Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS,
Shelley Follows TilIm msn-NO More
Bouncing for the Present-The
Taxes Reduction BIlI-The River
and HarbOr Bill.

WASHINGTON, July I9-Iu the House,
Mr.. Page, Of California, submitted the con-
ference report upon the river and harbor
appropriation bill, but as there were indica-
tions that its consideration would consume
a large portion of the day, it was withdrawn.
The House then resumed consideration of
the Alabama contested election case of
Smith vs.. Shelley.
hr. Ranney, of Massachusetts,, presented
the case for the majority, reviewing the
facts as shown by the testimony, asserting
that there was not fair and free election in
the Fourth District of Alabama, and urging
that inasmuca as the contestant, who had
been legally elected, had recently died, the
seat should be declared vacant.
The case OF the contestee was presented
and argued by Mr.. Beltzaoover, of Penn
sylvania, who quoted from the record to
strengthen his assertion that the sitting
member was entitled to retain his seat.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, IN a brief
speech dwelt upon the necessity of mem
bers determining election cases as Judges,
aud not as legislators or as partisans, and
advocated the adoption of some system
whereby another tribunal should be charged
with the duty of deciding these causes.
After a speech by Mr.. Oates, of Alabama,
IN favor OF the sitting member, the previous
question was ordered-yeas AS, nays (Mr.
Hardenburgh).
Mr.. Calkins then closed the debate In
support Of the majority report.
The resolution declaring the seat vacant
was then adUpted-Yeas 145, nays l.
On question OF precedence of business,
the Democrats refrained from voting, leav-
ing the House without quorum.
Adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, after some unimportant
business, Mr.. Morrill, moved to proceed with
the revenue tax bill, and Mr.. Hale supple
men ed this with a motion to take up the
naval appropriation bill. A prOtracted
rambling debate followed upon the order
OF business. The revenue bill retain
ed its place as the unfinished
business Of the morning hour hereafter, and
Mr.. Morrill's motion to lay aside all pend
ing orders to take up the TAX bill prevailed
yeas 35, nays 80
The pending amendment was that of Mr..
VOORHEES, to strike out the provision repeal
ing the taxes on bank capital and deposits,
bank checks, drafts, etc.
Mr.. Jonas, Of Louisiana, in some remarks
on the fourth section repeating the addi-
tional twenty-five per centum levied by the
act Of 1915 on all imported sugars, said he
had voted for the Tariff Commission in the
belief that it was safer to
have the sugar interest considered
in connection with the general subject of
tariff revision. He preferred this TO any
partial or half way action. He quoted the
statement that the reduction of the sugar
tariff would be calamitOus to the planters
of Louisiana and other sugar growing
States, particularly after the great loss sus-
tanned by them from the late food, and
submitted figures showing the small profits
realized from the culture and manufacture of
sugar. Ole OF the best crops, that of the
late years, amount to 240, 600, 600 pounds of
sugar, which at ~ cents realized SIS, ,00O,-
00O. The mOlasses from this sugar would
be worth s4,OO0,0 600 more, making the value
OF the product OF the crop S22, 900 600. The
cost of making this crop was $40 coo 900,
which left $2,000,00O net profit, or 215 per
cent. on the capital invested. Any
serious reduction OF price would en-
would wipe out entirely the profts- If the
proposed cut OF 70 per cent. was made, and
when the tariff is revised another reduction
of 25 per cent, this would destroy the
planting interest altogether. He argued
that 1t was fallacious to assume that a mOdi-
fcation of the sugar tariff or an abolition Of
the duties cheapened the cost to the con-
sumer. What guarantee was there that the
rehner would sell at lower rate?
Concerning the reduction upon cigars and
cigarettes, he said the agitation of the pro-
posed change had unsettled the market, and
he insisted that the trade should be protect
ed, either by the restoration of the House
clause allowing rebate, or postponement
OF the time at which the act shall take ef-
feet from October (Jhe date for the law to
take effect) until January or May next.
After some further debate Mr.. Voorhees,
amendment was rejected
Inc Senate Committees amendment to
the hret section, as amended by the reduc-
tion OF the tax on tobacco, was then agreed
TO by a vote OF 80 to 9, and the question Ie-
Cured on the remainder Of the section.
The portion adopted fixes the tax on manu-
factured tobacco after January l, 1883, at u
cents per pound, and provides that the re-
peal Of the taxes on the capital and deposits
OF banks ana bankers shall affect such taxes
as are now due and payable, and that the
repeal OF the stamp tax on bank checks,
drafts, orders and vouchers shall not take
effect until October lst next. The Senate
then adjourned.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The conference report on the river and
harbor bill was presented in the House to-
day. The committee has reduced the aggre-
gate amount of specific appropriations con-
tained IN the b Ii as it passed the Senate
about $3.50, COO. Among the items stricken
out are those for the Big Black river, Miss,
and Bayou La Fourche and Bayou Teche,
La. The appropriation for Pensacola har-
Dor is reduced TO $50 600.
NO MORE BOUNCING.
It is understood from leading Republicans
that 10 more contested election cases will
be called up for action during the present
session Of Congress.
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