Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. "a, 1875.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb "a, 1875.
The funeral of Mr.. Hooper, of Massachu-
sets, on Tuesday of last week, was NUM-
erously attended and the services were OF
the usual character. But how few OF the
vast throng who visited the Capitol that
day had any presentiment OF the awful
tragedy that was to follow on the succeed
ing day. by the leaping of poor fellow
from the top of the great dome to the roof
below over the east portico, distance OF
one hundred and eighty seven feet. His
name was James Mcmahon. a resident OF
the city, a young man ofgoOd character and
habits. 1t is not known whether he jump
ed or was trying Blondin experiment of
walking on the railing and becoming dizzy
fell, as brother had heard him talk OF
the Blondin teats, and say it was just as
easy to walk high up in the air as to walk
near the ground, and there was no evidence
that he was insane or depressed in spirits,
and nothing to indicate insanity save the
act, which was insane enough.
The report and bill of the Ways and
Means Committee to raise more revenue
has walked up good many passengers,
who all want the additional revenue to
come out OF somebody else. The Virgin
ians, who are largely interested in tobacco
think their great staple is taxed all that
it will bear, and the Kentucky folks think
that further tax on whiskey will bear
hard upon the great national beverage. If
any of the necessaries of life must be fur
| Their taxed, they much prefer that tea and
coffee should catch it, for tea and coffee
are not essential to lite, in their view and
whiskey is. The New York importers
growl Justify at theten per cent. to go upon
foreign goods, and various trades and in
terests find that they cannot stand any
more taxation at present. The Democrats
generally say that no more revenue is
needed, and that the treasury can get on
well enough if expenses are cut down, but
Republicans don't see it. The debate has
been very interesting. and the amount OF
information on the liquor question, found
in possession of members of Congress is
very surprising. The present tax is 10
cts. per gallon on whiskey, and it is pro
posed to make it one dollar. In Great
Britain the tax is two dollars per gallon.
but it is not known whether in consequence
of the difference the people of that coun-
try enjoy their teddy more than we do or
not We learn however that in twelve
years the revenue from distilled spirits in
Great Britain has gone up from $4,000,
600 to S74,000,000. fact that indicates
very clearly that the amount of spirits
poured down has increased in a correspond
ing ratio. The receipts from the tax on
spirits in this country last year were S5i,-
100000, but as our tax is only 20 cts. per
gallon against 81 IN Great Britain it is
evident that our people buy and pay for
much more liquor than do the people of
our mother country. Our laws provide
for drawback on liquors exported. and
the exporters regard this as very great
favor, but the people who watch the effect
of the liquor not exported. are of opinion
that the drawbacks are very much greater
than upon the exported article. and hence
the boosted advantage is delusion; but
this docs not affect the receipts, or the
condition of the Treasury. Mr.. Chitten-
den. large importer from New York, and
one of the members from Brooklyn. made
a speech in favor of taxing tea and coffee
He thought that would be courageous
thing to do, and the people he said liked
courage, which If true Is not true 10 the
extent of their paying for courage by that
kind of a tax. He solemnly warned Dawes
that unless he taxsl tea, there would he
thunder from the people that would shake
him like n leaf in the wind. He said this.
thinking 10 make Dawes shake now, but
Dawes preferred To wait and not shake
till the thunder comes. In the meantime
the tea drinkers may enjoy their tea I'M
molesfed by the tax-gathercr. II is To be
hoped that we may get by the memorable
year of seventy-six without crying for a
tax upon tea, considering the anJieties
and sutferings of the heroes of 20 who
found that sort of tax oppressive, and
whose honor we propose to advance in
the coming Centennial. In the course Of
the debate Mr.. Bright denounced the tar
on tobacco as unconstitutional. This
Bright must be brighter than the Judges
of the Supreme Court who have not vet
made that discovery. The Judges are old
smokers, and the speech of Bright was
doubtless intended to give them something
10 chew.
The Senate sat all night Wednesday on
the question Of admitting Pinchback. but
nothing came Of IL but everlasting talk.
1t was Il wearing time for dignity, and the
debate was dreary enough. On Thursday
Morrill,, of Maine. concluded there was no
fun in the thing and he moved TO lay the
question on the table. Morton resisted
this in rather bitter style, but the whip
of the Indiana Senator was ineffective and
the motion Of Morrill, was carried by
good majority, a few Republicans voting
for il and all the Democrats. This secures
the passage OF the appropriation bills,
probably, and saves an extra session.