Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-19
WASHINGTON.
NEWS ARD GOSSIP FROM THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL
Senator Herry's Amendment to the Direct
Tax Dill-WOrk "A the Com
mites.
From Our Regular Correspondent


WAsHIYGToN, u. c., January 10
Senator Berry's amendment TO the direct
tax bill, providing that no art OF tue
money collected from individuals snail
be retained by the United States as set
of against any state Indebtedness, Is
very important amendment, as the United
states has alleged claims against most OF
all the southern States, including Nlr-
GINA, and it hes heretofore been the
practice OF the Treasury officials to Offset
these claims against all amounts due the
States Undcr the direct-tax bill the
taxes collected during the war are TO be
repaid TO the States, and under the ruling
OF the department might he Offset by these
claims ! he object of Mr.. Berry's
amendment is to prevent this and TO
oblige the Government officials to pay
over to the States, as trustees for their
citizens, all the taxe7 collected from In
dividuals, from whom alone taxes we're
collected in the southern States, as OF
course the Confederate States paid none.
Mr. Sherman, as was to be expected,
opposed the amendment, but 1t was
agreed to, so that individuals who paid
war taxes to the United States will, II
the bill passes the House, as 1t probably
will. receive them back through thelr
respective States
The Committee on Elections of the
House has been bearing the contested
case Of Lowry as. White, from Indiana,
to-day. The contestant is represented
10y General Eppa Hunton and ex- Senator
Mcdonald and the contestee by Mr..
Calkins, ex-representatiye from Indiana,
and General Manning. The contestant
claims that Mr.. White is not eligible be-
cause he is not a citizen of Indiana or
of the United States, never having been
naturalized. Mr. White alleges that he
was duly naturalized, but has lost his
papers, and the records of the court fail
TO show bis naturalization. He proposes
to establish it by parole testimony.
The House Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries heard the delega-
ton from the American Shipping League
this morning. The committee-roOm WAS
crowded with interested spectators, and
ex- Representative Orlando Porter, OF
New York, and General Imboden, OF
Virginia, made an able presentation Of
the cause of American shipping. At |: 30
o'clock the members of the league called
on the President ina body and paid their
respects. at their meeting to-day the
Committee on Shipping reported to the
convention Il resolution approving the
passage Of bill allowing a bounty of 20
cents per ton to American vessels for
each 1000 miles OF travel.
A resolution was also adopted favoring
the celebration Of the constitutional
centennial in 1889 and a worlds expo
sition in 1892 in this city.
The National Board OF Trade convened
to-day in their eighteenth session at
Wizards Hotel-lresident Frederick
Frailey, Of Philadelphia, in the chair.
General Miller, secretary of the Nicara-
qua Canal Company, and Captain Taylor,
United States navy, made interesting
statementsin reference to the progress
made in the construction Of the canal
and the commercial advantages that
would be the result of its completion.
The National Tobacco Association COM
lilNntSh 4Ao ~ oHibAi ~ Ai4t AAbDlAJ AAVAa'
this morning -N MIR. George W. Helme, of
New York, presiding Among those
present were Mossrs. g. W. Smith, Paul
{. Edmunds. and S. W. Venable, of Viz
GINA, and Julian S. Carr, of North Caro-
lima. A resolution was introduced
to the effect that pending the measures
now before Congress the association
should take no action in regard to the
repeal of the tobacco tax. A discussion
ensued, which showed a diversity Of
opinion on the subject, although the
majority favored non action. At /
O'Clock the convention took recess for
the purpose Of calling on the President.
The Committee on Ways and Means
held a session this morning, at which a
delegation of tobacco-men from North
Carolina appeared to urge the repeal of
the tobacco tax.