Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-17
House Democrats Sensitive on
the Internal Revenue
Question.
Senator Teller Thinks the People Have q
Right to Know the Results Of
Ali Deliberations.
The Senate Passes 1O8 Private Pension
Bills-Sone Further Information
Concerning Bayards Treaty.
WASHINGTON. Feb. l6.
Senate.

/ The resolution offered by Mr.. Plumb
some weeks ago, directing an inquiry into the
ineffcency of the mail service was taken up,
aud agreed to.
The resolution which was offered by Mr..
Manderson some days ago, requiring the
Secretary of War to furnish the senators on
request the list of persons to whom copies
of the record of the rebellion are to be
issued, was taken up. The discussion was
participated in by Senators Vest, Aldrch,
( Hawley, Cockerell and Teller. The latter,
in the course of his remarks, protested against
there being any secrets in the departments.
While he would not have all the deliberations
of the cabinet, department officials or of the
executive sessions of the Senate open to the
public, ne believed that the people are entit-
led to know the results of those deliberations
as soon as reached. The resolution was
finally adopted.
Mr.. Sawyer, AT his own request, was ex-
cused from further service on the committee
on education and labor, and Senator Riddle
berger was appointed in his place.
The Senate passed los private pension
bills and then went into executive session
1t then adjourned until Monday.
House.
ness the House went into the committee of
the whole ON the urgent deficiency bill.
Mr.. Kerr of Iowa, speaking on one of the
deficiency items, for the department of jus
tice, referred to the internal revenue laws
and declared that at one of the State conven-
tions, the democratic party of Missouri had
passed resolution asking for the repeal of
the internal revenue system.
Messrs. Burnes and Hatch of Missouri,
denied that such resolution had ever been
adopted.
Mr.. Kerr said that the gentlemen were mis-
taken, and would find that every democratic
convention in Missouri during the past ten
years, had adopted resolution demanding
that Congress should wipe off from the stat
ute book the provision of the revenue law,
which prevented the farmer from selling to.
bacco to any but licensed dealers. He said
that that provision had been passed by re-
publican Congress and signed by republic
can President and it fastened the shackles
upon the tobacco growers.
Mr.. Henderson of louisiana inquired why
the democratic Congress did not repeal it.
Mr.. Hatch replied that he had at every ses-
sion introduced bill to that effect, but
while it could pass a democratic House, it
couldn't pass republican Senate.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania thought it
mattered not what had been done in the past
he thought it better to let all join hands and
strike from the statute books such iniquitous
sections. (Appluse.)
Mr.. Reed of Maine inquired whether the
gentleman (liatch) was opposed to the repeal
of the internal revenue tax.
Mr.. Hatch replied that he WAS opposed to
its repeal until taxes on the necessaries of
life were first reduced ( (Applause)
Mr.. Burnes remarked upon the manner in
which the House bubbled over when tobacco
was mentioned and expressed the fear that
when the other element covered by the in
terna revenue law was mentioned. regular
pandoras box would be opened He then
brought back the discussion to the subject
matter OF the bill.
Amendments were adopted, appropriating
500, 900 for the support of the United States
prisoners and directing the public printer to
enforce rigidly the provisions of the eight
hour law.
Having completed the consideration of the
bill the committee rose. Pending final
action on the bill the House took a recess
until evening, when the Pacific railway tele-
graph bill will be debated.
The House met at $ p. NJ. and adjourned
at II, after several speeches on the Pacific
Railroad telegraph bill The general tone of
the remarks was strongly in favor of the