Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-07


Stephens.
A Spectacle for Gods and Men.
The Progress of NIiscegenatiOn.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The bill of Mr..
Buckingham's for free banking was taken
from the table and referred to the Finance
Committee.
The Internal Revenue Army.
Mr. Morrill,, of Maine, from the Finance
Committee reported back the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Sumner instructing that
the committee to report bill abolishing
the Office of commissioner of internal reve-
nue. and to p. Divide for the collection of
taxes by stamps, with a recommendation
that it be indemnity postponed. He said
when the Millennium arrived il might be
possible to collect taxes without tax Off
GERS. To abolish the internal revenue
bureau would be to lose at least one half of
the taxes now collected. Tie principal
part of the taxes were collected upon spirits
and tobacco and it would be impossible to
collect them without officers.
Mr.. Sumner said here was an OppOrtuni-
ty for practical economy. By adopting this
system of collecting taxes by stamps, an
army of office holders would be dispensed
with.
Mr.. Morrill, thought the Senator had not
studded the internal revenue laws or he
would see his plan would make a wreck
and cause loss of at least fifty millions
from the revenue.
The resolution was indefinitely post
poned.
Mr.. Cannon, from the Finance Commit
tee, reported back House joint resolution
authorizing Edward Young to accept a
present from the Emperor of Russia
Passed.
A Mode of Contraction that the Banks
will Let Severely Alone.
Mr.. Scott, from the Committee on Fl
nance, reported, with amendments, Mr..
Morton's bill authorizing National Banks
that have decided to reduce their capital, TO
withdraw pro rata proportion of the
bonds upon retiring their own circulating
notes, or depositing lawful money of the
United States in the proportion provided by
law. The only material amendment re-
commended is one requiring that whenever
such a reduction shall be authorized under
the 18th section of the national currency
act, any notes of such bank thereafter
coming into the United States Treasury
shall be cancelled, together with such as
shall be redeemed, which shall equal the
amount of reduction authorized.
How About the imprisonment OF tIse
yirginius Survivors?
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Hitchcock
authorizing the President of the United
States to request the republic of Hayti to
indemnify Antonio Pellitre for his impris-
onment, spoilation and damages amount
Ing to S613, 800. Carried.
The Salary Debate.
The morning hour having expired, the
bill to repeal the act of March ;, 1870, in
creasing salaries, was taken up.
Mr.. Stewart desired to further amend
the bill to compel the refunding of all back
pay received.
Mr. Wright raised the point Of order that
amendments were already pending. He
thought to cucumber it with all these
amendments would defeat the bill. lie
favored the square repeal of the bill,
Flanagan FIaunts His Back Pay in
the Face Of the senate, and Lands
the Credit MObiIier.
Mr.. Flanagan, of Texas, thought $500
not an excessive salary, and had remarked,
when the bill passed, that it should have
been $4,000. Since then he had not
changed his opinion. He had drawn the
money. producing greenbacks from his
pOcket.) There they are, sir. This is my
pay. am going 10 fight for it till the last.
ILaughter.l | have not stolen that pay. l
| have endeavored to earn it. Renewed
Laughter.l After the adjournment of the
Senate he returned to Texas and was re-
ceived by the Legislature of that State, and
not having been condemned by that body,
he felt easy. 1t was not so much the
salary bill that the people objected to as the
Credit Mobilier bill, but he did not think
that such an odious measure. He thought
Cakes Ames one of the best men he ever
knew, and believed it was the demagOgues
of the country who preferred this indict-
ment.
Mr.. Carpenter said he having voted for
the salary bill at the last ses sion and in
tending now TO vote for its repeal, he. de-
sired to say a few words in explanation
thereof. He had practieed law for thirty
five wears and always made il rule after
getting through with a case to render his
bill to his client. If he should not get his
own price he always made settlement al
the price of the client, and he proposed to
do also with his constituents. lie believed
there was but one way to get sound, hon
est public servants, and that was to pay
them a round price; that the history OF
our constitutional Convention showed
that it was not intended that there
shall be uncOmpensated servants in
Congress. He believed to-day, as lie did
when he voted for the bill and thought that
the people of the country were making a
mistake In claDOring for a repeal of this
bill. He had voted for an increase pay
conscientiOusly and had seen nothing 10
make him change his opinion. He could
see no reason why the bill should be re-
pealed except one, and that is the people
demand It. The theory today, and very
proper one, is that the people govern through
their servants, and as the governing power
of this country the people have right to dc
what they please, wise or unwise. II the
bill should be submitted TO the people of
Wisconsin to-day it would be repealed by a
vote of five to one. He regarded himself
as their agent on the floor of the Senate,
and should cast his vote as he believed the
people of Wisconsin would cast theirs, and
further. he would vote to repeal back just
as far as the constitution would allow him.
He would vote with the gentle
man from Indiana (Air. Pratt) to put
the repeal back to March 4, 1873.
He would push it back to March 4, 1871.
Were it not for that instrument, the COnsti-
tuition of the United States, Congress had
no more power to put the repeal back TO
latter date than they had to repeal the law
giving Andrew Jackson his salary as Presi-
dent. True, it could be repealed, but it
would effect nothing. The salary of last
Congress is not in the jurisdiction of this,
but the salary of this Congress is. He de-
MED that Congress had any right TO
pass a bill making salaries
unequal any more than it had a right to
paw Democrats $500 and Republicans
500. Congress however had the power to
pay that. Senators hereafter should receive
so much per month, making aggregate with
that already drawn to 5000 per annum.
Mr.. Edmunds said he intended to vote
for measure which would absolutely re
peal this misguided and misunderstood |
law.
AIr. Conkling said lie would vote for |
a total repeal of the bill.
ThesSenate went into executive session |
and soon after adjourned.