The New York herald., 1877-12-10
PROGRAMME OF THE HUSE COMMITTEE.
How Crude and Hasty Legislation
Is To Be Rectifed.
CHARGES AGAINST OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE
The Coming Debate on the Silver Bill
in the Senate.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, Dec 0, 1877.
INTERNAL REVENUE AND TARIFF LEGIsLA-
TIoN-oBJEcrs AND PURPOSES OF THE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE. st
The sub.commhtees of the Ways and Means
busily engaged with the OF remodelling the in
ornal revenue and tariff legislation. and the commit
leo will be ready to report to the House
Immediately after tho recess. Tho main OBJ
ect of tho committee is to simplify the duties
and taxes to mako their collection easier and less
expensive. and to make such cautious reductions
SHALL while not injuring any established and legti
mate industries, help TO increase foreign CON-
mcrcc and enable manufacturers to obtain their
raw materials advantageous terms
Mr.. Wood, the chairman Of tho committee, has
received great many letters from manufacturers and
merchants who apprchcnsive that the changes
contemplated with embarrass their business, and
who desire TO know when the committee will hear
delegations representing particular interests rho
Committee has determined not to hear any delega-
iona 1t will givo careful consideration to all
representations and Information sent writing, and
has done so from the first, but II believes
that TO opon tho door to delegations representing spe
sal interests would only givo occasion to log rolling
and lobbying and cause great waste Of time Mer-
chants also write to tho committee to know what
changes proposed in the duties Affecting the art!
ses which they import, urging that lack OF such
knowledge embarrasses them making their spring
orders. But the reply Is tha: tho work OF tho
committee is not yet completed. that the House may
make changes In It alter 1t Is reported that in
any such bill probably pass both houses
and become law before March April, and would
!hen not 60 into effect until fixed and still lator
period, perhaps the beginning OF the fiscal year.
the 1st Of July
Thesubcommit.ee which has tho tariff In charge con.
nj u1r
committee, consisting Of Messrs Randolph Tucker and
Burchard, have In charge the internal revenue When
these two committees have completed the work they
will then unite In single subcommittee, consisting
OF the i've gentlemen named, who will review the
whole work with the object Of making . comprehen-
sive and coherent tax system, all parts OF
which shall be consistent with each other
and certain Of producing all the rev.
cnue required, with important easing of
burdens upon the people The uubcommttees will
sit during the whole recess with the exception OF ono
woek, and will report TO the whole committee as soon
as Congress reassembes after the There 10 no
doubt that the whole committee will accept the work
Of It's subcommittee
Tho main purpose the committee to lay before the
House = homogeneous, consistent system OF taxation
simpler BY far In all It's details than the
present, and In harmony with the present
industrial condition and facilities OF the country Is
attracting favorable attention from manufacturers OF
Tarious kinds to their abors is by letters
received by members Of the committee. II is &C.
knowledgcd IN many such quarters the present Gus.
toms laws, which q hodge podge of crude legsia
lion, much Of it dating many years back and ukered
from year to year, Is not 1t for the present
circumstances OF the country; that IL Is
wise and necessary TO begin to endcavor to
frame complete system in which tho internal taxcs
and customs duties shall bear consistent relation
each other AS parts of scheme intended 10 raise
the required at tho least cost and with tho
greatest ease to the taxpayers and con-
sume.s In doing this WORK the committee
are not animated, as they openly declare.
by any doctrinaire views, but look strictly to the
practical interests Of the whole country bearing In
mind that our industries depressed now because
able TO produce and manufacture far than
VIC consume and that therefore rapid extension
Of our foreign commerce is absolute necessity to
the revival OF our suffering manufactures.