The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-28
HERALD THURSDAY JANUARY ls7a-TR1PLE

y
meet the deficiency in the customs and internal
revenue. The reopening Of so important mat
ter Will bring on an exciting political debate, the
democrats being aware that whatever increase IS
made this session OF Congress will be collected
during the existence OF the next Congress. which,
with large democratic majority in the House
and Increased democratic strength in the Senate.
will lead many ofthe people to believe that the DEM
ocrats are responsible for the increased taxation.
or ese II they have the power. why not repeal
the obnoxious lawss The speeches, therefore, on
this most important measure bid fair TO DO more
voluminous than those on the financial question
at the beginning OF this Congress- when nearly
every member was anxious to appear on the
record and explain his position to his cons tituents
In print. Nor can IL be expected that the demo-
cratic any more than the republican members will
keep silent. The imposition OF tax on tea and
coflee-it IS found by careful polling Of the
Housewife not meet with the approval OF o
majority OF the republicans. Any increase OF
the tax on whiskey or tobacco will be strenu-
ously opposed alike by members OF both
parties from the South and West The increase
OF duty on imported wines, especially the spark
ling brands Will have the most advocates, both IN
the interest OF the American vineyards and the
advocates OF a protective tariff. The Ways and
Means Committee have, in addition to the task OF
preparing strong tarin and revenue measure,
over 300 bills before 1t IN regard to internal and
customs revenue, financial and miscellaneous
matters. These with the Pacific Mail subsidy IN
vestlgatton and the report thereon, Will exhaust
the strength and time OF the committee. The
Committee on Elections have nearly finished their
business and the action OF the House Is
awaited on the exclusion OF Delegate Cannon,
the contested Louisiana election case and
the proposed amendment to the consti-
tntiOn placttnv
President and Vice President. The Banking and
Currency Committee Is well up. The only measure
OF importance now pending there Is the bill Tor
regulating the printing OF United States notes.
and upon which, II ever brought up for debate in
the House, there viii develop long discussion II
allowed. The Committee on Pacific Railroads do
not expect to make q favorable report on any
thing. The War Claims Committee, in reporting a
bill to refer apparently proper claims to the South
ern Claims Commission, thereby increasing the
scope OF their labor, aim to give claimants the
proper channel for establishing their claims and
relieve their committee OF task whlc9, as the
Chairman said, would require more than two
years to dispose OF II confined to the
committee. II this bill, now pending
in the Senate, does not become
law. thousands OF claimants will be compelled to
renew their bills In the next Congress. An addi.
tonal for the passage Of the bill Is given
the fact that democratic House will he more
likely to favor the Southern claimants, while the
Claims Commission, which Is composed OF repub-
leans and empowered to send agents through the
South, could easily establish either the genuine
ness the falsty OF all claims referred to 1t. The
Committee on Commerce has still before 1t the
River and Harbor Appropriation BILL the inten-
ton being to recommend a reduction so as to cut
down the amount to $5,o0o,O0O, less by 100000
than that passed last session. Possibly the
Harlem River Improvement will be recog-
nlzed, while the appropriation for He'll
Gate Will be increased over that OF
last year. The Shipping Commissioners bill and
that for tunnels under the East and Hudson rivers
Will undoubtedly fail for want OF time. The Com
mittee on Public Lands will consign to the waste
basket 300 bills The Homestead bill, as amended
by the Senate, ana the one for the protection OF
timber on government reservations Will be among
the things that were and cannot lopgerbe. The
Post once Committee are free to retire with no
unfinished WORK. The Judiciary Committee have
still under consideration the Louisiana BILL and
one Tor controlling and regulating telegraph lines,
both OF which will be disposed OF IN few days.
In the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as q member
said to-day, the measures which are likely to fail
before it are only those which have no mert for In
stance, the recognition OF Cuban independence or
giving the Cubans belhgerent rights. Judge Hoar
has leave to report at any time bill defining the
status under the fourteenth amendment OF
American citizens abroad. The Committee on
Pensions, in addition to reporting favorably on
pensions for the Mexican volunteers and the re-
organization OF the corps OF medical examiners,
will report uniavorably on nearly all the bills re-
ferred to 1t for increasing PENSIONS by reason OF
the scarcity OF money. The Committee on Rail-
ways and Canals despair OF helping the grangers
or the agricultural interests OF the West.
The Continental Railway, the improve
menv OF the mouth OF the MISSISSIPPI and
the Cape Hennepin canal are the only bills which
the committee will urge. All the other commit
tees OF the House, excepting the Committee on
Military Affairs, which has only TO report
In favor of an appropriation OF s25o.OOO
for rnng Rodman guns and 500 600 fer an ex-
perimental ground, have no buslness-of impor-
lance that is likely to gam the attention OF the
House. Night sessions, however protracted, Will
scarcely diminish he public business, while pri-
vate claims will be slaughtered by hundreds.
ApPREHENDED FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT
GUARANTEE OF INTEREST ON THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA BONDS.
The first payment OF the semi-annual interest
on the three-sixty-hve bonds OF the District OF
Columbia, guaranteed ny the United STATES, Is due
on Monday next, and as there not dollar in the
District Treasury TO meet an obligation requiring
nearly $500 000 the prospect OF the being in
default and the guarantee o! the government Tor
the time worthless, excited grave apprehensions
among those who have purchased the bonds in
large amounts. IL IS insisted that the appro-
priation must be made in the House, as 1t IS new
legislation and must first be considered in Com
mttee OF the Whole. point made by Mr.. Holman,
OF Indiana and sustained by the Speaker.
THE LITTLE TARIFF BILL REFERRED TO sECRE-
TARY BRIsTow FOR HIS SANCTION.
The Tittlc Tariff bill" has been referred by the
President to the Secretary OF the Treasury to OBJ
tain his views as to the propricty OF sgnng 1t.
1t IS believed tnat Secretary Brlstow will report
against 1t. inasmuch the new measure now
preparing Will conflict with this "nybridT' bin.
CONGRESSMAN WOOD ON THE OPERATION OF
THE NEW CUSTOMS CODE.
Mr.. Fernando Wood is preparing a letter TO the