Year: 1868




that there will be so much trouble in taking out OF
the bill the two simple propositions in reference to
been thoroughly considered il will not be diicut 10
take the sections referring TO them out of this bill,
and to embody them In separate bill. i do not
wish to do anything detrimental to- the bill. have
not assailed the bull do not assail the committee;
but II must be known to every man. unless he has
been so intimately connected with the business on
hand that he knows nothing that the Senate OF the
United States is to say the least, not rapidly
pass this bill do not know The House has spent three
or four weeks over It, and this body certainly does not
manifest great deal OF dignity In the discharge
OF Its business. The Senate however, fs not accus-
toned to dispose OF questions quite as rapidly as ms
House does 1t is said that left this house on leave
OF absence. That has nothing to do with the ques.
tiOn. But the gentleman from Ohio seems 10 tnihk
that do not know what has been going ON here De-
cause have not been in the House. Let me say 10
him that know what is going on, and the people OF
the country know what Is going on. They know 1hat
there is to-day whiskey ring formed because sne
gagged Ia 1t have cheated the government ana the
people OF the taxes which should have peen corrected
wealth thus acquired on the manipulation OF the
very element which ought to protect the govern.
ment. The people are therefore, demanding that
the tax be reduced without loss OF time. These
matters will 90 to the country lron my llps as well


from those Of the ss 1 % go Ge 70 ,h V
The people will hold TO responsibility the man who
does not act In this matter promptly and help to
are defrauding and thus destroying the government.
The gentleman from Ohio has spoken OF me as



called him medium 10y which the business OF the
committee OF Ways and Means is transacted. l am
no medium except medium OF my people, to speak
and act for them and that will do here and else
where. l speak and act for them and although
overlook the remark, consider that 1t was unklnd,
and that II should not come from member OF his
Mr.. SoHENCk-l understand the gentleman to rep
resent the sentiment Of a number OF people, and to
be their medium in Offering the resolutions


Mr.. SHANKs-The resolution speaks for itself; 1t is
entirely clear.


Mr.. ScHENCK-The gentleman did not introduce
1t without consultation.


Mr.. SHANKs-Not much. / have consulted with
my people. If the people have considered this mat
ter and understood it, why does the Committee OF
Waysand Means throw Itself back upon Its dignity and
refuse to act upon the order OF the Housep think
heard the chairman say that the committee could
not perhaps they would not, act upon the measure.
1 hold 1t to be the duty of committees OF the House
TO act promptly upon whatever ID the order of the
House, and when they cannot do that ! think 1t
highly mig na they S nU! Of oe
obey the orders OF the House. introduced the res
Oution in good faith and stand by It,


Mr., BUTLER said:-I am sorry, sir, that the debate
mas gone the prejudice Of this case rather than TO its
merits. The question OF how gentlemen vote, when
they vote according to their conscience, Will never
trust be brought up in this House That we are to
be frightened from our proprety because gentlemen
OF the democratic party vote with us Is new party
lash which ! never understood to be put on
before.


Mr.. ScHENcK made some remark In his seat which
was lnaudible to the reporters.


Mr.. BUrLER-I do not care to have running de-
bate with you in your seat. want that understood





party LASH find in the last vote that fifty three re-
publiosns voted with me and altyifour ;1 with the the
mutual nr'Aa admiration @ society Of eight members,
commonly called the Committee of Ways and Means.
sughter Each Of these &c gentlemen M gets up and and
the other gets up and tells how much another has
d0ne-laughter)- u we are to believe them there
never was much labor there never was 80 much
virtue there never was 80 much character, there
never was 80 much devotion TO the public interest
manifested by any committee before. tLaughter.)



cause know that the Committee OF ways and Means
n. ssa mas t. ann its
bers some Of my most valued friends and
when vote for the postponement Of this bill am
saying simply that what 1t took that committee seven
months to prepare do not feel myself competent to
deal with in week. Whoever does has not so high
seven months to hear the case they worked day and
night; they were vigilant, and very much s0. and
pass In ten days the bin which they reported
Having passed the bill in ten days It viii
take one week to engross II after we gel
through. Now, shall not get through this BILL Il
We work hard at it, before the st Of july 1t willaks
week engross it, 1t then goes to the Senate, ant
then the Finance Committee Of the Senate have q
right to hear parties interested in It just as long al
are many hundreds OF men who will want to bt
heard before the Senate Committee, VINO nave no
and Means; they must have a hearing before the
Senate Committee, and the bill will not get out O
that committee for six weeks, even ven II u II worket H
much work In six weeks as our friends OF the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means did in seven months
when IL was necessary for their personal health.


Mr.. MULLINS rose To make o remark.


Mr.. BUTLER-I must not be Interrupted, sir. AS
was saving that would bring the Senate Committee
TO the middle Of september. Then the Senate viii
have to go to work on the bill Then they nave nc nc
would carry the Senate into october or November
What advantage this year will the country then ge
out OF this biS Why not postpone the bill till tht
frst day of the next session, and In the meantime
pass q measure in reference to the whiskey ant
tisl election let me repeat that, because want tt
70 to the country we are here when we ought to bt
% the midst 70 se G eD IN SaSs Ssdfs fought for
kept here doing whats We are kept hert
modifying taxes and trying TO pass tax bill which
there is not one man In this House believes can b.
passed within this session. No, not one. II there Is
let him rise and show his face. Mr.. Mullins rost
amid the loud and tumuituous laughter OF the House
and raised his hand.


congratulate the COMMITTEE OF Ways and Means fo
having one man to think 80. My friend from OhiC
spoke OF our voting with democrats. How would n
like 1t II were to ask him whether he did not vot
this morning with solid democrat-vote to pay
nearly two millions out OF the Treasury to the clerk
in Washington, male and female, rebel and Unions


Mr.. wAsHBURN, Of Ind-There you are mistaken


Mr.. BUTLER-I cannot yield.


Mr.. wAsHBURN-I want you to take back the re
mark about ''rebels, because 1t does not apply L


Mr.. BUTLER-well, we Will say all sorts Of people
And this done without letting 1t be discussed
for q moment, or letting a word be said to tn
contrary-done under the pressure of the gale
res. hlled with clerks, male and female
watching their men. Q.aughfer.) Two million
OF money were voted out Of the people,
pockets pay clerks, male and female who are pal,
higher salaries than the average OF the three learnet
professions receive throughout the country.


Mr.. WAsHBURN, OF Ind, made the question OF 0rde
as to what this had to do with the tax bill.


The SPKAKER overruled the question OF order.


Mr.. BurLER-It is entirely germane to the subject
When are called upon to stay here In summe
weather, to give all our occupation, to give up thl
great Presidential campaign, and give up the Int
OF the country for the purpose OF raising monc
TO pay those clerks who say again, are overpait
more largely than any other profession in the Cntet
States


Mr.. MAYNARD-Will the gentleman tell me how h
voted on the twenty per cent bS


Mr.. BUrLER-l voted against II all the while


Mf. MAYNARD-l voted with the gentleman ant
think he ought to continue with me.


MIR. BUTLER-flow many men OF the Committee o.
Ways and Means can say as much