National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-15
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

There was no necessity for the employment Of
special counsel II competent district attorneys
were selected
Mr.. FIELD inquired whether the gentle.
man thought that q single distrct-attornoy
could properly attend to the Government In.
forests in the large districts of New York and
Massachusetts,, where two or three courts were
in session at the same time.
Mr.. HANNA thought they could II compe-
tent men were employed.
Mr.. BUTLER argued that the compensation
was too low to secure such talent rs tho i'm
portance of the cases demanded. This would
be the case In suits where hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars were involved.
Mr. DURHAM said the only Point ut issue
was whether the number Of special counsel
should be limited and whether the compcnsa-
ton should be limited. lie believed 5000
was ample In any given case, for the special
counsel would never DO employed moro than
two months nj one time.
Tho bill was then passed.
The House then, on motion of Mr.. SASLER,
went into Committee of the Whole (Mr. CRIT
TESDES In the chair, and proceeded to the
consideration Of the bill to extend the time
for the withdrawal Of spirits in bond.
Mr. SAYLER made an explanation Of the
| provisions Of the bill, and said tho extension
of time was only to give the domestic manu-
facturer of distilled spirits the same privilege
as was given to importers Of foreign liquors.
| The relations Of the Government with the dis
filling interests peculiar, for while IL cost
| but fifteen cents to manufacture a gallon OF
whisky, the United States had an interest Of
ninety cents in the gallon. Unless some such
measure Of relief az Is proposed here is given
tho business OF manufacturing distilled spirits
must cease.
| Mr.. CONGER recognized this bill as ia
miliar face, and was in substance what tho
House rejected some time ago. II was declared
| then that the reason why the law should be
passed was that tho business was depressed in
consequence Of tho uncertainty Of tho action
Of the House on the question of the tax. The
House very promptly declared II to be inexpe-
dent to reduce the tax. and now 1t was pro-
posed to extend the bonded time for three
years. He felt safe to predict that the very
men who would vote to afford this relief would
not vote to protect the agricultural and manu-
| featuring interests Of the country when tho
tariff bill shall be reported from the Committee
Of Ways and Means.
There seemed to him to DO an unusual and
| remarkable tenderness for whiskey in this
House. Manufacturers Of whisky seem to re-
| gard IL as safe TO apply to this House for re-
lief After the record heretofore made he had
no idea that this House would pass this bill
and give relief for special interests, while all
other interests were suffering and nearly
every other pursuit is on the verge of bank
ruptcy lie knew Of industries that were
| trembling In consequence of q well defined
| fear that the articles they are interested in
would be placed on the free list by the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, which, In con-
cocting their bill for the revision Of tho
tariff. had ignored all the rules that had
| hitherto prevailed in the committee, and had
| refused to permit the various industries of the
country to be properly represented before
them, The distillers had got the assurance
| they asked for-that the House would not re-
/ I,,,a H., n,,I
should not pass.
Mr.. BUTLER thought the bill defective in
the fact that 1t did not provide that the tax
should be paid on the same amount in which 1t
was placed in bond.
Mr. SAYLER had no objection to the inser-
ton of such au amendment.
Mr. LAPHAM opposed the bill because 1t
was, in short, proposition to loan to tho dis
tillers Of the country fortwo years q vast sum
of money, upon the payment of interest at the
rate OF five per cent, and that, too, at time
when the most rigid economy was demanded.
Mr.. PRIDEMORE opposed tho bill because
II was In the nature of class legislation. He
saw no reason why special act should be
passed for this interest when the tobacco in
terest and othcr/ interests were suffering as
badly.
Mr. HARRISON opposed 1t also as class leg.
islation, and was, more than that, legislating
for special class within large class for 1t
| ulu not hHeCt or dement, tne TeCtlueFS anu Otn
ers engaged In the business.
Mr.. BURCHARD said that If the bill was
In the direction of reduced taxation he would
not favor 1t. But It was not In that direction.
1t was based upon the principle which gov
erned nearly every other interest, which was
that the producer should be compelled to pay
the tax only when the article was put on the
market
Mr.. FOSTER also advocated the bill, be-
cause it was based on correct principle that
the tax should be paid only at the time of con-
sumption of the article or its sale. 1t placed
distilled spirits on the same footing rs tobacco
and other manufactures.
The bill was then amended In accordance
with tho suggestion made by General BUTLER
as to amount of tax to be paid, and fixing it at
D tho same amount as when spirits were placed
r in bond.
: The committee then rose and the bill was
reported to the House, and passed by vote Of
llS yeas to ZIG nays.
The motion to reconsider the vote and to
lay that motion on the table prevailed by a
vote Of 122 to l05.
On motion of Mr.. DURHAM the Senate
amendments to the Military Academy bill were
Y taken from the Speakers table and referred to
the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. FOSTER reported a bill appropriatine
5 $4,000 for the contingent fund Of the House
Passed.
Mr.. GOODE, from the Committee on Educa.
: ton and Labor, asked leave to reprint bill to
/ apply the proceeds ofthe sales Of public lands
to the education of the people,
Mr.. PHILLIPS objected.
Mr.. EWING introduced bill to establish q
branch mint at Columbus, Ohio. Referred.
Mr.. BLACKBURN, from the Committee on
the District of Columbia, reported back the
Q bill to authorize the Commissioners Of the Dis
. trict of Columbia to audit certain claims
u against the District. Ordered printed and re
committed.
: Mr.. SPRINGER called up the contested-elec
Q ton case of Dean Va. Fold, from the Third
District Of Massachusetts,, and addressed the
= House in favor of the contestant.
Pending further consideration of the case
v the House lat 5:32 p. m) adjourned.