The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-06-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Amendments Proposed to Revenue Laws
Relief for the Overlooked, Etc.

means have made alterations and add
tions to the tariff bill. Various amend
ments to the internal revenue laws ar
appended, among them the following
Each collector is to appoint as man,
deputies as he may think proper, unde
certain regulations. Provision is mad
for the redemption of revenue docu
mentary stamps, the use of which wer
rendered unnecessary, by the repeal O
the tax for the payment of which sucl
stamps were provided. They are to b
redeemed before Oct. 1st next. BAN
| checks, drafts, and vouchers for tn
payment of any sun of money, what
ever, drawn upon any bank or trus
company, are to pay tax of two cents
| Amendments are made by which brew
| ers are called Wholesale and retail deal
ers in malt liquors, instead of beinI
| classed with spirit dealers. Heavy pen
alties are prescribed for putting t.
casks, barrels or kegs any label bearing
similtude of the official stamp. NJ
mash, malt or mash shall be fermente(
except in distillery. Match manufac
turers are required to keep their books
open for inspection. ana to mark on the
box or package the number of matche:
contained therein. Neglect to do Sc
subjects them to penalties. State banks
are to pay tax of ten per cent. on theil
circulating notes !; also any person. firm
or association, who issues notes other
than thoseof national banks, to pay the
same rate of tax. The bill abolishes
proprietary stamps on all medicines pre-
pared in accordance with a standard
formula, or physicians prescription.
Any farmer or planter may sell at the
place of production tobacco of his own
growth, at retail, directly to the con-
sumers, to an amount not exceeding one
hundred dollars per annum.
The Pennsylvania delegation in con-
gress have been notified of the adoption
by the Pennsylvania legis' ature of q
joint resolution opposing any cancella-
tion of the contract made by the post
master general with the Pacific Mail
steamship company for additional mail
services between San Francisco and
China, as it would cripple if not break
up the iron ship building Industry in
this country.
The committee on ways and means
have, by a vote of eight against two,
expressed themselves opposed to the
restoration of the ten per cent taken of
the rate of duty on certain articles in
the second section of tariff act of June
6, 1872. This section relates mainly
to manufacturers of cotton, wool, iron
and steel.
The committee on ways and means
have authorized Mr.. Foster to report a
resolution censuring the secretary OF
the treasury, the assistant secretary
and Solicitor Banfeld for the tax and
careless administration of the law IL
the Sanborn contract cases.
Both houses of congress have resolv
ed to adjourn June Odd.
The London Standard says it under
stands that the queen will go to Russia
in the autumn.
The house committee on naval affairs
has agreed to recommt nd the purchase
of Capt. Halls manuscript relating tC
his Arctic explorations, at a price not ex'
ceeding $15, 900, in lieu of giving Mrs.
Hall pension of $50 per month.
Congress has appropriated the sum ol
5000, 900 to replace worn-out and mutt
lated national Eank CURRENCY.
The congressional delegations of the
states of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi have had conference at the
capital, with the view of obtaining futher
government aid for sufferers by the over
flow of the Mississippi river. 1t IS ex-
pected that $500,O0O additional will be
asked of congress.
The committee on expenditures in the
department of justice report that the
accounts have been properly kept
The amounts expended under the head
of contingencies from July l, 1870, to
Jan. l, 1874, were $75, ,974. While most Of
the money seems to have been properly
and legitimately expended, yet the com
mittee are of opinion that part of said
sum was improperly expended, but
they find that this department is not
an exception in this regard, but that
similar expenditures are made in all the
departments, and all of them for many
years past have been accustomed to
make similar expenditures. The com
mittee are of opinion that in this, as
the other departments, larger amount
has been expended in the fitting up OF
rooms than the condition of the coun-
try will justify. The practice which
has grown up in all the departments OF
expending considerable sums for knives
and gold pens to be given as Christmas
presents to subordiDates, or others,
should be discontinued. The commit.
tee are not agreed as to the propriety OF
legality of the heads of departments
having suitable carriages and horses to
answer their purposes of going hitheI
and hither upon official business, to be
kept at the expense of the government.
Yet they are agreed that these should
L AOfA fA1
from official business that large e1-
penditures for these matters should not
be tolerated, and the amount to be ex
pended for these things should be specl-
tically provided by appropriation. The
practice of expendlng considerable sums
out of the contingent fund to purchase
portraits should be discontinued, and
such things should never be purchased
unless authorized by law. Small as
these things are, they are evidences OF
an extravagance which should not now
be tolerated when the people are 80
heavily taxed, and when all of our e1-
penditures should be as small as the
good of the public service will permit.
The committee are satisfied that con-
siderable sum would be saved in the
department of justice for stationery and
office supplies, if the person whose duty
it is to make these purchases would ad-
vertise for bids to furnish such articles.
An impression prevails in senatorial
and official circles, that Secretary De-
lano Will be appointed as Richardson
successor, although there is no positive
authority for the statement.
The house committee on approprla-
tions have agreed to recommend the
following appropriations: For Pensa-
cola navy yard, $3.50, 900; for League
Island, $500, 600; for Mare Island,
s75O,OO0 for Norfolk $500, 900, and
$500, 900 for each of the other yards.
The house has passed joint resolu-
ton providing for sending a congress
sionaI committee to Arkansas, to inves-
tigate affairs in that state.
The centennial bill has passed both
houses of congress, only lacking the
concurrence of the house to a slight
senate amendment. One clause of the
bill provides that the United States
shall not be liable for any expenses in
Cured, although the scheme is to be
"under the auspices of the government
of the United States.
An Ashantee Bull.
The most curious relict of the Asian.
tee campaign brought home by the