Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-07
Fiftieth Congress-second Session
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.

! WASHINGTON, D6c. Q. | THE TARIFF BILL l SENATE.-Considerati of the tariff bill was resumed, the part under discussion be- | ing schedule B, which covers earthen ware I and glassware.
 l Mir. Harrison called attention to the fact that the existing duty on these articles was equivalent to an ed valorem rate of 102.75 per cent; that the rate of 6-10 cents per pound proposed in the House bill was equiv alent to 49. 32 per cent, and that the rate proposed in the Senate substitute was equiv alent to S0.42 per cent. He moved to amend the amendment by fixing the rate at 6-1O cents per pound.
 Messrs. Allison and Aldrieh opposed the amendment and Reagan favored it. After considerable discussion no vote was taken on the pending amendments and the bill was laid aside, the progress for the day being about eight pages.
 Mr. Butler introduced 6 joint resolution proposing constitutional amendment enlarg- ing the presidential term of office to six years; laid on the table.
 The Senate then adjourned.
 HoUsE.-The clerk was directed to drop the name of Perry Belmont (Dem. New York; from the roll of the House, he having sent in his resignation.
 The usual resolution for the distribution of the President's message to the appropriate committee was reported from the committee on ways and means and adopted.
 THE DIRECT TAX BILL.
 On motion of MT. Caswell Rep., Wis.) the House then went into committee of the whole (Mr. Springer of Illinois in the chair) on the direct tax bill. MT. Caswell explained that the simple purpose of the bill was to refund to the States and individuals who paid the tax that portion of the direct tax which was collected. After computation he was able to state that the bill carried $15, ,227, ,632. This did not include the 15 per cent. com- mission allowed the States or parties who paid the tax. The amount to be cancelled, now uncollected, was $2, 562, ,401.
 MT. Oates (Dem., Ala, ) said that the first 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;
 Mir. Enloe, of Tennessee, sent to the clerks desk and had read a proposed amendment, refunding the cotton tax and providing that such amount as can not be paid to the per- sons who paid the tax, shall be turned over to the school funds of the States interested.
 MT. Milliken, of Maine, could see no anal ogy between the cotton and the tax which it was now proposed to refund. The cotton had been paid. There was no default about it. If it fell upon one section more than upon another, it was because cotton was pro- duced in that section. As far the direct tax was concerned, those States Wno failed to obey the law shouln now pay the tax or the States that did pay should be reimbursed.
 MT. Stuart of Georgia regarded the bill as unwise legislation. He suggested that were there not surplus in the treasury the mess- ure would never have been brought for ward.
 MT. Hooker of Mississippi could see no req son for advocating the extraordinary propo- sition to take from the treasury back taxes paid by the citizens and distribute them among the several States. He raised the note of warning that if Congress passed this bill it would not be long before it would be said that in order to eqaalize taxation the in- come tax would have to be refunded to those persons who had paid it. If Congress was going to enter upon the work of equalizing taxation it ought not to begin with tax which was constitutionally levied and consti- tutionally collected.
 Pending further debate the committee rose and the House adjourned.