The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-15
THE CONGRESSIONAL ARENA.
.yDLRSoN .iND REvENUEIN THE HOUSE
tND sILIER Nv THE SENATE.
c,b.on Of Louisiana Thinks Gov. Nichols VIII
Pardon Anderson " Asked ohm shernnnns
uctt.r-A speech by jones OF nevada
r,,,,,mation Wanted on Railroad bonds.

Gibson Dem, II.l. rising To question Oh
nrlvlcgc said that he rcpudintcd the intlma-
hon that any representative of Louisiana hnd
,.cu engaged In any bargain in regard to the
Presidency which reflected on the honor OF that
state He had differed from his colleagues in
.nppor;ing the Electoral bill; he had advo-
Gated strongly tho policy OF adhcrng to that
Ans "A grcnt measure in the interests OF the
.,aec honor and welfare of the country; he
,ol not hcsitatcd to give tho Electoral Commits
sion his sanction. lie had been gratiiicd TO see
that the action II the Southern men on that
uueston. standing up for the law and the
Union. had excited in the breasts OF the North
srn people n sentiment OF confidence IN the
South-a sentiment which had been stranger
10 that people Tor more than II quarter of n cen
Jury. lie had felt that whatever redounded to
the interests Of the whole country would secure
.hc happiness and prosperity of Louisiana.
The President had declared In unedui,ocal
terms that no had made up his mind to uphold
no longer n military government over the pco-
ple of Louisiana: that Ind been given IA an
order TO the military commander In New Or
leans. Hc Mr. Gbsonl had felt rs
surod that no bargain or private under
stnnding WINS necessary to secure TO the
pcople of the South their rights. He had
fclf gratilled when lie read the inaugural al.
ircsS oi Mr.. Hayes and when h. snw him call
To- his chief Cabinet position n gentleman mr..
Evartsl whose voice had a. "mphHticHv de-
dared his opposition 10 military goye5niImlsh
III the South ~ the voice ~ Samuel j. ridden
He himself had pictured To- the visiting states
men the effects OF radical inlsrulc IN L9uislah2'
and they had advised Mr. Hayes that ne could.
without imperiliing any interests. withdraw the
troops. TIL. Louisiana Legislature had en-
dorsrd Mr. Hayes policy and declared that the
Nichols iovnrnment would dscountennnce ANY
political prosecutions. That was ". only
transaction he was acpuainted with he Knew
Of no compact no understanding. Those reso-
lut,Ons spoke for themselves. and showed that
GOV. Nichols and the Legislature pledged
themselves To the rigid enforcement OF the
laws. This was hring done nj the present time
I'm regard to one OF the members Of tho Return
ing Board who for the violation Of n State law.
for the commission Of msdenleanor. was
held for trial in one of the State Courts. lie
saw nothing eNtraordinary IN that spectacle eY-
rrp the rnOrmitv OF the offence. The proceed
ings in that court had been in accordance with
the criminal practice and the criminal law Of
Mr. Hale tGcp. Ne. DOES the gentleman sus.
tam the prosecutions that have been and are
nov going on against the Returning Boardy
Mr.. Gibson-Ii the men have been guilty OF
any violation OF the laws of that State. the au-
thoritics are perfectly right in prosecuting
Mr.. Hale--Then the gentleman does not dis
Nlr. Giison-Docs the gentleman mean to say
that he thinks that II Is not right TO prosecute
Mr.. Hale-I think the whole proceeding is the
greatest outrage which has ever occurred in
American history, because | believe II TO be u
political persecution under the Guise OF "a pro-
cess OF lpw; lDerisive laughter on the Demo-
Mr. Gi6son-Since / have been on this floor
the gentleman from Maine has omitted no occa:
sion 10 denounce the people OF Louisiana.
have treated his former dcnuneiations. as
treat this with the contempt which they merit.
Mr.. Gibson mt on To ask on what grounds
the House could claim revsory power over
the local tribunals OF Louisiana! For, years
with the vicious elements Of society in Louis
innn. No guilty man had been punished since
the Nichols Government had been inaugurated.
