that
congress was willing TO make an honest enort
1 10 avert the imposition OF an increased taxa
| ton. he, therefore, did not see what inJur
| the adoptiOn sf the resolution could have.
| sfr Caburn derided the idea that the house
| was not able 70 decide for Itself without con
] sulting the departments as to what appropTia-
lions
| speak in favor OF the proposition Whlch ne
| had already submitted 10 the house, parceling
out the work Of the COMMITTEES on appropr1a-
| ffons among half dozen other committees.
| At the close of the discussion, the question
was taken ON Mr.. Garfeld's resolution, and it
! WAS adopted.
/ Adjournment over The holidays from Tuesday,
December 2jd. tll Monday, January 9Th.
Bir. Schoneid moved TO amend by making II
| extend from Friday, December lsthi III Tues
. daV. January 9TH.
/ III. Schodeld'S amendment was agreed to-
| yeas, l55, nays, l4J-and the resolution as
amended was adopted.
Mr.. Kelly Pa asked leave to offer the fol-
lowing resolution:
that the taxes which now burden the people
should moi 90 increased, but that extrsordi-
nary means, II RBy be required for support
OF government during the temporary par
aiyhs Of the industries OF the country now
loan on bonds bearing low interest IN cur
Fepcy and redeemable IN United States notes.
! Mr.. Dawes objected, unless the resolution
eas referred 70 The COMMITTEES on ways and
Mr.. Kelley moved To suspend the rules and
adopt the resolution.
Mr.. Wheeler moved 10 adjourn, which mo
tion was le gafded somewhat In the light OF
test vote ON Mr.. Kelley's resolution, and was
adoPied-yeas ll9; nays, Ia The house then
adjourned.
A negro who had been employed on
TIE Dalton branch OF the Easl Tennessee, Vir-
giniR and Georgia railroad, and discharged
Tor some caElse 81 other, made two Intellectual
aftempts, cp "Wednesday, q throwing trains
OF the track. The raiIroad8fs tracked tho
man 70 his home, and fouud him 70 be the
eolorsd man who hsd been discharged fron
HE road, a. above statao. and on arrasfinR
hifn he admitted the crime Ho was carried
10 captain Jsqnea. who 81 once sent him back