Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-25
Consideration or the Bill Providing a
Permanent Government for the Dis
trict Of Columbia Resumed
The POIl-Tax Clause In
spires Some Debate.
Another Burden Tackled on to the Texas
Pacific Railway Bill-The New Or
leans, Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg Railway, Pensions and
Other Matters In
the House.
In the senate.

WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Ed
munds, from the select committee to tax,
into confederation the state of the law re
pectin0 the ascertaining and declaration o
the result in the elections for President anC
Vice-President of the United States, said ht
was directed by the committee to make re-
port, in part, in the form Of bill to amend
sundry provisions of chapter l, title 8, o.
the revised statutes of the United States
relating to Presidential elections, and to pro-
vide for and regulate the counting of vote:
for President and Vice-President, and for the
decision of questions thereon. The bill was
placed on the calendar, and Senator Ed
munds gave notice that he would ask the at.
tention of the senate to its consideration some
day next week, and he hoped the senators
would examine it carefully.
Senator Thurman, a member of the select
committee, SAID he only wished to remark
that the report was not unanimous one. and
that he would take occasion to explain to the
senate why he dissented.
Senator Burnside, from the committee on
education and labor, reported adversely on
ment of the eight-hour law, and also adverse
ly on senate bill to regulate the hours of la
bOrers employed. On the calendar.
Senator Davis called up senate bill to pro-
vide for an additional circuit judge in the
second judicial circuit. Passed.
The bill to provide for the free entry of ar
hcles imported for exhibition by societies es-
tabiished for the encouragement of the arts
and sciences passed.
At the expiration of the morning hour
consideration was resumed of the bill provid-
ing permanent form of government for the
District of Columbia.
Senator Burnside, from the committee on
education and labor, reported bill to estab-
llsh educational funds, and to apply por-
ton of the proceeds of public lands to edu-
cation, and to provide for more complete
endowment and support of national colleges
for the advancement of scientific and indus
trial education. Placed on the calendar.
Senator Allison submitted a resolution
directing the secretary of the interior to
transmit to the senate certain information in
regard to the application of the governor of
the Chic asaw Nation for hearing upon the
so-called permit law. Agreed to.
Senator Hamlin submitted an amendment
providing that a poll-tax of one dollar shall
be annually assessed upon and collected of
every male inhabitant of the District who
shall be twenty-one years of age, said tax to
be LEVIED ana coIIecteu as UtIeT lakes. oen-
ator HamlIn, in explanation of his amend
ment, said there were very great number
of people here who paid no taxes, and that
they had all the benefits of the schools, i'm
proved streets, etc. He believed every in
habitant should contribute something for
what the law and government afforded him.
This poll-tax would probably yield to the
District fifteen or twenty thousand dollars a
year.
Senator Whyte said that he was surprised
that such proposition should come from the
source it did. 1t was to impose upon the col
ored people of this District poll-tax of one
dollar per head, when many of them were SO
poor that the government had to take care OF
them. Great complaint was made on the
other side of the chamber, short time ago,
about a poll-tax in Georgia. He was sur
prised that the Georgia doctrine had got up
to Maine so soon.
Senator Conkling-Was that not condi.
ton of votingp
Senator Wbyte-I don't know. This is a
condition of living, which Is worse.
Senator Conkling-It does not propose to
kill him if he does not pay the tax.
Senator Whyte-It will kill some of them
to pay it. He was not hard-hearted enough
to levy poll-tax of one dollar on poor col
ored man.
Senator lIamlin said he made no distinc-
ton on account of color.
Senator Whyte said he was satisfied that
no tax looking to restriction of suffrage should
be levied.
Senator Hamlin said that there was no con-
nectiOn whatever between his amendment
and the right of voting. He did not propose
to vote for this bill, because there was not
enough suffrage In it. He favored a mixed
government for the District, portion of its
officers to be elected by the people, and a
portion to be appointed by the general gov
eminent. If the general government should
take the control of the District, it should pay
all the taxes.
Senator Hamlin' 8 amendment was agreed
to-ayes, 25; noes, %.
The third 'section of the bill, relating to
taxation, and that the Federal government
shall pay fifty per cent. of the expenses OF
the District, ETC., was then agreed to as
amended, no change being made In the fifty
per cent. clause.
The fourth section of the bill, providing
that all taxes shall be paid into the treasury
of the United States, to be discussed on item
lied vouchers, and that the secretary of the
treasury shall pay interest on the forty-six
bonds of the District of Columbia, and also
create a sinking fund for the payment of the
principal of such bonds, was agreed to with
out important amendments.
The fifth section of the bill, relating to con-
tracts for payements, repairs of streets, ETC.,
was slightly amended.
Pending discussion, Senator Ferry said he
desired to give notice that he would call ul
the bill to forbid further retirement of legal
tenders as soon as the District of Columbia
bill should be disposed of.
Senator Paddock submitted an amendment
to the Texas and Pacific railroad bill extend
ing aid to the Republican Valley railroad
company. Referred.
Senator Mathews (by request) introduced q
bill to invest the court Of claims with power
to hear all titles, and claims of titles, to the
unpatented lands in the southwest fractional
quarter OF section ten, township thirty-nine
north range, fourteen east of the third prin
cipsl meridian, In the city of Chicago, county
of Cook, and State of Illinois; and to inves
the proper claimant or claimants to said lane
with legal title thereof by decree of sale
court. Referred to the committee on private
land claims.
Senator Mitchell submitted as an amend
ment to the river and harbor bill the bill in
troduced by him last October appropriatine
three hundred thousand dollars for the pur
pose of continuing the construction of a cana
and locks at the cascades of the Columbis
river. Laid on the table. He gave notice
that he would address the senate in regarl
thereto on Monday.
After executive session, the senate ad
journed.
In the House.
Mr.. Elan, from the committee on Pa
CHIC railroads reported bill repeating section
y OF the act Incorporating the Texas anC
Pacific railroad Company. declaring for
feited all rights, privileges and lands granted
under that section to the New Orleans
Baton Rouge and Vicksburg railroad com
pany. and re-enacting that section in favor o
the New Orleans Pacific railroad company
Ordered printed and recommitted
Mr.. Henkle introduced a bill to aid tn
ship canal company, giving a guarantee t.
the United States to the payment of interes