The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-15


regard 10 the tax on distilled spirits, dc
claring reduction Of tax on that article
inexpedient.
Nj. Wood, Of New York, in moving Il
refer the Communication 10 the Commit
tee on Appropriations, said that 1t was AZ
error 10 assume that the incidental cir
cumstances which had caused falling
of In the revenues were Of 4 character
that entitled them 10 any very great con
sideratiCn ut the other end OF the avenue
II II had been assumed by the Secretary
Of the Treasury that Congress had nc
right TO altar the existing laws, however
vicious they might be, lest the revenue
might fall Of, he Wood took issue with
that assumption. Congress had beer
charged in an important committee with
the entire revision Of the question Of tax
o., and II In consequence OF the agitation
incidental to delay in preparing the bill
the revenues had fallen Of, he attached
no importance TO the fact; but II the
Treasury Department assumed 10 dictate
to Congress what 1t shonld do in regard
TO whisky or tobacco, or any other sub
ject OF tax, he thought It went & little be-
yond the legitimate Executive preroga.
tiyes belonging TO II. He concurred with
the Secretary. however, that the expend.
iturea Of the government should be cur
tailed.
Mr. Butler thought the House should
not quarrel with the Secretary OF the
Treasury In regard to the wisdom or
unWisdom Of sending the Communication,
but should pass law settling the tax on
whisky and tobacco, and thus allow bust.
ness to go on without suffering from any
agitation.
Mr.. Wood said Il was an entire error
to legislate 10 piece.meal. II the House
should pass upon those two questions Il
would interfere with the general system
Of taxation. II Congress should take
part Of the system out Of the hands Of
the committee which had II In charge Il
would derange the whole system. He OBJ.
jec,ed 10 that style Of legislation.
Mr.. Tucker thought the communica-
tion should 20 to the Committee on Ways
and Means, but he denied that reduc-
tion Of the tax on whisky and tobacco
would reduce the receipts OF the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Wood accepted the amendment to
send the Communication to the Commit
tee on Ways and Means.
Mr.. Harrison stated that the Constitu.
ton gave the President the right 10 com.
municate TO Congress his yiewson proper
legislation, and that the law gave to The
Secretary Of the Treasury the right to
communicate Information TO Congress
when he was asked for IL. But the House
had not asked the Secretary TO communi-
cate on It's action, and until he was asked
the House should receive no suggestion
from him. He (Harrison) thought no
reference should be given to it. II the
Secretary deemed il right to communi-
cate with the House, he should let the
President send 1t. The House should not
allow any dictation OF that sort from the
Secretary Of the Treasury, and he there.
fore moved to lay the communication on
the table.
At this point, amid much laughter, 4
message was received from the Senate
stating 1t had passed the House resolu.
tion declaring the reduction of the tax on
whisky TO be inexpedient.
Mr.. Wood continued his remarks.
Mr.. Foster-As to the Secretary OF the
Treasury, I want to say OF him, inasmuch
rs he has been attacked, that / don't be-
lieve this country has ever bad so able an
administrative officer in the Treasury
Department as the one Il has to-day.
Mr.. Sayler Will my colleague except
Alexander Hamilton?
Mr.. Foster-He Is as anxious TO reduce
expenses as any man in the House or
country can be; he urges that at all times
and under all circumstances. He sees
the revenue falling off and calls our at
tention to the fact, and Il was his duty to
do SO.
Mr.. Wood, Of New York,-No man in
this house Is more responsible for the
delay in settling this question OF tax
than the gentleman from Ohio (Foster).
The resolution which he brought before
the House on the subject Of whisky
tax disturbed and deranged report on
the question ialmost ready to be made
to the House by the Committee on Ways
and Means. The delay is traceable to
that premature and inconsiderate action,
but the question will soon be settled in
committee and the bill reported to the
House.
Mr.. Harrison appealed to Mr.. Wood,
out Of regard for the dignity OF the
House, to move to lay the Secretarys
Communication on the table.
The Speaker said he had, in support
o. his position, the fact that 1t had been
the uniform practice OF the House to re-
ceiye communications from the Secretary
OF the Treasury touching the affairs OF
his department. In addition to that he
thought II good policy that II the rev.
enues Of the government fell of suddenly
and seriously from any cause the Secre.
tary OF the Treasury should communicate
the fact 10 the House.
Mr.. Harrison-Through the President.
The speaker-For the reason that 1t
nigh. involve the good faith and credit
Of the country, such communications
should certainly come TO this House,
which has the sole power to originate
revenue measures.
After further discussion the communi.
cation was referred 10 the Committee on
Ways and Means.
The House then proceeded to act on the
Military Academy bill. All the amend
ments reported from the committee Of the
whole we're agreed to and the bill passed.
The House went into committee Of the
whole on the state OF the Union, Mr..
southard In the chair, and took up the
bill granting pensions 10 the soldiers and
sailors OF the Mexican and other wars.
The bill directs the Secretary Of the Inte-
rior to place on the pension rolls the
names Of surviving officers and enlisted
men, including militia aud volunteers, Of
the military aud naval services, who
served sixty days in the Mexican war,
or thirty days in the Creek war or Sem.
mole war or Black Hawk war, or to their
surviving widows who have not remar.
ried.
Mr.. Herbert addressed the committee
In advocacy Of the bill.
Mr.. Powers spoke in oppolition to Il,
because Il opened wide . new door by
which millions Of dollars would be drawn
from the treasury. The committee esti.
mated the annual drain under the bill at
one and half millions, but he believed
Il would be seven and half millions, 10
say nothing Of arrearages. The whole
outlay under Il would not fall short Of
one hundred millions,