The Portland daily press., 1882-03-17
FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH IL.
Important Republican Caucus.
THE SITUATION DISCUSSED BY MEM
BEERS OF THE HOUSE.
It is Unwise to Reduce the Duties on
Whiskey and Tobacco.

Altogether the most important political
event of the session was the caucus of the Re-
pubIicans of the House, Wednesday
Bedford of Colorado, took the floor and adj
yocated the report of the Committee on Rules,
which proposes change in the rules.
Shallenberger of Pennsylvania then offered
a resolution that it is the sense of this caucus
that there shall be no reduction in the tax on
whiskey and tobacco during this session. He
advocated his resolution in brief speech
Horr of Michigan, impressed upon the eau
Gus. the necessity of taking some action to
further the public business, and the control of
the consideration of that business by the ma
jority:
Harris of Massachusetts,, eontended it was
better for the Republicans not to try to amend
the rules at present, and that the discussion of
the proposed reduction of the tax on whiskey
and tobacco was premature.
Dunnell then made speech in favor of the
Shallenberger resolution, declaring that it is
matter of very great importance that the caucus
should determine whether or not they would
sustain the Ways and Means Committee in its
proposition to take off tax which yields annu-
ally S67 100000 revenue. He said such a
measure had been virtually determined upon
by the Ways and Means Committee, and that
the members of that committee should have
the judgment OF the caucus as to whether 1t
should be proposed as party measure.
This speech brought Judge Kelley to his
feet. He said that our receipts from internal
revenue last year were $3.50, 100000. and that
our surplus revenue amounted to S100,000,000,
and for the next year would be $780, 000OO0
There must be either reduction of taxes or
some means devised to spend the money, the
public debt having been provided for If the
Republican party, he said, should go on now
and make large appropriations to create new
navy, for internal Improvements, or for other
purposes, cry of extravaganza and jobbery
will be raised and we shall suffer in the next
election. He favored taking the tax off
whiskey and tobacco.
Hiscock again suggested that it would be
well for the caucus to determine whether the
Republicans should proceed at once with the
proposed amendment to the rules. He offered
o resolution to test the sense OF the caucus with
respect to it. This resolution was regarded as
pending, but was not pressed to a vote.
Townsend of Ohio, opposed the reduction of
taxes upon whiskey and tobacco.
Cannon of Illinois then made spirited
speech in favor of the proposition that it is of
the highest importance for the Republicans to
come together on some policy. He favored
the resolution proposed by Shallepbreger. He
declared that there is no demand by the peo-
pie for the taxes on whiskey and tobacco,
while the tax was maintained ON articles of
greater necessity He thought if the Republi-
can party should indorse the proposed reduc-
ton it would be a death blow TO Republican
prospects in the Western States.
George r.. Davis of Illinois moved to lay
aside the tariff resolution, and to agree to pro-
coed to the consideration of other important
measures. He deplored the lack of leadership
in the Republican party, and thought that it
was not good time to discuss the tariff resolu-
ton.
Reed of Maine then called attention to his
report on the rules. He said he had expected
to bring up the subject next Thursday, but
had yielded to the friends of the Tariff Com
mission bill, and had decided not to do SO. He
made strong speech against the removal of
the tax from whiskey and tobacco. He said
no committee of the House could afford to run
counter to the average judgment of the major
ity which it represented. This matter ought
to be settled now. The Committee on Ways
and Means should not be placed in position
OF antagonism to the majority of the House
again, and again he insisted the Committee on
Ways and Means would better heed the wishes
OF the average Judgment of the Republican
party.
Kasson then made speech, in which he de-
clared that Western sentiment is in favor of
retaining the tax on whskey and tobacco, and
that to repeal these taxes would be a blow
from which the Republican party would not
recover. The very agitation of the question
WAS uictuEUlpS pusluoSS.
Bayne offered a resolution that it is not wise
to reduce any internal revenue taxes except
those on matches, bank circulation and de-
posts aud proprietary medicines. He thought
this Congress could not afford to adjourn with
out treating all these bills. He favored a tariff
!. revision, and thought that some. articles.
On others reduced - 20 So 80
Mr.. Lord of Michigan declared that there
was no demand in that State for the repeal of
the tax on whiskey and tobacco.
Mr.. Bayne withdrew his resolution, and
vote was about to be taken on the Shallen-
berger resolution, when Judge Kelley took the
floor. He said he hoped no formal vote would
be taken. He approved heartily what ap-
peared TO be the prevailing sense of the caucus,
and was willing to abide by it.
The caucus was satisfied with the unanimous
declaration, through its chairman that the res
olution would be considered as the sense of the
caucus without formal vote.
Mr.. Shallenberger then withdrew his resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Reed asked if anybody objected to make
the proposed amendment to the rules and ex
planned them. saying he should not bring them
up until the ways and means committee had
exhausted all possible means to reach the tar
i'll commission bill under existing rules
1t was then decided that it, after two or
three days, it should be found impractcable to
reach the bill under the present rules, the Re-
publicans should at once take up the proposed
amendments, and as party press their consid-
Grafton to the last. 1t was determined, how
ever, that this should not be done until suffic-
lent effort to reach the tariff commission bill had
been made to attract the attention of the coun-
try, and show that its consideration under the
present rules could not be had.
1t was also agreed that the Republican MEM
bers from each State should consult with the
Republican Senators from their State, if there
were any, and within the next ten days should
name the members OF the Congressional Re-
publican committee.
MocOr,.o MucfaroS