The Portland daily press., 1888-01-14
Lta CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

The bill to credit and pay to the several
States and Territories and the District Of
Columbia all monies collected under the dis
trict tax act Of the 9Th of August, 1861, was
taken up, the question being on q verbal
amendment offered by Mr.. Hoar
Senator Chandler moved to recommit the
bill. 1t might be somewhat sacrilegious, he
said, to venture to criticise bill which had
been approved by two secretaries OF the
Treasury and had been twice passed by the
Senate. Nevertheless, bills were not immac-
ulate. and might possibly be improved by
a careful consideration. In the Southern
States, the tax to the amount of 81, ,25o, 900,
was collected directly by federal officials. not
dollar Of it coming out Of State treasury.
He therefore, submitted that, while 1t was
Just and right to remit to the States the sums
which they had failed to pay, and to refund
the monies which the State treasurers had
paid to the United States, 1t was not wise or
expedient to pay to State treasures monies
that had never come from them, but which
the United States Government had exacted
from individuals. He warned the Senate
that the bill would prove Pandoras Dox,
and that claimants who did not get satisfac-
ton from their own States would come 70
which took the money from them. should re-
fund 1t to them.
Senator SALISBURY expressed his concur
renee generally with the views OF Mr..
Chandler.
Senator Sherman explained that the neces-
sity for the hepassage Of tue bill was to simpli-
fy relations at the Treasury Department be
tween the general government ana the re-
speetive States.
This afternoon, Senator Riddleberger
order to stop discussion on the bill to credit
and pay to the several States, Territories
and the District of Columbia, all monies col
lected under the district tax Of the 9th Of
August, 1861 Senator Riddleberger was
proceeding to state his understanding of the
agreement to do so today, when he was in
formed by the presiding officer that debate
was not In order
Senator Riddleberger demanded the yeas
and nays on his motion, and L ,s WAS rejected,
26 to 26, party vote, except Riddleberger's,
who voted with the Democrats.
After some remarks by Senator Call, Sen
at0r Riddleberger renewed his motion TO
proceed to executive business, and the mo
tion was again defeated, 26 to n, Riddleber-
ger again voting with the Democrats.
The above mentioned bill was then laid
aside, and Senator Vance proceeded to adj
dress the Senate on the resolution offered by
Senator Brown, proposing to abolish inter-
nal revenue taxation. Senator Vance favored
a reduction Of the tariff taxes, and the tax
on whiskey. He proceeded, with much de-
tail, to illustrate the many Inconsistencies In
the tariff, particularly as 10 its bearing
against articles consumed by the poor, and
in favor of those consumed by the rich. He
declared that the central theory Of the tariff
was an iniquity, and that he was opposed to
the whole thing and Should not vote to put
anything on the free list, the tax on which
was pure revenue. He should strive earnest
ly to reduce taxation on the necessaries Of
life, and should discriminate in nothing, ex-
cept against luxuries, and in favor Of the
helpless.
The resolution was laid aside, and the
Blair. education bill taken up. A constitu-
tional argument was made against it by Sen
ator Gray. In the course Of his argument
the Senator asked what truth h al been 50
clearly established during the last century
as this: That the greatest measure or liber-
ty and the highest type Of citizenship and
civilization that had been achieved are main
educating influence which the bill ignored
and tended to destroy. The real danger to
the republic was not in illiteracy, but in
such bills as this, directed against the ex-
pertinent of self-g0vernment.
Ihe Dill went over as unfinished business,
day.
HOUSE.
The bill relating to permissible marks,
writings or printing on second, third and
fourth class matter and passed.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole on private calendar.
MIR. Morrow. OF California, from the COM
mite on foreign affairs, reported joint res
olntion appropriatins $4,000 to enable the
government to participate in the information
al exhibition ar Melbourne. in April, 1888.
The afternoon was consumed in a discus
siou of two bills of a private character,
one 70 carry out the findings Of the Court Of
Claims in the case of James ii. Ayres. One
referring to the Court of Claims the claim of
the owners of the steamer /. N. Bunton.
When the committee rose, the former bill
was passed, and no action was taken on the
latter.
The house at 5.15 adjourned.