The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Feb. II. 1879.
The bill to amend the internal revenue laws was
read at length.
Mr.. BAYARD. dem Of Del. In charge of tho bill,
said the Senate perhaps already understood that tho
greater part of this bill devoted to the amend
ent OF existing statutes upon the subject of
ing and collecting the revenues. These amendments
were the result of experience of the department.,
and had been made at the suggestion Of the govern
ment officials. They were to remedy the defects in
the machinery Of collecting tho revenue. but In
case materially changed the present law. There
were important amendments to the bill. however.
which affected the revenue. 1t known that moro
than one-third Of excise duties were drawn
from the single agricultural product Of tobacco.
Since 1875 the tax had been twenty-fcur cents per
pound on every variety OF manufactured tobacco,
excepting snuff, which was subjected to tax of
thirty-two cents per pound. The House sent TO the
Senate proposition to reduce the tax on all manu-
featured tobacco to sixteen cents per pound The
Senate committee non-concurrcd in this but agreed
to reduce ii all except snuff to sixteen cents per
pound. and on snuf to twcnty-four cents. being
reduction in the same proportion The House also
sent to the Senate proposition for the establish
ment of export bonded warehouses. This was
no new proposition. having been consid-
cred in 1868 and again in 1872. The sSen-
ate committee thought the establishment of
such warehouses would tcopardizc the revenue, and
therefore would not consent to the proposition The
House also proposed to repeal tho Tux on luctfer
Matches but the Senate committee would not con-
cur in this amendment, and the tax on lucifer
matches stood had FOR the last eight years The
Senate committee had also added an amendment pro-
vding for the rclinquishmont of taxes upon the
assets Of insolvent banks.
mce on Fnsnce sad he rather reareted I to saw
anything to-day upon this subject but tho friends
Of the bin were going to sit It ont he might as well
proposed by the bill in regard to amending the
laws met his approval but no did not approve of
tobacco and snuff. He argued that IL not only
inexpcdicnt to reduce this taxation. but IT was q
This measure presented no equivalent for the deficit
1t created The friends Of this bin only failed to
reduce the cost OF living or tho cost Of tho breakfast
table. but they had taken step which left option
for such action In the future. There revenue
point which, il passed either above below, would
fore that large crop of cotton brought less money
In the aggregate than small ono. and quoted FROM
be said Of tobacco which was largely grown for and
dependent upon foreign markets. So IL would be de-
pressed when tho production exceeded the demand.
All the world tobacco had universally been
recognized prominent article of taxation. II
luxury, not necessity We consumed every year
more than forty cigars and more than two pounds OF
tobacco for every man. woman and child in this
country. Not one petition favoring this reduction
had been presented from consumer.
Mr.. wrrnKrs DENY of Va, said he had presented
n"mocr OF pe'''onS ITO" cons"ners fsvorn2 tho
CONSUMERS NOT BENEFITED.
Mr.. MonrILL. Of Vermont. resuming. said the
passage OF this would not reduce the cost to
the consumer. he would nave TO pay as much as
pound at twenty -four cents there must DO in
crease IN the CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO from
would never be. Whenever the Treasury should DO
in acondition to cut Oh revenue no senator would
favor IT moro checrfully than himself. The present
measure would be OF benefit to either the pro-
uuccr, insnufNcturcr OF consumer ne argued that
tee business woma us surely revive WIN taxation
Mr. ANTHONY, (rep) OF ~ L. said certain member
popularity and he replied by never voting against an
appropriation or TOT AJAX. Ihat seemed TO De the
rsrs ~ s"oa n Inc o, NJ
ie"ts OF pensions wouu ,nke mlions OF oohsrs from
tne treaS"ry ana now was pr1posea 10 reance inc
receipts. one OF the nrst applications ofarrears
unaS. ,na. nl' wss S, $3.50 on. IN. NO one nnew now
much money IL womb TAKE from the treasury. TO,
pscco was nor necessary Oh nIe-i. was luxury. ana
yet was proposed 70 reance the tax on II in tho
face of warning from tho secretary OF the Treasury
that nc eApecteI ueIni. Vi xz'v."U IN tue roVeh-
ues OK ene aaas TINS was
no. eoVu s'a.esu.nsu,Y VI orave nsirstoH' AAere
@ % hh Sl uv rei1r ., .eaa.
sion Inc tax on nann ehecxs was vexa.,ons one
ne men spoke Oh an income tax ana said such tax
fnouiu hot oc lmPosea. ~ IcPe,a. tax on uop1cco
eshibiion OF the incompetency Of Congress to Crap
PIC Win y. sne Hu' sr , ~. NO .sses
mcfo p"'" "oro cneeri"n' 'hsn 'noe on 'oo"cco sno
liquors. .
various amendments ProPosea by tne FINANCE
Sommi'tee covering tne nrst nity-sx pages OF the
Dill ana changing various sections OF the Revised
statutes 10 tue iofns ana manner OK assessing and
sonecthB inc revenue. uut not anecting the present
laws. were agreed to- without opposition.
Inc secuoh reuucing Tue TAX on mahuracturcu TO-
pacco having occn rcacncu. Mr.. bayard snid nc de-
nr'eny :" s.a s, m.s ior ms
sccton, ue ocncveu IL was saier ana octter
for tho business and revenues OF tho country that
m tan on nS ,s n,n st DC
10 sixtcon Genus per Pounu. question so broad as
inns snoud DC ise"sseu IN sprit worthy Oh ITS I'M
Porancc nc thcn SPOKE ~ ichgth ~ 10 the sencrai
pr,ncip,es wnicn snouu govern AAauoh. ana said nc
uoncveu III WISE Lax le"s' 80 "u!usteo Ms 70 Inii as
lightly az POSSIBLE upon al. nc reviewed our tax
laws anu saiu ina, men VINO grew the Piant, thoso
VINO manufacturers II anu those VINO consumed the
articte an areusa before IN" IN iavor OF
the rcuucuoh Oh inc TAX. !hey sta'eu tho weight OK
taxation was so dsproportionae to the value OF the
COMMONLY IN q time Oh pressure ike the present