Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-06-27
Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Juno 20, 1873.

Enron REPoRTER.-The Forty
fifth session of Congress adjourned
this morning, at seven o'clock. There
has never been time in the history OF
our country when SO much was expect
ed from the action of congress tor the
relief of the suffering and oppressed
citizens. as was the case before the
meeting of congress, last October.
Congress has been in session over
eipht months and no action has been
taken by them to restore confidence IN
the capital of the country, that they
can feel safe in using their means to
set the idle men of the country at
work. The tendency of their leGlsla-
ton has been to create greater dc
gree of uncertainty as to what will be
the financial policy of the government.
It must be bore in mind that all me"-
sures involving an appropriation OF
money have to originate IN the house
of representatives, and that the senate
is, therefore. not responsible for the
want of proper legislation. The house
of representatives. by reducing the tax
on tobacco, which would never have
been done if the south had not de-
manded it, but was fortunately defeat
cd in the senate, have thrown an I'M
certainty upon that interest which will
operate in diminished revenue to the
government, which will have to be
made up by taxation on the necessaries
of life. This reduction of the tax OF
tobacco is made ostensibly IN the IN
terests of the southern tobacco grower,
on the plea that he pays the tax
Such is not the fact, he only advances
the fax. as it is a we'll established fact
that the consumer is the one that pays
the tax. It is plainly to be seen by
the action Of the present house of IL
representatives. that they desire tie lower
the tax on whiskey and tobacco, be-
cause kentucky and other southern
states produce these articles to large
extent, and thereby throw larger tax
alton upon the articles produced at
the north, is plainly to be seen IN all
their legislation. As a southern mem
Der of congress remarked when re-
monstrated with upon the unheard OF
appropriations for the improvements
of harbors and rivers: ''You must re-
member that for the Mississippi river
and its tributaries we get nearly fifty
per cent of the whole appropriation, .
there being appropriated for those
purposes over $4,000, 1000. In no one
instance is their opposition to northern
interest shown more plainly than In
their opposition to extending the time
for completing the Northern Pacific
railroad project, which did not call for
cent from the United States treasury,
and which would have furnished en-
ployment for thousands Of the idle
men of the country, but it is north
crn enterprise and found no favor
with the southern democracy. Hon,
Thad. G. Pound and Hon. u. b. Cas-
we'll deserve the thanks of their con-
stituents for their noble although I'M
successful effort in behalf of the North
ern Pacific railroad.
The closing of the session OF con-
gress has stopped for the time being
the Potter presidential investigation.
The democracy had become so much
alarmed at the universal condemnation
of their revolutionary schemes that
they, on Friday last, passed the fol
lowing, introduced by Aon. IL. G.
Burchard, of Illinois:
"Whercas, at the joint meeting of
the two houses of the Forty-fourth
congress, convened pursuant to law
and the constitution, for the purpose
of ascertaining and counting the votes
for President and Vice President for
the term commencing March 4. 1877.
upon counting the vote, Rutherford
Ii. HAYES was declared elected Presid-
ent, and William A. Wheeler, Vice
President, for such term; therefore,
"Rsolve6, That no subsequent con-
gress or either house has jurisdiction
to review the action of such joint
meeting, and any attempt by either
house to annul or disregard such ac-
ton, or the title to the Office arising
therefrom, would be revolutionary and
is disapproved by this house," by a
vote of 216 to 81. Hon. Edward S.
Bragg being the only representative
from Wisconsin voting in the negative.
The judiciary committee reported the
same day upon the memorial of the