Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
SHERMAN AND THE IMPORTERS
ON THE SUGAR QUESTION.
The Tax on Bank Checks, Drafts
ana mateheH-The Cattle Diseases
meRsures-A diOurnment TO Attend
the Funeral of Fernando Wood.

WASHINGTON, February 19.-In the House
as soon as the reading Of the journal was
concluded, there was general demand fol
recognition from all parts OF the chamber
but after the passage Of a few private bills
the regular order was called for.
Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, reported the
bin repeating all laws imposing taxes on
bank checks, drafts or orders, bank depos
It's, friction matches. medical preparations,
perfumery, cosmetics, cologne and other
articles. Referred to the committee Of the
whole.
Mr.. Tucker, OF Virginia, offered resolu-
lions providing that as a mark of respect TO
the memory of the late Fernando Wood,
and in order to enable the members and
ofhceIs OF the House TO attend the funeral
ceremony at p. m, the House shall ad-
1ourn at 2 O'Clock to-day, and directing the
Clerk to invite the members of the Senate
to join the members OF the House in at
tending said funeral. The resolutions were
unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, said he had in
tended to call up the appOrtioument bill to-
day, but he had learned that his Republican
friends had not concluded their conference.
He thought 1t proper to defer to their wishes,
but expected to call up his bill as soon as
he heard something definite from the other
side.
The House, at 1915, went into committee
of the whole, Mr.. Cox, of New York, in the
chair, on the agricultural appropriation bill
The committee rose without consideration
of the bill, and the conference report on
the army appropriation bill was agreed to.
The House, at 2 O'Clock, adjourned.
In the Senate, the credentials of johnson
n. Camden, of West Virginia, and Howell
E. jackson, of Tennessee, Senators elect,
were presented, the former by the Vice
President and the latter by Mr.. Bailey.
A number of proposed amendments to the
river and harbor bill were introduced and
referred. At 12:45, after debate upon the
priority of business, the regular order (the
calendarl was postponed.
On motion OF Mr.. Johnston, the cattle
diseases bill. establishing bureau Of animal
industry, etc, was taken up, the division
resulting % to 81.
During the debate, Mr.. WHITE presented
the memorial of A. Schumacher, agent of
the North German LloYds and the Allan
lines of steamers; q. Meredith & Co, Geo.
Appold, President of the Merchants and
Miners Transportation Company; K. Fos-
ter, agent of the York River Line, and fifty
other leading shippers and merchants of
Baltimore, praying for an appropriation to
restore the lighthouse at Sharp's Island, on
the eastern side Of Chesapeake Bay. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Herman for
an adjournment st 2 p. m. to enable the
members and officers of the Senate to at
tend the funeral of the late Representative
Wood, was adopted.
The cattle disease debate was resumed.
Mr.. Morgan, in view OF objections to the
bill, constitutional and otherwise, moved its
recommittal to a select committee. After
remarks by Messrs. Mcpherson, Johnston,
Rollins and Klrkwood, on the propriety OF
considering some one of the special bills
pending on the subject, Mr.. Morgan with
drew his intention to move as a substitute
for the pending measure the bill formerly
introduced by him. Without progress on
the bill, the Senate, at p. m., adjourned.
THE SUGAR QUESTION DISCUSSED.
The House Committee of Ways and
Means gaze a hearing this morning upon
the sugar question. Delegations were pre-
sent representing the sugar trade of New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore,
and Secretary Sherman appeared on behalf
of the Treasury Department. j. z. Shearles,
Jr, of New York, for the sugar importers,
made lengthy review of the question.
He claimed that law as adopted by Con-
gress is clear and plain, and that the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury had himself admitted
before the Wsys and Means Committee that
the Treasury Department had no right by
it's regulations to interfere with the opera
ton of the law. That the term duties and
standard of color having been defined by The
courts to be a we'll understood cOmmercisl
phrase it became contract between the
government and the importers. That the
Treasury orders under which the duties are
now collected, superseded the Law of Con-
gress introducing new principle in the as
sessment of duties. That judicial decisions,
In the only two cases ever tried, were mis-
quoted hY the department, and so far from
justifying its rulings were directly in Oppo-
sition to them.
He insisted that the sugar importers were
honest, law-abiding citizens, entirely willing
to obey the laws even though protesting
against tie arbitrary edIcts of the Treasury
Department.
Secretary Sherman defended the position
of the department and insisted upon Its right
under the law to test the commercial value
of imported sugars in assessing duties, and
to employ such tests as in the judgment of
the department would best protect the
revenue from frauds. He should continue
to enforce his rulings until some
further enactment OF Congress
altered or amended the present law. He
was in favor of speedy legislation, how
ever, to settle all points of dispute, and
hoped Congress at the present session would
pass some law to accomplish that result.
The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday
next,