FAfl SOD In II
criminals. II II were shown that there was any
mort in the case u Anderson; If it should
seem that there had been any bias against him.
or that there had been any degree OF vicious
public sentiment underlying the transaction
Out Of il should intervene and ask that EAec1-
tive clemency be extended. he believed that the
Governor of louisiana would accede to their
wishes. FOR one he Mr.. Gibson would not find
fault with him. He had entered public life with
the view Of bringing aboat good understand
ing between tho North and the South.
The Speaker ASKED consent to lay before the
House romm unication from the d. faeto Secrc-
more important matter Tor discussion than thai
which the House was pursuing. IL enclosed q
copy Of letter from tho C9mmiss oner OF In
ternnl Revenue. setting forth that the int"rna
revenue receipts Tor the current fiscal year. III
Guiding Wendesday, a. compared with the sam,
period Of the last fiscal year. had fallen OF
t4.969 2lsjG. and suggesting iis one cause o
this decrease IN" agitation over inc taxation 81
spirits and tobacco. Mr.. sherman urged upon
Congress the reduction OF the appropriation
for the service nj the Government during tina
year, or an lncreN-H ell TAXATION. Inc Noillllls
siOner recommends the passage OF resolution
in regard To tobacco similar 10 that passed som,
time ago in regard 10 distilled spirits. declaring
Mr.. Wool DEM, y. " moved to refer tn,
communication to the Committee on ApprUprl
atoms. He said that ii was an error TO assum,
that the incidental circumstances which had
caused the falling on IN the revenues were OF
character thar entitled them To any very gret
consideration NJ the other end OF the avenue
II II had been assumed blythe de facto Sccrctar,
VI the Treasury that Congress had no right L
alter existing laws. however vicious they nnigh
be- lest the revenues might fall on lie took issu'
with that assumption. Congress had charged
an important committee with AN entire revision
OF the question Of taxes. and II in cpnscquenr
of the agitation incidental 10 the delay III Ia
PREPARATION Of bill. the revenues had ialIcl
oil. he attached no particular Importance to tina
tArt. But IL the Treasury Department assume,
10 dictate 10 Congress what II should DO IN re
gard To- whiskcy and tobacco. or any other sub
pet Of taxation he thought 1t went IL little b,;
You'd the Legitimate executive prcrogatiye
belonging TO II. He was ioi curtailing the eX
Mr. Butler tRcp Mass.) thought that tn
House should moi quarrel with the Treasur
Department. but should pass some law settlinl
aLl thus allow the business to 20 ON withou
suffering from any agitation.
Mr.. Wood said that II was an entire error 1
legslate by piccemcal. Ii the House shoui
legislate upon those two questions. 1t would in
tcrlrre with the general sSstnm OF taxation.
Mr.. Tucker Dem. VA thought that the com
Immigration should 20 10 the Connlitt ee on Way
and Means He denied that IA reduction Of III
mA on whiskey and tobacco would reduce tn
rrcrllts.
Mr.. Wood accepted the suggestion.
MI Harrison Dem. H. said that the Hous
had not asked Mr.. sherman to comment ON II
mfion. H. thought that no reference shout
be gwen To- III" communication. He moved 1
nay The rnnlmuni ration on the table
Mr. Wood declined 10 yield.
@ Mr. Harrison made the point OF order that III
Secretary OF the Treasury had no right TO sen
such communication to the House
The Speaker d"riied mat under the law III
point WAS hot well taken.
Mr. Poster rep. OHIO expressed his. sur
PRISE At learning that the Mays and Mean
Committee did not consider the whiskey Ia
question settled
Mr; Wood-Ihc gentleman has not under
stood me correctly.
Mr.. Foster The House. by a majority Of 81
am The Senate. by Il vote OF ~ Ia 2. declared
reduction oi tho whisky tus % Npedent Thg
question In settled. ~ 10 'll'co question
beg the committee To- hrh till settling
definitely. do not hrli'N rtil.I one country hu
,i'I had 80 abr an administrative officer III III
Treasury Department ~ tho one 1t has tO-lal
Mr. Sdylrr dem. Ohioi-Will my colleagu
except Alexander liamiitoni
Mr. fost"r-lle Is rs anxious to reduce eS
I"hs"o ~ any man IN the House or countr
NJ AZ 1.