The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-27
Revenues of the Government.
XLlXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE {.

w WASHINGION, MAY 70.
After routine morning business the SEN
ate proceeded to the consideration of private
pension bills on the calendar.
At 2 o'clock the bankruptcy bill was
placed before the Senate.
The bankruptcy bill having been read
through it was temporarily laid aside in or
der to take up the bill providing Tor the tax
alton of railroad grant lands.
Mr.. Blair offered an amendment which
was agreed to, providing that in any sale OF
land Under the bill the United States might
become preferred purchaser and that in
such case the land might be restored to the
public domain.
Mr.. Sherman asked for the suspension
of the bankruptcy bill in order to take up the
bill heretofore reported by him from the
committee on foreign relations supplement
ary to and amendatOry of the Chinese lmml-
grafton bill of 1884, and unanimous consent
being given the Chinese bill was taken up.
Mr.. Sherman said the bill was simply intend
ed to explain the meaning of the existing law
! relating to Chinese immigration.
Mr.. Hoar spoke against the bill which he
said would hereafter be regarded as blotch
on our legislation. 1t was legislation aimed
at men because they were laborers and be-
cause they belonged to certain race which
was against fundamental principle of the
republic. If there were not rivalry between
the two political parties for the vote Of the
Pacific coast this legislation would be regard
ed by all intelligent and humane men with
execration.
Mr.. Ingalls, also opposed the bill. He af-
6rmsd the bill was disgrace to American
civilization.
Mr.. Teller said the bill was no disgrace to
American civilization. Every nation on
earth recognized its principle which was to
exclude such persons as the people believed
injurious to the welfare of the nations. The
question was whether American labor was
to be compelled to compete with 450, 100000
Asiatics who could be landed on our shores
at $40 head
After further debate the bill was postponed
to future day, and at $50 the Senate adj
5ourned.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the oleomargarine bill all general
debate upon the measure being closed.
After a preliminary skirmish between
Messrs. Kelley of Pennsylvania and Hender-
son of Iowa, which had something of ten
dency to become personal, and in which Mr..
Henderson claimed to represent the West as
Mr.. Kelley had assumed to represent the
East, the former advocating tax on Oleo-
margarine, and the latter opposing it, consid-
Grafton of the bill was proceeded with as
in committee Of the whole.
On motion of Mr.. Breckenridge of Ken
lucky, an amendment was adopted 65 to 43
to the section defining Butter so as to ex
clude from that definition product OF milk
or cream when additional coloring matter is
used.
Mr.. Morrison of Illinois, said the bill came
here under false pretences, and he would
therefore vote against it. 1t could only be
here because it was a revenue bill. But its
friends did not claim it was here for the pur-
pose of putting money in the treasury. LII
the government needed internal revenue as
a revenue oleomargarine was very proper
subject for taxation according to his theory.
How much revenue did the government need
now? About $175,000,000. The expendi-
lures voted at this session would be $780,,
COO, 600, and they never would be less again
Notwithstanding the Democratic economy.
Iaughter) Then there would be $25, 100000
and that would not pay half the interest on
the debt. Didn't the gentlemen intend to pay
the interst? If they did they were not
honest when they talked about
taking off the internal taxes.
Did not the House every day increase the
pension rolls? That now required an appro-
priation of $75.000,00O. Where was that to
come from? We might dispense with the to-
bacco tax; we could spare that much If the
gentlemen saw fit to take the tax off tobacco
rather than of salt or clothing. But insist
that the man who talks about abolishing
internal revenue now is insincere and does
not mean what he says unless he means to
wipe out the pension roll and refuse to pay
half his debts. (Applause.l
Remarks were made against the bill by
Messrs Browne oflIndiana, and Breckenridge
of Kentucky.
Mr.. Hammond of Georgia, offered an
amendment making it unlawful for any mer
chant or sh0pkeeper In the District OF Colum-
ba or the Territories to sell oleomargarine
without labelling it in conspicuous manner,
and requiring hotel, restaurant and board
inghouse keepers who use oleomargarine to
place in their dining room placard bearing
the words ''this house uses oleomargarine,
and to have the same words printed on the
bill of fare. Agreed to 92 to S5.
Mr. Dunham of Illinois, moved to reduce
from 5000 to 500 the special tax on the man
ufacturers of oleomargarine.
Pending action the committe rose and the
House at o'clock adjourned.