Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

MONDAY, Feb. 17-Sendte- senate
proceeded to consider the bill to amend
the internal revenue laws, and an animal.
ed discussion ensued upon the tobacco
amendment. The amendment to reduce
the tax on all manufactured tobacco to
16 cents per pound, being a reduction OF
eight cents upon all the products except
snuff, upon which the reduction is six
teen cents per pound, was adopted. The
senate then voted on amendments pro.
posed by the committee and struck out
the tax proposed on cigars and cigarettes,
leaving the tax as under the existing law,
and agreed to the following amendments
appropriating fifteen thousand dollars for
alteration of dies and stamps, and such
expenses as are incident in preparing for
collection of taxes on tobacco and snuff
at reduced rates. The dealers in leaf to-
bacco, except retail, shall pay special
tax of twenty-five dollars. Egeryperson
who manufactures tobacco and Snuff, of
any description without first giving bonds
as requested by this act, shall be fned not
less than one thousand dollars MIR more
than five thousand dollars and inprison-
ed for not less than 1 nor more than 5
years. Pending further discussion the
senate adjourned.
MONDAY, Feb. -H0us8-The bill to
appropriate $26,852, 200 for arearages of
pensions, passed; alse the river and har-
Dor, and deficiency bill unler suspension
of the rules. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Feb. 1S-Senae. The house
bill to promote knowledge of steam en-
gineering and iron ship blilding, among
students of scientific schools and colleges
passed to-day without discussion. The
bill to amend the internal revenue laws
including the amendment to reduce the
tax on tobacco from "a Is cents per
pound, came up. An efbrt made to de-
feat the reduction of to1acco tax was
without avail and the amendment was
adopted. The tax on friction matches
was left the same as it is low The bill
then passed to go into opelatiOn May 1st
Adjourned
TUESDAY, Feb. 9-Hou@.-The whole
session was spent in committee of the
whole.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19-sSmate.-The
house post Office appropriation bill was
taken up and after several amendments
the Brazilian mail subsidy amendment
to appropriate 100000 per annum for ten
years to a steamship line to BAIL was
reached when lengthy debat ensued.
No action was reached, but th' various
test votes showed q majority in favor of
the amendment. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9-Hdtse.-The
house was occupied by the legislative ap-
preparation bill. The amendment re-
pealing the jurors test oath anl regulat-
ing the mode of drawing and tie pay Of
jurors was adopted. A long debate en-
sued and final action was MT reached.
Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Feb. 2O-SMate.-Bills
were passed: relative to fees Of district at
torneys; to give the circuit court super
vising jurisdiction in certlin criminal
cases. The post office appropriation bill
with the Brazilian mail steamship subsi-
dy came up and created an excited dis
cussion. The bill was finally passed by
vote of % to II, substantially as it came
from the committee. Tie Brazilian
amendment gives 100000 . year for ten
years to the American linz of steamers
that shall be built for the Blazilian mail
line. The final vote stood a. follows