The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-15
WASHINGTON.
Proposed Rcpaynaent of the Direct state
Fay.


WAsHIN GToN, Mar. 14.-Governor Rusk of
Wisconsin, who is in Washington, has a plan
which meets the approval of several other gov
ernors, 10 secure repayment to the States of
of the amount OF direct taxes paid under the
direct war tax act of August 5, 1861. A large
part of this tax is still unsettled. Many of the
States, especially the Southern States, have
not paid the amount ssseised to them, while
the amount unpaid by the Northern States is
considerable. There are many complicated
questions connected with the adjust ment of
the remaining claims. In view of the plethor.
ic condition of the treasury, therefore, sever
al of the governors have thought that Congress
might be disposed to pass law setting the
matter by reapprOpriating to the States the
amounts that they hive paid, ard by forgiv-
ing to other States the amount still charged
against them. Such plan would, unques-
tionably, have good deal of strength, as ev-
cry State would have direct interest in it,
The amount of the direct tax that has been
paid by tie Northern States is $12 ,451 ,437, and
The amount still due from the Northern States
is $455 ,228. The amounto tax collected from
the Southern States is $2220s397, aud the
amount paid by Maine was 1857 70210. There
is nothing due now from Maine.
Postal Matters.
The bill introduced in the Senate today BY
Mr.. Brown, provides for rate of postage on
all second d-cass matter of one cent per pound
or fraction thereof.
The K4aslker Resolution.
The sentiments that will be expressed in the
report of the subcommittee of the foreign
aft airs committee on the Lsster resolutions are:
Fret-That the House of Representatives
bad the right to adopt and transmit TO the
German Reichstag resolutions expressing an
opinion of the character and abilities of the
deceased German statesman. its sympathy
with the Democratic ideas en- ertained by
him, and coincidence with the party in Ger
man politics to which he belonged 10 the loss
they suffered IN his death.
Secopd-That it should not be dignifed
course for the House OF Representatives to in
dulge IN abuse of Bismarck for asserting his
right to say when the resolutions reached HIM
that they should go no farther, as the qaesion
of bis right to assert that authority is one to
be settled between him and the Reichstag, and
Thrd-That the account of the Safe De-
partment in the matter is deserving commenta-
ton.
Newspapex Copyright.
Hon. Henry Watterson appeared before the
joint committee on library this morning, aud
made an argument in support of the newspaper
copyright bill. Mr.. Watterson said that the
misapprehension with regard to the scope of
the bill had grown out If the fact that the
original draft provided for an exclusiveness in
published matter for period of 48 hours,
which time was subsequently reduced to "a
hours. Both forms were impracticable and
unnecessary, and hill granting copyright
for eight hours was all that was sought, and it's
OBJECT was simply to prevent the piratng of
news and concurrent publication. 1t did not
act as bar to the reproduction by afternoon
newspapers of matter which had appeared in
the morning papers, and could not in the re-
motest degree, affect what is known as the
country press.
Miscellaneous.
The testimony for both parties in the Keifer-
BoyntoD case was closed today.
The House committee on naval affairs today
instructed Representative Ballentyne to report
favorably the bill authorizing the retirement
of naval officers after thirty years. service.
The army retiring board finds Gen Macken-
zie incapacitated, and that his iucapacity re-
suited from service. His retirement will
therefore follow.