The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-14
MATTERS AT THE CAPITAL
Senator Riddleberger Makes Vain At
tempt to Secure Executive Session,
His Purpose Being TO 0btaiIf a Vote on the
Pending Cabinet Nominations-LargeI In
crease in the Number of War Claims.
TIE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.

THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
RlddIebergsr Makes a Double FaiIure-Mr.
Vance AssaiIs the Protection Policy.
wAsHINGToN, Jan. I3-The bill to credit and
pay to the several States and Territories and
the District of Columbia all moneys collected IN
der the direct tax act of Aug. 5. 1861, was taken
up. the question being a verbal amendment
offered by Mr. Hoar when the bill was up some
days ago.
After considerable discussion, Mr.. Riddleber-
ger made motion to go into executive session.
his purpose being to forward action on the nom
ination OF Mr.. Lamar. The motion was lost by
q tie-26 to &C. the division being upon party
lines, except that Mr. Riddleberger voted in the
affirmative with the Democrats.
A few minutes later he renewed the motion,
stating his understanding that there an
agreement that the Senate should go into
executive session to-day. The motion was lost
this time by 26 to 81. Mr. Riddleberger again
voting with the Democrats. A majority OF
Senators do not understand that there was any
agreement for executive session to-day, but.
on the contrary that there was tacit acquiesc-
snce in the wish expressed by some Senators.
last night, that action should be attempted
until Monday the Lamar and the Cabi-
net nominations.
The aforementioned votes are not held to
have any significance as bearing upon the result
in the Lamar case since some of Mr.. Lamars
friends abs tanned from voting in consequence of
what they understood to be the tacit under
Standing of yesterday.
The direct-tax bill was then laid aside, and
Mr.. Vance proceeded to address the Senate on
the resolution offered by Mr. Brown, proposing
to abolish internal revenue taxation. The lines
he SAID had been drawn closely by the Pres1-
dents message on the ubiect of the surplus and
taxation the contest had to be fought out
squarely, and the question had to be decided
unequivoeally on its merits. That question was.
should taxation be enforced for the support of
the government or for the enrichment of private
In dividuas3 Should money be collected from
the people for public or for private purposesf
No reputaG- hypothesis could be found which
presented any other phase of the Ques-
ton. The question was. where should the
reduction of taxes begin! The proposition OF
most of the Democratic Senators. following the
lead of the President, was to begin and end
with tariff taxation. The Republicans, on the
other hand, proposed to begin by reducing, only
IN part, internal taxes, and by adding to the
free list those things coming from abroad which
did not compete with things made in this coun-
try. and the duty on which was, therefore, all
revenue. For himself, he proposed to begin
with both evils as he found them-excessive in
ternal taxes and excessive tariff taxation. In
North Carolina there was cause OF complaint
against each; but there was more complaint
TO the methods Of internal taxation than there
was as to the amount. Why should not tine ex-
else tax be repealed or greatly modlfiedf The
exigency which called it into existence had long
since passed away. It involved the right of
man 90 do what he pleased with his own, within
the bounds of law and liberty. 1t involved the
rights of the farmer to sell the product of his
labor TO any purchaser who offered the best price.
1t involved the right of the husbandman
to utilize the fruit of this orchard instead of
leaving it on the ground to rot. It involved the
still more momeL .ous question whether the
poor mans cabin should be indeed his castle,
protected by the organic law, or whether it
might be ransacked at any hour of the day
night by petty official dressed in little brief
ing treasury. The people of North Carolina
cared little nothing about the tax spirits
and tobacco They would pay it cheerfully, If
they could be spared the oppressive and vexa-
tious methods of the machinery of its collec-
tions. 1t was not question, was often SO
triumphantlv stated, of choice between free
whisky and free blankets, because the duty
blankets was now practically prohibtive. and
they could not be any cheaper IL the excise OF
whisky was removed. He declared that the
central theory of the tariff was iniquity. and
that he was opposed TO the whole thing, out and
out He shonld not vote to put anything on the
free list the tax on which was pure revenue; he
should strive earnestly TO reduce taxation on
the necessaries of life. and he shosid discrimi-
nate in nothing, except against Injuries and in
favor of the helpless andunprotected.
b. The resoluti on was laid aside and the Blair
education bill was taken up and a constitutional
argument made against it by Mr.. Gray Pro
ceeding to critcise some details of the bill, he
pointed ont that provision which requires copies
of school books TO be filed with the interior de-
partment
Mr.. George stated that he had opposed the
insertion OF that provision, and Mr.. Blair stated
that 1T had been inserted on the motion, not of
a friend but enemy. of the bil-the Senator
from Kansas Mr. Plumb
MIR. Gray said that IL was sufficient for his
purpose that that provision was in the bill
which WAS proposed to be passed. and which was
advocated by the Senators from Mississippi and
New Hampshire Messrs. George and Blair.
WHAT action, he asked. should be taken by
Congress, when the Secretary of the Interior re-
ported that the history of the United States
used in Alabama in Texas, described with the
warmth and natural affection which the people
OF those States have for their kith and kin, the
great struggle through which they had passed
a quarter of a century ago, and did not refuse a
need of praise which all the world was willing
TO pay to brave men fighting for mistaken
causel Would the Senator from New Hamp-
shire sit quiet and content, willing for the youth
of the South to learn from that history that
lesson which it intended TO teach2 Or. if one
of those lately rebellious States discarded
book which aScribed the assassination of Presi
dent Lincoln to so-caled rebel leaders-as he
had seen il ascribed in a school book in COM
mon throughout the States of the North
would such State receive the commentator of
the Senator from New Hampshire2 That was
one those questions which could be thrown
into Congress by report of the Secretary of
the Interior, and waves of sectional debate
would run high on just such questions, If this
bill became a law.
Mr.. George said he had found il TO be a safe
rule of conduct. all his life, never to cross
bridge till he came 10 it. and not to trouble
himself about difficulties which had not arisen.
Whenever improper school book at
tempted to be forced on the peo pie of Misss-
slppl, under this or any other bill. it would
be time enough to meet that attempt.
After further debate. the bill went over as
unfinished business, ard the Senate adjourned
till Monday.
Proceedings of the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13-Mr Hatch of Mis-
louri from the comrnittea m, .o-;o,i.,,.. -