The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-18
THE CONGRESS.
A LONG DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON
THE REVENUE BILL.
me Tax on Tobacco Reduced-PrOp0sed
Tax on Tea and COfTee-Rassage Of
Minor Appropriation Bills In the
THE SENATE.

WARRINGTON Feb. ia deadlock OF a
half hours duration occurred for want Of a
quorum.
A number Of petitions, bills and joint reso-
lutiops were offered and referred.
A bill to provide for bridge over the Mis-
souri, river at Decatur, Nebraska, was passed
At the close of the morning hour Mr.. Dor
sew antagonized the internal revenue with the
postofice appropriation bill, but was de-
feated-yeas rs, nays 27
Mr. Bayard explained the provisions of the
Internal revenue bill and the changes made
by the Senate committee.
On Mr. Bayard's motion the amendments
OF the Senate committee were taken up sep
arately and passed upon.
Mr.. Anthony protested against the manner
in which the notifications TO the existing
law had been brought before the Senate
When the section relating to taxation upon
tobacco was reached, Mr. Bayard rose TO ex
plain its provisions. He claimed that the tax
on tobacco was excessive. He had protested
against the increase In 1875 from twenty to
tWenty-four cents, and the consequences
justified that opposition. He regarded
s5oo,ooo sps 90 pounds @ out of 6,ooo,ooo went
into manufactured tobacco, was a
harsher tax on tobacco manufacturers than
the direct tax, but his Judgment had been
overruled by the committees. He thought
reduction Of six cents per pound on the man
ufactured article not too much, and that the
revenuel could sustain it. He claimed there
was one voice from the growers and manu-
facturers OF tobacco crying that the tax was
too oppressive and high In these times OF
business prostration, and that it would be
fatal to the whole business when a financial
crisis came, and without relief bankruptcy
would be the fate OF most manufacturers Such
representations made grave impression on
him, after giving due allowance to the testi-
mony Of interested parties. Notwithstand-
ing It's economical use by the consumers forty
millions Of tax was derived from this one pro-
duct last year. 1t can be produced In almost
every county of the country. len millions or
the people use 1t. Let its taxation be reason
able and its use will be greater. A reduction
will meet the popular sentiment and there
will be no trouble, notwithstanding the prog
,nostications Of the Secretary OF the Treasury
and the Commissioner ut Internal Revenue.
Immigrants are tobacco consumers. Reduce
it as provided within the bill and that taxa
ton will be permanent, for all manufacturers
admit its production will support the taxa
ton.
Mr.. Withers said it was faulty statesman
ship that taxed tobacco so heavily while other
staple products went untaxed. Secretary
Sherman. who opposes the reduction now,
while chairman Of the Finance Committee
thought tax of twenty cents excessive and
bad policy.
Messrs. Thurman, Ransom and Beck ad-
vocated the reduction, and MCPHERSON op-
posed the unjust discrimination against
snuff, which is taxed six cents more than
The section relative to banks and savings
banks was discussed for nearly an hour, and
finally passed without material amendment
All OF the amendments offered by the Com
mittee on Finance, having been disposed OF,
Mr.. Matthews, at II l5, offered an amendment
imposing duty Of ten cents per pound on
tea and two and half cents per pound on
coffee
Mr.. Beck made the point Of order that the
amendment was not in order. This was an
internal revenue bill, and the amendment
was proposition to impose a tax on i'm
ports.
The chair said he would submit the ques-
ton to the Senate, which decided Matthew'S
amendment was in order, and Matthews took
the floor to make a speech in its favor
Mr.. Dorsey then made proposition that
the Senate should now adjourn to meet at 12
o'clock today ana ad that acao vote should be
eepted, and the Senate, at ! :25 a. m, ad-
journed.
Aft further discussion the question was
taken on the proposition 70 reduce snuff to
sixteen cents, and It was adopted by vote of
80 to a.
The section relating to the reduction OF the
tax on tobacco was passed without division.
An attempt was then made to remove the
tax on matches, and it was deferred.
discussion then ensued on dlfterent minor
and technical amendments.
THE HOUSE.
Very few bills were presented for reference.
Among them were
By Mr.. Bliss: For the improvement OF the
Harlem river.
BY Mr.. Acklen: Resolutions OF the Lou
isana Legislature in relation to suffrage,
By Mr.. Banning: TO authorize the sale OF
certain property in Cincinnati.
BY Mr.. Young, of Tennessee: 10 prevent
the Introduction Of infectious diseases.
Mr.. Cook, of Georgia, presented the ere,
dentials of VIM. b. Fleming, elected to MI
the unexpired term Of the late Representa-
tive Hartridge, and the oath Of office was
administered to him.
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, offered joint resolu-
tion entitled, "A resolution to protect the
treasury" 1t directed the Judiciary Com
mittee to report a constitutional amendment
relative to Southern claims.
Mr.. Eden said that would not protect the
treasury. The trouble was with the so-called
loyal claims. He moved to adjourn.