Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-18
NASHVILLE TENN. THURSDAY FEBRUARY IS 1916

the present law, an increase of tax would
| be 2 greater inducement TO fraud. Inclease
| the tax 80 cents and they would have all
the smugglers, thieves and Illicit distilles
at work again. The - cents tax on
the stock on hand was unjust,
because it was an additional tax upon
whisky already taxed. The eleven and
half million gallons now on hand, if the
bill passed, would all be sold to 100000 re-
tail dealers before the law went into opera
ton. This clause would put money into
the pockets of brokers and spectators, but
would afferd no additional revenue TO the
Government. He opposed the tois-cco tax,
because twas not taxedas much a L would
bear. The increase was discr. aination
against Western tobacco and did not In
crease the tax on Connecticut leaf. Gin
cinnati alone paid almost twice as much
internal revenue tax as the six New
England States; more than the tate OF
Pennsylvania, and more than an.A Eastern
State except New York.
Mr.. Garfield offered substitute, for the
first section taxing whisky s. cents per
gallon, but not taxing stock on hand.
Mr.. Cox moved to amend the first section
by increasing the duty on champagne from
So per dozen ofquarts to 50, and from s. per
dozen of pints TO 81 80. He said that that
would produce an increase Of $4,000 Of
revenue. The amendment was agreed to.
MIR. Ward, of Illinois, said that an income
tax was the only form of taxation that
would reach Massachusetts,
Mr.. Dawes-If the gentleman will pro-
pose an income tax will vote for il
always opposed its repeal.
Mr.. BurchaTd opposed Mr.. Garfeld's
amendment, and argued in favor of a per-
manent and settled tax of one dollar a
gallon.
Mr.. Garfield modified his amendment by
making the tax one dollar gallon.
AIr. Hereford opposed the entire bill,
and spoke in favor Of retrenchment and
economy.
Mr.. Lawrence moved to amend by in
Creasing the tax on ale and beer from one
dollar to two dollars a barrel, but, on a
point of order made by Mr.. Dawes, the
chairman ruled that it was out of order.
Mr.. Kelley moved to amend by providing
for the remission of tax on spirits Of wine
specially prepared for use in the arts. Re
jected.
Mr.. Gunkle moved to amend Mr.. Gar
fields substitute by providing to tax stock
on hand, which, after debate, was agreed
to, and then, as the substitute became sub
stantially the same as the section Of the
bill reported by the committee the substi-
tute was rejected, leaving the first section
the same as reported, except as it was
amended in regard TO champagne.
Mr.. Storm moved to reduce tue tax on
whisky 20 s. cents gallon. Rejected.
The committee then rose and the House
took a recess till 7:30, the evening session
TO be for business from the Judiciary Com
mittee, excluding political measures.
Evening Session.
4 number Of bills were reported from
the Judiciary Committee.
4 bill was reported TO establish certain
telegraph lines in the several States and
Territories as post roads, and to regulate
the transmission Of commercial and other
intelligence by telegraph. The bill having
been read, point Of order was made by
Mr.. Willard, of Vermont, and supported by
MeSsTs. Randall and Garfield, that is should
receive its first consideration in Committee
Of the Whole.
The speaker OYerruled the point of ardsE,.l
and Mr.. Butler, Of Massachusetts, proceed |
ed to explain and advocate the bill. He
referred TO the Fact that since the reporting
Of the bill, messages were sent between |
New York and Washington at half the |
previously existing rates, and he asked if |
reporting a bill did so much good in |
fourteen days, what would be the effect |
of the passage of the bill? That would |
bring these telegraph companies to their |
senses. In connection with the fourth sec |
ton of the bill, which required the tariff |
rates Of charges to all newspaper associa- |
tiOns to be the same as those to the AssOci- |
IL Al. = Il
spoke of the exclusiveneSs of New York /
Associated Press under which no new New |
York paper could be established, because |
it could not get news. He said the West |
ern Union Telegraph Company had bar /
gain with the Associated Press by which all |
news went through the Associated Press, !
and every dispatch was cOlored TO suit il. |
He called on Mr.. Albright, of Pennsylvania, |
a member Of the select committee on Ala |
bama affairs, to relate his experience on |
that point.
Mr.. Albright stated it as a mott ceabIe |
fact that no agent of the Associated Press
ever called on any of the majority men, |
bers of that committee in Alabama. al |
though news was sent to the country as |
coming from that committee. At Mobile, |
when it was considered proper that some /
of the facts elected before the committee /
should be furnished TO the public, and a /
dispatch was prepared by a gentleman in /
Mobile, from facts furnished by the COM /
mittee, that gentleman told them that |
that dispatch would not 90 over /
the wires. The committee had desired him /
to present it to the agent of the Associated !
Press and to say that it contained infOrma- |
ton Of facts which had been testified before |
the committee. The dispatch was handed |
TO an agent of the Associated Press, but he |
declined to send it.
Mr.. Bromberg Did you offer to pay for |
that dispatch?
Mr. Albright-No, sir, because it was
understood that Associated Press agents /
were DESTROYS Of getting information which /
they could send over the country.
Mr.. Merriam, Of New York, remarked |
that the bill embodied one of the most /
monstrous propositions presented to the /
House in many day. After he read the |
bill a few days ago, he came to the cOnclu-
sion its title should be "a bill to enable a /
rival telegTaphic line to partake of the
profits of the Western Union Telegraph |
Company without rendering any service
therefor He sent to the clerks
desk and had read long COM
munication from Mr.. Orion, President
of the Western Union Telegrah Company,
criticizing the details of the bill, declaring
it to be a fragrant violation Of the general
understanding Of what constitutes fair
play, and asserting its introduction, and
that of other measures hostile to the West
ern Union Telegraph Company, was de-
signed to effect results in Wall street, and
not with any sincere desire to benefit the
public.
Mr.. Butler moved the previous question,
but the House refused to second it-S9 to
%, not two-thirds in the affirmative as re-
quired by the new rule.
After a running debate, the House, with
out action on the bill, adjourned.