New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-25
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXATION
DISCUSSING THE TAXES on BANKING AND TOBACCO
-CLOsE VOTING.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIHUSE.l

n few dissenting votes this morning concurrent
resolution providing for an adjournment sine die
on July 10, the members of the House appeared to
realize that they must be very industrious and they
turned to the consideration of the Internal Revenue
bill with the evident intention of finishing it to-day
So earnest the purpose of Messrs Page of Cali
forna, and J. Hyatt Smith. of Brooklyn, that both
Of these gentlemen retired behind the screen which
cncirces the outer row of seats and removed their
coats and loosened their collars. The day was very
warm and inside the chamber the temperature was
very high Fans were in lively demand, and the per-
spring statesmen paid frequent visits to lce-water
tanks or made furtive journeys to the restaurant in
the basement, where more complicated ard COM
pose beverages were 10 be found.
Mr. Robeson as the mouthpece of the Republican
caucus offered amendment to except bank
capital from the provisions of the bill. Mr.. ho-
man offered a substitute to except capital and
deposits of all banks from its provisions, while Mr.
Smith, Of Illinois, desired to have National bank
capital and deposits only excepted from the benefits
of the measure. On these various propositions there
was n lively and protracted discussion. The Demo-
Gratis and a few Republicans who spoke attacked
the provisions designed to relieve the banks from
taxation. and some of them denounced the entire
bill n one for the benefit Of " the money rings"
the capitalists and the bloated bondholdcrs' Of
emphatic IN their denuacia,lon were Messrs. PAGE
of California. and Hazeiton, of Wisconsin. The
latter gentleman was particularly vehement, and
without regard to the fact that the mercury was
far up in the uInees shouted and gesticuaied ut "a
tremendous rate long after his time had expired,
and the chairman was trying to call nm
to order. Among other things Mr.. Hazelton de-
clared that the Chairman Of the ways and Means
Committee had " turned his back on the Weaver
resolutions for which ho voted in the last Con-
gressU and was now willing to have his hands
tied by Jay Gould and William II. Vanderbilt
Judge Kelley tarty replied, and the Democrats
heartily enjoyed this spec6 OF war among the he
publicans-one of them shouting, for tazeltons
announcement Lay on Macduh lay on" MY.
Randall made n vigorous ivc-muutes speech, de-
claring in favor Of the entire abolition OF the In
tornal Revenue system. In reply to a statement
bv Mr.. Mills of Texas, who had criticised his
New-York speech, Mr. Randall declared that New
York Democrats had applauded that speech.
YES retorted Mr. Mills, National bank men
and tariff men who call themselves Democrats"
II was a pretty good day for dcmagogues and
there was the usual quantity and variety OF rant
alb out the tolling tax-ridden masses; the poor
mans taxed shirt, taxed coal, taxed shoes ana
faxed blanket were made to do duty again, ana
Oscar Turner made his usual speech in favor Of
compelling the millionaires and b!oated bondhod-
ers y TO nav Whatever taxes may be necessary to
carry on the Government In an excellent speech,
Mr. Reed OF Maine, brushed away the cloud OF
false issues and nonsense which had peeh
raised by Democratic demagogue5. Ihey
sought to make people believe that TINS
WAS the beginning Of efforts to reduce
internal taxation and that as a beginning the ke-
rphliean party proposed to relieve o favored class
from A. burdeu ~ taxation. He begged the House
to sf.. md thi.'o a moment. Very soon after the
close of the war a Republican Congress began Ia u
bnsness-like way to reduce taXation-began by
aboishing taxes which Affected tho mass OF the peo
pie. and succeeding Republican Congresses had
continued the work rs long as the condition OF the
country justified. In July, 1866, $4,000, 600
wear of internal taxes we're abolished; IN March,
1867, SiO,OOO,OO0 more; in February, MarcA
and July, 1868, SGs,000,0OO more III
July. 1870 $4j,O00,0O0 more, and III
June, 1872, $20651 .O0O in all yearly reduction
of nearly $3.50, 100000. 1t had thus come to pass
that nearly all the internal taxes which directly
affected the mass Of the people, except those on to-
bacco and whiskey had been abolished, and those
on tbe hanks had been retained until now, nearly
twenty years after the war closed.
Mr.. smiths amendment was rejected by vote OF
81 TO Al. and Mr.. Homan's substitute shared like
fate bv n vote of 50 TO 93. The Republican caucus
amendment was also rejected by vote of 90
to %. The Democrats after all their dehuncla-
tous of the National banks voted solldly
against the amendment with twenty-five or thirty
Republicans As the matter now stands, therefore,
tie Democratic party III the House of Representa-
yes is on record as in favor of repeating the tax on
bank capital while large majority OF the kepuD-
licau marty i'm the House has voted to retain IT, VI
course this action of the Democrats was sort OF
confidence game which they played in the hope OF
dividing the Republicans. They were disappointed
and burned their own fingers instead
Mr.. Randall offered an amendment to repeal all
taxes on tobacco cigars, etc, on and alter
Julyl. 1853. Mr.. Tucker made vigorous speech
il favor of this, and it would probably have
becn carried had it not been for equally vigorous
and telling speech against 1t by Mr.. Butcrworth of
Ohio who demonstrated by figures that the present
and prospective revenues and expenditures OF the
Government will not justify so large n reduction OF
taxation as this proposition would involve. The
vote was taken by tellers, Messrs. Kelley and Ran
Jau Everybody knew that the vote was to be a
close one. and anxious members on both SIDES
crowded around the tellcrs to watch the tally
When the result was announced-99 to lOl-hr.
Randall disputed it. There was great confusion for
some time and finally after statement by
Indigo Kelley that he was not sure
the count was quite correct recount was oruereu'
This resulted in the rejection of the amendment by
a vote of 100 TO 10Y. Two Democrats who were
uresent az the division had disappeared when the
vote was taken by teilers. One Of them was DIS,
covered i'm the BARRIERS chair half shaved and could
MT i've Lrnught out in time which caused MI Ran
dali TO remark half-pettishly tlat the amendment
was lost by " close shave" .
An amendment by Mr. Hatch to permit producers
of tobacco to sell it to consumers VINO are not
licensed dealers called out another vigorous speech
from Mr. Buttcrworth, who declared that the eject
of tha f adopted
the revenues from tobacco and break down tue To-
bacco manufacturers. Messrs. Hatch and House
became very much excited in their advocacy OF the
Commitment which was rejected by very close
80 70 gi. MT Robeson offered the Republi-