The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-18
CONGRESS.
wAsH1xoTos, February II.
sENArE.9 sffl.a



take up the Postoftice Appropriation bill.
The bill was read at length,
Dir. Bayatd, who had charge Of the bill,
explained that there were important
amendments, which affected the revenue.
II was known that more than one.third oil
our excise duties were drawn from the
single agricultural product Of tobacco since
1875, The tax had been "a cents per
pound on every variety Of manufactured
tobacco, excepting snuff, which was sub.
iected to tax OF 50 cents per pound. The
House sent the Senate 0 proposition TO re-
duce tho tax on all manufactured tobacco
TO l6cents per pound. The Senate Com.
mittee non:concured in this, but agreed Ia
reduce 1t on all except snuff to
l6 cents per pound, and on snuff TO n
cents, being reduction in the same pro-
portion.
The House also sent the Senate PROPOSE.
ton for the establishment OF export
bonded warehouses. The Senate Commit.
tee thought the establishment OF such
warehouses would jeopardiEe the revenue,
and therefore would not consent to the
proposition.
Mr. Morrill,, Chairman Of the Commit.
tee on Finance, said that he did not ap.
prove Of the sweeping reduction proposed
Tor manufactured tobacco and snufE. Il
was not only inexpedient to reduce
this tax, but It was a bar to granting any
further relief from taxation. All over the
world tobacco had universally been recog.
nized as a prominent article OF taxation.
We consumed every year more than 40
cigars and more than two pounds OF to.
bacco Tor every man, woman and child In
the country. To gain as much revenue at
IL cents rer pound as at "a cents there
must be All increase in the consumption
OF from los, 100000 to I5S,000, 900 pounds
annually, which mover would be.
Mr.. Whyte submitted IN amendment 10
have the reduction take effect on the lst
of June next, instead Of September, Is
proposed In the House bill, or April, a
proposed by the Senate Finance Com.
mittees
Pending discussion there was an execu.
tive session.
On resuming, after further discussion,
MIR. Whyte modified his amendment 50
as TO insert May LIST, instead OF June 1st.
MIR. Withers opposed the amendment
and argued that II II should be adopted
there would be no tax received from 10.
bacco until after that time. The tobacco
interest would be idle until after that
date. '
MIR. Thurman favored the reduction oil
the tax, but would follow the committee
In regard to the amendment as to when
the law Shout take effect.
Mr.: Allison favored the amendment OF
Mr.. Wllyte, and argued that II was the
only way dealers could be protected.
The amendment of Mr.. Whyte TO insert
May LIST, was reiected-yeas %, nays 20.
The question being on the amendment
ofthe committee to insert ~ pril lst, 1870 j.
and 1t was agreed TO without division.
The question being on concurring in the
amendment proposed by the, Committee
on Finance to tax snuff twenty ceuts per
pound, was disagreed to; yeas II, nays so:
thus leaving the tax on snuff at sixteen
cents per pound, as proposed by the House
bill. The same rate Of tax was also re.
tanned on tobacco. The Senate then voted
on the amendments OF the Committee, and
struck ont the tax proposed on cigars and
cigarettes, leaving the tax as under the ex.
listing law, and agreed to the following
amendments appropriating $4,000 for al:
terations Of dies, stamps, and such expenses
as are incident in preparing for the collec.
tlon OF taxes on tobacco and snuff at re-
duccd rates. Dealers in leaf tobacco, ex-
cept retail, shall pay special tax OF
twenty-five dollars. Every person who
manufactures tobacco and snuff OF any dc.
scrilption without first giving bond as re.
quired by this act shall be fined not less
than one thousand nor more than five
thousand dollars, and imprisoned not
less than one nor more than five
years. An allowance OF a drawback on to.
Dacco, snuff and cigars on which tax has
been paid by suitable stamps affixed there.
to before removal from the place OF manu-.
iaoture, wi | be madewhen the same are
exported equal in amount to the value OF
the stamps found to have been so affixed.
The amendment Of the Committee 10
strike out the repeal Of the tax on lucifer
or friction matches, was agreed to. Yeas
90, nays 10, g-r
The, Senate also agreed to the other
amendments OF the committee, including
the allowance OF drawback on ferlnente9l
liquors and on all articles mentioned In
schedule "a" on which any internal taxes
shall have been paid, except luclier or
friction matches. cigar lights and wax
tapers, equal in amount to the tax paitl
thereon aud no more when exported.
between half-past eleven and half.past
twelve several Intellectual attempts were
made TO adjourn. I'M - -
Thelast amendment Of the Committee
on Finance, relating to deposits in the say.
ings bank, gave rise to debate and 0Ucs.
lions OF order were frequently raised,
Mr.. Matthews offered an amendment
proposing that on and after July l, 1870.
there shall he levied duty Of ten cents a
pound on tea and two and a half cents OH
coffee, '' W
a point Of order was raised that The
amendment was not germane to the bill.
The discussion OF tho amendment and the
point Of order consumed much time.
a motion, made at 1:l5 10 adjourn, was
disagreed to. Yeas %, nays IS.
1t was then deOided, by yeas 90, nays 10,
that the amendment was In order.
Mr.. Matthews had the floor to give his
reasons for offering the amendment, hut
gave way 10 Mr., Dorsey, who proposed
that by unanimous consent the Senate
will meet tomorrow lItmptly at noon
and at 8 o'clock vote on the amendment
and the bill without without further de.
bate. There being no obiOOtlon, at / 80
the Senate adjourned. s.5'.
HOUSE. 40
During the morning hour Mr.. Hale,
under call Of the States, offered a reso.
LUTON directing tho Committee on The
Judiciary to report a joint resolution pro-
posing a constitutional amendment to pro.
hibit the payment Of war claims, EXCEPT
oil persons loyal to tho Union. Amotion
to adjourn was made on the Democratic
bido, and the roll call consumed the m.
mainder Of the hour and the RESOLUTION
went over without notion. I'M =
Anlotion to suspend the rules was made