The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-26
XLVITth Congress -lst Session.
HOUSE.

w
In the House to-day, on motion of Mr.. Joyce
OF Vermont, hill was passed providing that
the payment of pensions to insane pensioners
shall be made to their guardians, and enabling
the Commissioner of Pensions, when he shall
deem it proper, to pay the pensions in cash.
Mr.. Belmont, from the Committee on For
eign Affairs, offered joint resolution author
izing the President to call an International cor
ference to fix upon and reco nmend for unlver-
sal adoption q common prime meridian. The
House refused-23 to 58-to order the joint res
.olution to.a third reading.
MIR. Hiscock of New York, Chairman of the
= knmittee on Appropriations, reported joint
Cdolution appropriating 100000 to provide for
Iedefciency in the appropriations for fees OF
'sgitnesSes in United States courts. Passed.
Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania, chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means, reported
concurrent resolution for q final adjournment
o. Congress at IL o'clock on the 10th of July.
Accepted
The House went into Committee of the
Whoie. Mr.. Camp of New York in the chair)
on the bitfpo reduce internal revenue taxation.
The first section having been read Mr.. Robson
OF New Jersey moved to amend by striking
therefrom the clause repeating the tax on bank
capital Mr.. Holman OF Indiana moved to
strike therefrom all that relieves banks OF
taxation.
Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania opposed the
amendments, holding that the taxation of the
capital of the state and private banks was in
vidious and unjust.
Mr.. Townshend of Illinois criticised the ac-
tion of the Republicans for proposing meas
ure which, passing by the poor man. lifted the
burden of taxation off the shoulders Of those
best able to bear them. 1t should be termed
bill granting a bonus of SIG, ,000, 900 to the
bankers and the tobacco manufacturers OF the
country.
Mr. Robson advocated his amendment,
which would leave the tax on the capt. IL of
the banker, but take it off his business.
IL -f II r4A1 ktnk 4Ina
adoption of Mr.. Robeson's amendment would
discriminate in favor of national banks, and
against state and private banks.
Mr.. Smith of Illinois offered an amendment
to Mr.. Robeson's amendment, repeating the
tax on the capital of state and private banks
and leaving 1t upon the capital of national
banks.
Mr.. Page of California advocated Mr.. Hol-
man s amendment.
Mr. Mills of Texas maintained that it was
not wise craftsmanship for Congress to begin
giving away the treasure OF the country while
there existed a large public debt, due and pay
able
Mr.. Haskell OF Kansas defended the bill as
reducing taxation in the only way in which it
could be reduced until the tariff commission
had submitted its report.
Mr. Smiths amendment, taxing tho capital
of national banks, and Mr.. Robeson's amend
ment, striking out the clause repeating the tax
on bank capital, were rejected, the latter by a
vote of so to 90.
Tbe question recurring upon Me-. Homans
amendment, which was so modified as not to
apply to bank checks, drafts, orders and vouch-
ers, but simply to strike out the clause repeal
ing the tax on bank capital and deposits, it
was lost-yeas, Sc, nays SO.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania offered an
amendment providing that, from aud after
July 1, 1888, all laws imposing internal taxes
on tobacco, snuff, cigars, cheroots and cigar
cites shall be repealed, as well as all laws which
impose any limitation or restriction on the sail
or use of leaf tobacco by the producer.
MIR. Kelley of Pennsylvania moved to amend
the amendment by changing the date from
July /, 1888, to Jan 1, 1884.
Mr. Gambler of Massachusetts opposed the
amendment, which, if adopted, would take
away any hope OF getting reduction OF the
duty on sugar.
Mr.. Kelley's amendment was rejected, and
Messrs Kelley and Randall were appointed
tellers upon Mr. Randall's amendment The
vote was very close one and announced as be-
ing 80 to 101.
Mr.. Randall claimed that the affirmative
vote was 103, and Mr.. Kelley joined with linn
in asking for recount. The mistake arose
through the fact that number of members sur
rounded the tellers and made it impossible for
their report to be heard by the chair. On the
recount the amendment was lost-yeas 105;
nays 107,
Mr.. Robson of New Jersey offered the
caucus amendment striking out the clause re-
ducipg the special license tax on dealers in dis
titled spirits Agreed to.
Mr.. Welles of Kentucky offered an amend
ment permitting any firm, individual or cor
poration to withdraw from bond alcohol or spir-
its containing alcohol, in specific quantities of
not less than 800 gallons, without payment of
the tax for the sole purpose of use in industrial
pursuits. Without action, the committee rose,
with the understanding that the bill
should come up on Monday as unfinished busi-
less
Mr.. Belmont of New York moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the House refused to
order the "prime meridian" bill to third
reading.
The motion was entered, and will be called
up on Monday or Tuesday.
The House, then, at $40 p, M, adjourned.