The Portland daily press., 1876-05-30

SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 80.
The Senate went into secret session on the
impeachment question.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Adams offered the following:
Whereas the fact is apparent.that all branches
of manufacturing mechanical and mining pur-
suits are at this time greatly depressed and
that all legislation which tends to embarrass-
ment by the unsettling of value or the render
ing of manufacturing, mechanical or mining
operations uncertain is unwise and injudicious
therefore
Resolued, That in the judgment of this House
legislation affecting the tariff is at this time in
eXpedient.
The previous question having been ordered
Mr.. Morrison moved to reconsider and it was
reconsidered, yeas 119, nays 95.
Mr.. Morrison then rose to debate the reSolu-
ton and the resolution thus giving time to de-
bate it went over under the rules until Monday
next.
House then went into the Committee of the
Whole on the bill to debate the proceeds of the
sale of public lands for educational purposes.
Mr.. Walter explained and advocated the bill.
Mr.. Cabell then addressed the House in re-
gard to the system of internal revenue taxa
tion.
Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania, member of
the Ways and Means Committee, addressed the
committee in opposition to the tariff bill, and
Chittenden of New York was the next speaker.
He had no personal ends or theories to support,
but he had 80 years experience in an honest
business 1t was no exaggeration to say that
the commerce of the country, especially the
foreign commerce, was in ruin. The country
was chained by the legal tender madness and
by prohibtOry tariff. If the present tariff
were continued the foreign trade of the coun-
try would be extiDguished. The pending tariff
bill had many good features but the things
that were most needed in it were most conspic-
uous by their absence. He complimented the
chairman of the Committee on Ways and
Means for his courage and intelligence in rec
ommendiDg tax on tea and coffee and pre-
dicted that the revenue of the government
would never again be adjusted to its expenses
until tax was imposed on tea and coffee. He
believed tariff bill could be framed in six
lines that would restore hope for despair, that
striving desperately to preserve something
from the wrecks of foreign and domestic
commerce. That bill should provide tax on
tea and coffee, and reduce all other duties tenn
porarily 123 or Is per cent. Such a measure
would work no injustice or detriment to any in
terest, and would instantly form basis for
reconstructing the shattered commerce of the
country.
Mr., Kasson of Iowa asked the chairman of
the Committee on Ways and Means whether
he intended to bring the tariff bill to a vote at
this session.
Mr.. Morrison replied he would like ito bring
it to early vote, and it would depend on the
business of the House whether he would do so.
He did not now anticipate that it would be vot-
ed on He himself should yield to the appro-
priation bills, and if there was time after they
we're disposed Of he would ask a vote on the
tariff.
Mr.. Burchard of Illinois-It will depend,
suppose, on the length of the session.
Mr.. Morrison-Very much.
Mr.. Kasson-That still leaves the question
very much in doubt so far as the business in
terests of the country are concerned. / do not
believe it will be possible to bring the House to
an agreement on tariff bill embracing such
complete revision of the tariff unless it be first
prepared under the direction of Joint commit
tee of the House and Senate. as was proposed
at the last Congress. There is yet time to pro-
vide for such a joint committee to take testimo-
ny and consider the subject fully during the
coming vacation.
The matter then passed over without action.
Mr.tGoodwin, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill providing for the sale of
the Usage coded lands in Kansas to actual set
tiers. Passed.
Mr.. Piper from the Committee on Commerce,
asked leave to report resolution in regard to
modifying the treaty with China on the SUBJ
iect of immigration, but Mr.. Holman insisted
on interposng motion to adjourn, and the
House at $40 adjourned till Wednesday.