Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-06
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE TARIFF BILL IN THE SENATE
DIRECT TAX BILL IN THE HOUSE,
Amendmc cnts to Re-
fund the Cotton Tax.
The Senate.

session as to the amount Of silver bullion
offered monthly to the government since 1878,
was presented and ordered printed.
CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTORS.
A communication from the Secretary of
State, with a certified copy of the final ascer-
tainment of presidential electors in Kansas,
was presented.
The presiding officer asked the opinion of
the Senate (this being an entirely new proceed
ing) as to the disposition to be made of the
papers-whether they should be entered on
the journal or placed in the archives Of the
Senate. He added that similar certificates
from the states of Maryland, North Carolina
and Georgia had been also transmitted by the
Secretary Of State.
After some suggestions, the provision of the
law OF February, 1887 was read, and was found
to require the Secretary of State to transmit
copies of such certificates to the two houses of
Congress.
Mr.. Sherman moved to refer the papers to
the committee on privileges and elections, and
called attention to the novelty of the proceed
ing. He expressed the opinion that the pro-
ceeding Gf not an infringement Of the consti-
tution) was extra-constitutional. The constitu-
tion plainly required each state to provide,
under its own laws, for the election Of presi-
dental electors, and that their action should he
certified to the president of the Senate. He
doubted whether Congress had any authority
to require states to send certificates to the Sec
rotary of State, but that was a question for
consideration.
Mr.. Edmunds said that it was very simple
matter, and that Congress had in the law OF
1887 simply enlarged the degree of security
and certainty in regard to the transmittal OF
these certificates. 1t was precaution against
the loss of papers or other contingencies.
MIR. HOar suggested that it was also intended
to have the matter put on record promptly, go
hat hn "a Infv Nxyyth !
under the stress Of political temptation.
After further discussion the papers were re-
ferred to the committee on privileges and
elections.
COMMITTEES CONTINUED.
The resolution for continuing the select COM
mittees on the meat products and on the rela-
tions with Canada were reported back from
the committee ON contingent expenses and
adopted with amendments.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Numerous bills were introduced and re-
ferred, including the following:
BY Mr.. Stewart-To open to actual settlers the
abandoned military reservations in Nevada.
BY Mr.. Manderson-For the establishment of
q national biological laboratory.
By Mr.. Blair-To organize government bu-
reaus Of information relating to employments.
occupations, wants, means Of livelihood and
homes.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The Senate at O5 resumed the consideration
Of the tariff bill, beginning with schedule B,
which covers earthenware and glassware.
MIR. Mcpherson called attention to schedule
B, and said, to his mind, the rates Of duties
provided in the Senate bill were an increase on
the existing rates. He believed that the pro-
visions Gin both bills) to prevent undervalna-
ton would result in increasing the protection
on glass and pottery ware more than 10 per
cent. His own state was largely interested in
these industries, but he did not believe that
they needed the amount of protection pro-
posed. The Mills bill, he thought, accorded to
with foreign countries, although he might
desire some changes Of classification. He re-
sumed the right to offer some amendments
hereafter to the glass and pottery items.
Mr.. Hoar also reserved the right to offer
some amendments to the glass paragraphs.
changes of phraseology, was made to schedule
B, and the Senate proceeded to the considera-
ton of schedule G, relating to metals.
House of Representatives.
PERRY BELMoNTs RESIGNATION.
The Speaker stated that he had received a
communication from Hon. Perry Belmont in
forming him that he had sent to the governor
of New York his resignation as a member of
Congress from the first congressional district
of New York. The clerk was directed to drop
Mr.. Belmont's name from the roll of the
House.
REFERRING THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The usual resolution for the distribution of
the Presidents message to the appropriate
committees was reported from the committee
on ways and means by Mr.. McMillin (Tenn. }
and adopted by the House, the only debate
upon it being sarcastic query from Mr.. Gros-
vener (OhiO) as to what portion of the message
had been referred to the committee on civil
IN. Y. } that that subject would be referred to
the Chinese.
THE DIRECT TAX BILL.
The order relative to the consideration of the
direct tax bill was SO modified as to make the
measure special order for to-day, Tuesday
and Wednesday, it being the desire of many
members that an adjournment be taken over
Saturday.
An effort was made to reach some agree
ment touching the offering and pendancy Of
amendments, but it proved futile; and without
any understanding on this point the House, on
motion of MIR. Caswel1 wis }, went into COM
mittee of the whole Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois
in the chair) on the direct tax bill.
OVER FIFTEEN MILLION.
Mr.. Cassell explained that the simple purpose
Of the bill waS to refund to the states and indi-
viduals who paid the tax that portion Of the
direct tax which was collected. After careful
computation he was able to state that the bill
carried SIS, ,227 ,632. This did not include the
Is per cent commission allowed the states or
parties who paid the tax. The amount to be
cancelled, now uneollected, was o., ,562, ,40l.
MR. OATES SAYS IT Is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Mr.. Oates (Ala.) said that the hrst ground Of
his opposition to the measure was that there
was no authority conferred upon Congress by
the constitution to pass the bill or to make the
appropriation provided for. He contended
not for q strict construction of the constitu-
ton, but for an observance Of it His second
objection was that it was Just in its pro-
visions. He sent to the clerks desk and
had read for information q series Of amend
ments which he proposed to offer at the proper
time. The first refunds the cotton tax; the
second permits persons who paid that tax to
bring suit in the Court Of Claims to recover the
amount paid; the third revives the right Of
action in the Court Of Claims under the pro-
visions of the captured and abandoned prop
erty act, and the fourth directs the Secretary
OF the Treasury, in making payment and set
tlement Of the direct tax, to take into account
and set of any amount due by any state to the
United States under the act OF June Is, 1886,
etc regulate the deposits Of public money"
Mr.. Barnes (Ga. said that the purpose of the
bill! was TO execute release a. to the tax un-
collected and to refund the tax collected TO
those who had paid it. Conaidered In this
mere statement Of the question, without re-
an appearance OF equity tn the scheme.