Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-03-07
CONGRESS- WORK.
Review of the More important Measures
Adopted at the Session of Con-
qress Just Ended.
TARIFF AND REVENUE REDUCTIONS.


10,670 bills and Joint resolutions have
been introduced in the two houses (S, O1S
IN the house and 2, 652 in the senate), and
OF these $50 were introduced in the
house, and 357 in the senate during the
session just closed. In each house a
great majority of these measures still
remain with the committees TO which
they were referred, and of those reported
from committees the larger number re-
main upon the calendars of the respect
i've houses. Aside from regular annual
appropriation bills, 1913 bills and Joint
resolutions passed both houses during
this session and became laws. Among
the more important of these are the fol-
lowing:
The tax and tariff bill, which modifes
the existing tariff and revenue laws and
reduces the receipts from these sources
about SIC, GOO, 900. The tariff portion of
the bill goes into effect July 1st and the
abolition of certain internal revenue
duties commences on the 1st of May. The
taxes abolished under the internal
revenue act include those on bank CAPT.
tai and deposits, stamps on bank checks,
matches, perfumery, medicinal prepare
t1Ons, and all articles In schedule ga"
The tax on tobacco has also been re-
duced, on cigars to 50 per 1000, on
cigarettes 80 cents per 1000, and on
snuff and smoking tobacco s cents per
pound. The tariff portion of the bill is
the result of a compromise between the
high tariff republicans and the low
revenue democrats. Each house passed
a bin of its own, but the measure finally
agreed upon, with alterations by a con-
ference committee, originated in the SEN
ate. The senate bill left the duty on
silk, tobacco, hemp and fax, and liquors
practically unchanged; 1t reduced the
duty on chemicals from 25 to 80 per
cent. reduced the duty on iron and steel
20 per cent; made a reduction on sugar
OF from Is to % per cent. on cottons,
excepting fine work, 35 per cent; books
In foreign languages were placed on the
free list and on others a reduction of SO
per cent. was made. The total reduction
by the senate bill was estimated at 80
per cent. from the existing tariff. A
conference was had, however.
and report agreed upon recon-
mending the adoption of the SEN
ate bill with few changes Of general i'm
portance except in the metal schedule.
steel valued above4 cents and not above
cents per pound, specific duty of 2
cents per pound; on steel valued at not
less than cents and not more than IL
cents per pound, a specific duty of o
cents per pound; on steel valued above
II cents per pound, a specific duty of 81
cents per pound; on steel rails a duty OF
SIT per ton; on iron ore rs cents per ton
instead of so cents, and on pig iron
3-l0rhs of a cent per pound (the rate
proposed by the tariff commission). In
sugars an increase of q cents per
pound was recommended on grades
above No. 13 and not above No. Is
Dutch standard. The senate had fixed
this duty at q cents per pound. The
only change made In tue WOODEN SEIZED
uIe was to impose a duty of 10 cents per
pound, and 10 per cent. al U0LOrena
upon women's cloaks. In the glass and
earthenware schedule the committee
recommended a specific duty of 1 cent
per pound on glass bottles, and trans
ferred printed and painted orockery to
the china clause, thereby increasing the
duty from so per cent. ad UoL0rena to go
per cent.
The bill modifying the postal money
order system so as to authorize post
masters of money order offices under au-
shority OF the postmaster general to is
sue postal notes in denominations of SIS
and under. It authorizes the issue of
money orders without corresponding ad-
vices OF So and less, to be on engraved
paper, and known as postal notes, paya-
bic to bearer, such notes to be invalid
after three months, but the holder can
after that time get the par value of the
note by applying to the postcfice de-
partment at Washington. For issuing
postal note fee Of three cents shall be
charged. 1t also authorizes the issue of
money orders IN denominations of 800
or less, but none for more than 800 can
be issued. The following fees are fixed
TO be charged for money orders: For
orders not exceeding SO, 8 cents: from
so to SIS, 10 cents; S15 to $50, 10 cents:
$50 to $40, 20 cents; $40 to $50, 25
cents; $50 to $50, 80 cents; $50 to $40.
35cents; so to $50, 40 cents; $50 to 500.
IS cents.
The bill granting an increase of pen
sion to all union soldiers who lost foot,
hand, leg, or arm, or were otherwise
eqUivalently disabled while in the SER
vice. 1t provides that al soldiers now
on the pension rolls, or who may here
after be granted a pension, who lost a
foot or hand, Or were otherwise equally
incapacitated for the performance OF
manual labor while In the service. shall
receive pension of $24 a month, and
that all soldiers who lost an arm above
the elbow, or leg above the knee, or
were equivalently disqualified for man
nal labor shall receive so a month.
This act increases the monthly compen-
sation of the first class mentioned above
50 and of the second class Sc month.
According to the official reports fur
nished In 1870 the total number of sol
diers who suffered amputations during
the war was in the neignborhood of
$4,000. OF those nearly one-half are
now dead, the mortality among the men
who lost limbs in the service having
been appalling. The number of those
who suffered disabilities equivalent to
the loss of a foot or a hand Is, however,