The Indianapolis journal., 1888-01-11
THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.

The Senate Discusses the Proposition to Re-
fund the Direct Tax to the States.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.--Mr. Berry offered
resolution directing, in where the tax was
collected from citzens, either directly or by sale
of property, that the amount shall be paid to
the Governor of the State, in trust for such citi
zens whether the State be or be not indebted to
the United States.
Mr.. Sherman argued that the amendment
would create crave embarrassment in the exc
cution of the .1ilL
Mr. Berry explained the purpose of the
amendment and advocated its adoption.
Mr. Beck said that the amendment had been
talked over informally among members of the
finance committee, and that they were generally
opposed to it, thinking it would be in the way of
a final settlement and that the better way was
to have the money paid to the States and leave
citizens to pursue their remedy against them.
Mr.. Salisbury opposed the bill. 1t proposed
to take $15, 900, 900 out of the treasury, and to
distribute it, not to the poorer people of the
several States, but to the owners of real estate
who paid this direct tax He was opposed to
any distribution of the surplus in the treasury
in order to keep up a high protective tariff, but
his observation taught him that where there
was m oney in bill, and where the people of
the States were to be benefited by bill. it was
perfectly useless to oppose its passage
Mr. Sherman withdrew his objection to the
amendment but it was further opposed by Mr.
Plumb and Mr.. Mcpherson.
Mr.. Chandler wished to know whether the
purport of the bill was to credit and pay to each
State not only the amount it paid directly from
it's own treasury for its proportion of the direct
tax but also the amount collected by the United
States government from individuals las in many
of the Southern States) by the seizure and sale
of their property. 1t occurred to him that if
the government went into the business of re-
funding the direct tax at all. it should go into
the Southern States and find the heirs of those
from whom 1t had collected the tax and pay
them back the money, instead of turning the
amount over In gross to the States, and leaving
individuals to their remedies against the States.
The resolution was rejected-yeas IA. nays 3S.
Mr.. Berry said that his amendment had
been voted down, he did cot think the bill
q just one, and he hoped it would not pass.
Mr.. Beck stated as that all direct taxes must be
uniform, 1t would be necessary to collect the di-
rect tax from the States which had not paid it.
or to refund to those States which had paid it
the amounts respectively paid by them. The
latter was what the bill proposed to do.
MIR. Gray favored the passage of the bill, but
argued that as the States mad dealt directly with
the general government, so the general govern
ment should deal directly with the States in
funding the amount; and he moved to strike out
the proviso in the third section. that where the
tax collected directly Or by the sale Of
property the sums so paid ware to be- held in
trust for benefit of the heirs of those from which
they were collected. He considered the proviso
as hampering the bill. q
Mr.. Chandler argued that In the States where
the tax collected from individuals by the
seizure and sale OF their property. and where
the States had nothing to do with the payment
of tax, there more justice in paying back
the money to the States and telling the heirs of
the tax x-payers to look to them than there would
be in pursuing the same course where internal
revenue taxes had been improperly collected
The money should be refunded to those who
paid it.
Mr. Edmunds moved toi amend the proviso
proposed to be struck out by making it apply
only to cases where the tax was collected by the
United States. Agreed to:
Mr. Edmunds also offered amendment re-
quiring that all claims under the trust shall be
filed within six years, and itnat all Claims not so
fled shall be forever barred.
At 230 o'clock the bill was laid aside without
further action. ~
Mr.. Chandler offered a resolution instructing
the judiciary committee to lrdtilre into the sup
preston of the votes of the colored citizens of
Jackson. Miss, at the recent municipal election
in that city, and into the alleged participation
in such suppression by the United States dis
trict attorney and by deputy collector of inter-
nal revenue, and deputy United States mar
shall Laid on the table,
Mr. Stewart introduced bill to establish q
national university in the District of Colun bia,
for the education of teachers in common schools
of the States and Territories and the District or
Columbia. Referred
The Senate then proceeded to consideration of
the Blair educational bill. and Mr.. Wilson. of
madeaa constitutional argument
against it The people of the Southern States.
he said, did not serm to comprehend the nature
of the bill They smut their eyes TO the fact
that it would COST the people OF the most favored
States quite much. In customs duties aud
taxes, as they would receive under the bill. de
could not vote far measure which not only
would not bring any pecuniary gain to the
States, bne which tended insdiously 70 disrupt
and overthrow the principles of the government.