Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-01-29

Try were adopted in relation to the
collection Of the five per cent. tax
on the net earning Of railroads
what steps had been taken towards
the collection of moneys due the
United States from the Pacifjg
Railroads, and with regard to the
Bankrupt law. Mr.. Morton Their
resumed his speech on the resolu-
ton to appoint a committee to In
quire into the Mississippi election
He spoke of the financial condition
of Mississippi, and related the
charge that the Government un-
der Republican rule, had been ex-
travagant. He said in 1870. when
the Repnblicans came into power
the Site was impoverished-ex-
traordinary expenses had to be In
Cured i'm order to lift ii out Of its
dilapidated condition. He gave
statistics OF the yearly expenses
which in 1867 amounted to $5h546-
900, were i'm ETA only 1858, 0OO, and
in 1875 $90S, 900. The State taxa
tion last year did not exceed two
per cent. Before the war the tax
alton was all thrown upon the
working people,. who were forced
TO pay % cents up0n every 500 of
their gross receipts. The Govern
nent had donated land to Missis-
sippi for the pu1lic schools this
had all been squar dered and the
public fund stolen before the war.
He read from Mississippi papers
to show that public feeling was
hostile to the negro. Without
concluding the reso!u'.on was al
lowed 10 go over. The joint rules
were then adopted with the excep-
tion Of the twenty second rule, in
relation to counting the vote for
Presiden, aud Vice President.
Adjourned.
Ln,the House the debate On the
Centennial appropriation VS. re-
suned. Mr.. Townsend. oe1few
Yorh, made 8 huu1oeono speoch ID
favor az the hill r. fug @ -
' 9srk 81 M. Reagan, u 4eSss, ana
Mr.. Tucker of Virginia He said
the oonstructionist theories of the
latter had been debated before the
war, and were finally settled on
the ap, cal of the people in that
gentleman's own district at Apo
mattox. Mr.. Stenger.of Pennsyl-
vania, and Messre, FELTON, and
Cook, of Georgia, opposed the bill
on constitutional grounds, and
were allowed by Banks in an ell
oqnent appeal favofing the bill.
Without any action the House ad-
journed, it being understood that
the eulogies on the late Vice Pres
ident will prevent vote being
taken to-morrow,as was intended.
\ JANUARY 24.-yn the Senate |
Senator Jones, of Nevada, occupied
his seat for the first time this sea-
son. Mr.. Morton presented bill
to establish mint at indianapolis
which was referreato the Finance
Committee. Wednesday next was
agreed upon for considering reso-
lutions of respect to the late Sena-
tor Ferry. Mr.. Morton's Missis-
sippi resolutions came up, but that |
gentleman being unable to resume |
his remarks, the resolutions of Mr. |
Davis, of West Virginia, for an in
vestigation of the books of the
Treasury Department, were taken
up. Mr.. Davis opposed the amend
ment to refer the matter to the FIJI |
nance Committee. He insisted |
that Mr.. Boutwell, had not noticed
several discrepancies cited in his
speech on the subject. In 1870 the
Indebtedness of the Government
on account okthe Pacific Railroads
which had been included by Ssere-
tary McCulloch as a part Of the
public debt, was stricken out and
the Administration had the credit
of large reduction of the public
debt, which was not reah The
amendment finally prevailed, and
as amended was agreed to. The
bill to provide for a commission
on the alcoholic liquor traffic was
taken up and debated. Mr.. Bay
ard opposed the bill, and offered
an amendment instrrcting the
commission to inquire whether
the use Of opium as substitute for
liquor had not been increased by
Legislation on the subject. Mar.
Sherman favored the bill, saying
that its passage would promote
the common good Mr.. Bayard's
amendment was negatived, and
without further action the Senate
adjourned.
In the House, bills were referred
for funding the national debt and
the legal tenders. One by Mr..
Whitehouse provided for funding
the legal tender notes in forty
years. FOUR per cent. gold bonds, at
the rate of$S,00O, 900 per month,to