The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-26
FORTH-EiGHTH CONGRESS.

F0RTH-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
senate Proceedings Yesterday.
WASHINGTON, June %, 1884.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the Commit.
tee on Expenditure OF Public Money was
authorized to act by subcommittee, and
to sit during the vacation in the investiga-
ton OF Government Departments.
On motion OF Mr.. Allison the Senate
then resumed the consideration OF the
legislative, executive, and judicial appro-
priation bill.
Mr.. Beck opposed the amendment Of
fered by the Senate Committee on Appro-
priations striking out the clause CONSOLE
dating and re0rganiZing the custom col.
lection districts. MIR. Beck read from the
annual report OF the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury fayoring a reduction, and added that
IL was rarely that a public officer made n
recommendation that would cut down the
number OF Government officials. BY the
clause In the bin we could get rid, Mr..
which twenty-five pay nothing and thirty
two do not pay expenses. There would be
money saved TO the Government OF half q
million TO a million dollars.
Several senators supported the commit
tee amendment-am among them Messrs. Jones
OF Florida, Hawley, ingalls,, Sewell, and
Lapham.
Mr.yJ0nes, OF Florida, said the establish
ment OF customs districts was not based
on the idea OF self-maintenance. like the
post ofiices-they were established for the
general good. The fact that each individ
(ial district did not pay was no argument
for its abolition.
Mr.. ingalls, remarked that II the House
Of Representatives should send to the Sem
ate an appropriation bill with the clause
limiting the number Of post-offices in the
United States to 60, the case would be par
allel with that under discussion.
After further debate vote was taken,
and the committees amendment was agreed
to, striking out the clause directing the
consoldation-yeas Al; nays, 10.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations
having proposed, among other amend
ments, to strike out the clause permitting
small distilleries to be run without store
keepers, Messrs. Vance and Beck opposed
the recommendation, and Mr.. Allison de-
Tended it.
Mr.. Vance said il the senators could see
the evils OF the system which these officers
Represented they would agree with him
that il was scandal, and ought not to be
any longer maihtained. These men entered
into bargains with some of these distilleries
bv which the Government was cheated.
| They were spies upon honest distilers.
There was no reason why the distiller
should be considered by his Government
to be scoundrel, and spies put to watch
him. That course was not pursued toward
men in other lines OF business. The people
Of North Carolina did not object to paying
the tax, but they objected to the horde OF
corrupt otfice-holders who collected it.
Mr.. Beck said the present condition OF
things in regard to the collection OF the
whiskey-taX was bad. He, too, thought
the whiskey-taX legitimate tax, as also
the tobacco-taX; but the great crowds OF
men kept to collect the dlstillery-taX ha-
raised the people.
Mr.. Allison referred to the great difficult
ties that had been found in the collection
OF this tax, especially in North Carolina,
and said he would be sorry to have to say
Of his people what Mr.. Vance had said OF
those Of North Carolina.
With regard to corrupt bargains Mr.
Vance admitted that there were some bad
men among the distillers OF North Caro-
lima. but they were not all bad by any
means. He had only referred to those OF
them who were capable OF being corrupted
by the representatives OF the Republican
party. He supposed that so long as they
could be useful to the party they would
remain.
Mr.. Allison said it would hardly do for
this Government TO permit distlllers to
manufacture all the whiskey they pleased
Without any surveillance by the Govern
ment.
Debate continued till o'clock, when,
without coming TO vote on the amend
| ment, the Senate adjourned. Before adj
journment Mr.. Allison offered resolution,
which lies over till tomorrow, making 1t
in order for any senator to move for five
minutes limitation OF debate on the amend
ments to the appropriation bills.
House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Lowering, OF Massa-
| chusetts, Saturday, June 2Sth, was set apart
for the consideration OF the bills relating tc
| the eight-hour law and convict labor.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, from the
Committee on Ways and Means, reported
the bill to modify the existing laws rela
ting to the duties on imports and collection
! Of revenue. Referred to Committee OF the
| Whole.
Mr.. Cook, OF Iowa, called up the con-
tested-election case OF Chalmers Us. Man.
ming, and Mr.. Mills, of Texas, raised the
question OF consideration.
The House decided yeas III, nays l07,.
| to consider the case.
After some discussion the minority re-
port was rejected; after which the maj ori-
ty resolution was adopted without division
Mr.. Chalmers then appeared at the bar OF
the House and took the oath Of office.
! The House resumed the consideration OIL
the Backbone Railroad Company forfeiture
bill. After speeches by Messrs. Lewis, Of
Louisiana, in support Of the bill, and Oates
of Alabama, against it, the House, without
action, at 8 O'Clock, adjourned.
nUI DyDIER4 AT TOULON.