Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-24
House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON, June 23.-Mr. Kasson, from
the committee Oh ways aud means, reported
back bill as amending section 1888 revised
statutes, that the duties paid on sugars shall
be assessed on the quality delivered from in
stead of the quantity entered into the bonded
warehouse Referred to the committee of the
whole.
The house then went into committee andre
sumed confederation Of the bill to reduce inter
nal taxation, it being agreed that general de-
bate thereon should close at 3 O'Clock, at
which hour eulogies on the life and character
of the late Thomas Allen of Missouri will be
delivered.
Mr.. Kasson Qo) said at the beginning of
the session the committee on ways and meaps
determined that the revenue of the country
could be safely reduced, and two modes had
been presented one TO attack the tariff system
at once by reduction, which might or might
not have the effect OF decreasieg revenue. The
committee fell it could not attack the tariff
without disturbing business, and, therefore,
brought in the commission bill, and provided
the means of learning what duties could most
safely be reduced. The other mode was to re-
duce internal taxation. and this the bill, in his
judgment, wisely accomplished. He hoped
further reduction could be made next session.
He did not like the establishment
of whisky saloons all over the United States,
and he did not want the government to be-
come permanently dependent upon whisky
shops for its revenue. For that reason he
would gladly see the day come when the en-
tire legislation on the whisky interest might
be turned over to the states.
Mr.. Wilson, (W. Va.) spoke in support of
the two amendments which he proposed to
offer, one striking out the clause abolishing
the tax on bank capital, the other forbid
ding national banks to charge or receive any
interest, discount or exchange exceeding 6
per cent. per annum for the loan of money, or
in discount of any bill, note or other obliga-
ton.
Mr.~Willis (Ky) argued in support of the
proposed amendment providing alcohol and
other spirits to be used in the manufacture of
tobacco and in other industrial pursuits shall
be free of tax.
Mr.. Dunnell (Minn.) thought it was an En-
ror for congress to begin now the repeal of
laws efecting internal revenue and the gentle
men had weakened their arguments in sup
port of the bill by announcing that at the
next session they would seek further reduc-
ton. The country had yet large public
debt which the people did not desire to per-
petuate. 1t must be remembered that con-
gress at this session would appropriate mora
money by the tens of millions than had ever
before been appropriated by an American con-
|
when the work of the session had been COM
pleted that the appropriation would be very
largely over the estimates of the surplus liz
the treasury. The house had refused to re-
wise the tariff and thus relieve the masses of
the people of the burden of taxation, but now
it wassproposed to relieve the dealers in to-
bacco, to relieve bankers and their capital, and
relive those who could best bear burdens.
Mr.. Hewitt, IN. ~ in discussing the bill,
reforred In the largo pumh er IF xrorku,or
fuslng to work, and considered the causes of
the strikes now in progress. The general de-
mand was for increase of wages, and the
ground on which the demand was placed
was that the workman found himself unable
to support himself and his family with the
wages now received. He (Hewitt) had per-
sonally given considerable attention to this
grievance and had discov cred that it was we'll
founded. The rise in price of the necessaries
of life last year had been SO great that work
ing people had found that they were being
reduced from condition of comparative COM
fort to one of comparative want. Upon the
other hand, while the demand by the employees
was jvst one the employers were unable to
concede to it. They would be glad topay
because the concession would simply destroy
their capital. The conflict then was one
which it was impossible to settle, either by
action of the employe or employer on any
just principle of compromise.
Messrs. Holman Und.), McMillin (Tenn.)
and others opposed the bill. in its present
| form, as being measure for the relief of the
bankers, but containing no adequate relief for
the working man from the burdens of taxa
| ton under which he suffered.
Mr.. Sparks Qll.) attacked the entire system
of internal revenue, but announced his oppo-
sition to the pending bill on the ground that
the burdens of taxation were removed from
| the rich and not from the poor.
Mr.. Springer (Ill.) also expressed his OPP
position to the internal revenue laws and criti-
cised the Republican party for having, at this
late day, brought in this pitiful little measure,
and he intimsted that the purpose of making
a slight reduction was that the treasury
| might be everfiowing and that extravagant
| appropriations might be made.
At the proper time he should move to
| recommend the bill with instructions to the
committee on ways and means to report bill
abolishing all internal revenue taxes and in
ternal revenue officers, excepting tax of 10
per cent. on bank circulation and the laws re-
| lating to distilled spirits.
| The committee now rose. Eulogies were
delivered upon the life and character of
Mr.. Thomas Allen (Mo.), by Mr.. Robin
son (Mass.), Mr.. Hewitt IN. ", and Messrs
Hatch and Frost MOI Out of respect to the
l u1emorv Of tho doceoeod tho hor1co fbo, nd