Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Force Bill Receives a Check
in the Senate.
Discussion of the Tax Bill.
Important Action on Louisiana
Affairs.
A Bout Between Butler and Hale.
Discussion of the Tax Bill.
A Bout Between Butler and Hale.
SENATE.

Jldls OF d. l. OnIlSllducls DtLdtOI cltCl
! from Michigan.
The Clerk Of the House appeared al
1920 with the bill TO provide against the
invasion Of the States, and to prevent the
subversion Of their authority and to main
tain the security Of elections, known as the
force bill, and announced its passage by the
House.
Mr.. Edmunds asked that the bill be
read first time, and referred to the Judici-
airy Committee.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Maryland, objected TO
its reference after the expiration of the
morning hour, under the twenty-fOurth
rule.
The Vice President overTuled the Objec-
ton and debate followed.
Mr.. Bayard appealed from the decision
Of the chair, but subsequently withdrew
his appeal; The bill was then read by its
title.
Messrs. Bayard, Thurman, and others,
objected to a second reading to-day, and it
remains on the Vice Presidents table till
tomorrow.
At the expiration of the morning hour,
the Senate resumed the consideration of
the tax and tariff bill.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, spoke in favor
of the bill.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the bill. In his
speech he said he did not believe the ad-
vance IN tax on whisky would yield any
more revenue to the Government, but
would give bounty to holders Of whisky.
The very moment this bill passed, the dis
tillation of whisky would be stopped until
the price of it reached S1.I5 per gallon.
He favored the policy of granting
authority to the President and SeCre-
tary of the Treasury TO suspend
work on public buildings or the expendi
ture Of any appropriation, when in their
judgment the public interest required it.
ANY increase Of the tobacco tax would be
treatingsdealers badly, as remOnStrances
were before the Senate against such increase
and should be needed. Congress had fixed
this tax two years ago, and should not in
terfeTe with il. He was opposed TO the
whole internal revenue system, and had
hoped Congress at the present session would
wipe out the whole system Of stamp taxes
on whisky and tobacco. He favored a tax
on tea and coffee, and said if that tax had
not been taken of, we would have no trOu-
bic now with our finances.
Superintendent Thomas went out on the
road per a special train Sunday morning,
but could get no farther than Anderson.
At this point the engine was detached and
sent ahead, but was prevented from going
further than one mile and a half beyond
Bass station. Superintendent Thomas re-
turned to the city yesterday evening and
left at midnight with five or six yaWls for
the scene Of the food, and will endeav0r to
make a transfer to-day at Bridgeport.
Messrs. Scott and Frelinghuysen favored
the bill.
Mr.. Johnston submitted an amendment
so as to provide that the increase Of the
tax on tobacco shall only apply to tobacco
after the passage Of this act.
Mr.. Bogy opposed the bill, and said the
object Of it was 20 raise money for the
sinking fund. If current receipts were
properly expended there would be RO de-
ticiency at the end of the fiscal year. He
was not willing 10 tax the people Of this
country for the purpose Of keeping up that
fund. There was great prostratiOn in bust
ness, and il was not wise TO impose addi-
tiOnal taxes. Why was it that money ap-
prOpriated to pay the public debt had not
been applied to this sinking fund? He
did all in his power TO cut down apprOpria-
tiOns for the Indian Bureau and for the
army, last week, and failed in every par
tiular but one.
Mr.. Thurman said it was assumed this
bill would increase the revenue Of the gov
eminent not less than thirty millions. It
would be admitted on all hands that no
such tax should be levied unless there was
an Oyeruling necessity for it. To impose
such taxation unless there was an OYerTul-
ing necessity for it, would be little less than
a crime. Il had not been demonstrated to
his satisfaction that the receipts of govern
ment would not meet current expenses.
The Senator vino had charge Of this bill
said national honor was involved in keep
ing the sinking fund intact. He did not
agree with him there, and hoped to show
the Senate that the SINGING fund provision
was no part Of the contract between the
government and its creditors, therefore
the honor of the government was
not involved in keeping that fund intact.
The object of that fund was to secure a re-
ductiOn Of debt at the rate of one per cent.
per annum. The law was passed in 1862
and from that time to 1874, a period Of
twelve years, more than twelve per cent. of
the debt had been paid. The government
had more than complied with the law.
He favored a reduction of the army to
1900 men, which would save ten million
dollars per annum. The country formerly
had an army of 1900 men, and he believed
an army of that size now could dc all the
service required. One half Of the expense
Of the navy might be spared,
and that would save probably fifteen
million annually. The Government could
burn one half Of its ships and get along
Just as well as it does now, and in cOnclu-
coS1 % most rifriT 11anrrr1zr rr,rr1N
be practiced by the Government and by the
people of the country before the end of the
present troubles would be reached.
Mr.. Sargent, from the committee Of con-
ference on the legislative, judicial and eX-
ecutive appropriation, made report that
the committee could not agree, and asked
for a new conference, which was granted.
Mr.. Morton spoke Of the necessity Of
keeping up the sinking fund and said if the
sinking fund Of England had been Kept &C
cJrding TO the original plan, the public
debt of that country would have been paid;
and so it would be with our country. Ac-
cOrding to the report Of the Secretary of the
Treasury, the sinking fund would be be-
hind S35,0O0,000 on the 1st of July next,
one year afterwards it would be S50,00O,-
900 behind, and thenit would be impossible
" EdAGu up 4AE ll5tAAu iAlG AJGAAGLdlg VI LAAC
Treasury say on the floor of the Senate to-
day, that he felt it to be his duty to take
enough money from the Treasury every year
TO make thcsinkingfundgO good without regard
tO. expenditures of the GoyernmePt. There
was nothing more demOralizing to the public
mind than suspension of public works.
He would rather see the Government Dor
row moneys carry on work than suspend it.
Mr.. Logan said lie objected TO the bill
because it levied a tax on whisky hereafter
to be distilled, and taxed tobacco nov on
hand. The people Of the southern part OF
his State Produced tobacco, and in the
northern part produced whisky. He could
not say to the people of Southern Illinois,
"YOu shall be taxed Oh your product OH
hand" and to those Of Northern Illinois,
"YOu shall not be taxed
Alr. Logan opposed the bill, and said
Congress had been here several months at
work, and now in the last days Of the ses-
sion a tariff bill was sent here and no
amendments were to be adopted. So far
as he was concerned, he would vote against
a bill if he thought it wrong on the very
last day Of the session. Senators would
return to their homes and be asked what
they had done. They would reply, Moth
ing, except at the close We taxed the peO-
pie S3O,OO0,OO0.Z That would be very
pleasant news.
After further debate the amendment Of