Year: 1871

was the cause of the defeat of the first
step taken in the House towards the
abolition Of the odious income tax. A
vote was taken on the main question of
going into committee Of the Whole. 1t
was whispered through the hall that
the vote was very close; every member
was whipped in. Very much interest
was shown on all sides as to the result, =,
especially when several changed their
votes. The count stood l03 in favor,
to 100 against, and when it was an
nounced there was loud clapping of
hands on the part Of the majority, who
evidently counted this as a great vic
tory. Considerable surprise was ex-
pressed at the course Of several gen.
tlemen, especially Of Mccarthy, who
was the leader in the repeal
movement last session, moving it in
the committee and working hard for it
in the House. He also voted for the
repeal in the Ways and Means COM
mittee on Tuesday, but in the House
Yesterday he voted with the oppo-
nents of repeal, and probably carried
some other members with him. Sew
eral Pennsylvania members, also count
ed in favor of repeal, voted with the
majority, several being induced to
change their votes after they had been
recorded Friends OF repeal think,
however that the record, on the
whole, is encouraging. When the
question was first submitted to
the House last session, the vote
was 81 in favor OF repeal to III
against. When the vote was taken
again the opponents Of the tax had
gained about fifteen votes. Now the
majority against the repeal, on by far
the largest vote of the session, is only
three, and these were cast by members
who were supposed to be its friends.


Mr.. Hooper, who has charge of the
bill, will make another trial some day
next week to get the matter before the
House.


Alabama aClaims-Debate I'm the Sen.
ate Oh the Presidents Message.


New YORK, February l0.-Speclal
dispatches from Washington state that
the debate in executive session of the
Senate Yesterday, on the Presidents $
message and accompanying documents,
took wide range. Among other issues,
the constitutional right Of the President
to appoint such Commission without
special power being delegated to him by
act or resolution OF Congress, was ques-
toned. Attention was called TO the
fact that this is departure from the
usual mode of making treaties, that
power being, bv the Constitution, given
To tie President and Senate alone


But the most serious objection made TO
the proposition OF the message was,
that it is too general in its terms. Sen
ators who spoke on this subject were
| desirous that any treaty negotiated shall
cover the Alabama and fishery ques-
tons, but are unwilling that the settle
ment OF them shall be included with
claims OF British subjects for damages
during the Fcnian raids Of lS66 or
1870, or losses incurred on account of
investment in Confederate bonds. 1t is
SAID that hy the terms Of the proposition
submitted. these and any other subjects
Of difference between the two nations
might be made matters of consideration.
The question "a to the paw Of the com
missoners (all except Iioar are now
oflice-holders). and as to the legality Of
Williams appointment to Office created
during his term as Senator, were also
points which were alluded to in debate.


Mr.. Trumbull moved to postpone the
whole matter for week, but this was
lost. Then it was moved to refer the
nominations to the Foreign Relations
committee, and this was also voted
down, and as a single objection prevent
ed final vote on the nominations yes
terday, the matter went over till to-day,
when the Senate will probably 90 early
into executive session for its continued
consideration. The general impression
is that had q vote been taken yesterday
the Commissioners would have been
confirmed.


Representatives from northwestern
States think that the settlement OF our
claims will involve the cession TO the
United States of the British country
northwest of Lake Superior.


The TribmcS correspondent tele-
graphed last night that the approval Of
the steps thus far taken by the Exc
cutive is widely expressed here by men
of all parties, and there seems to be
general feeling OF satisfaction that our
troubles are apparently so near settle
| ment. The Presidents selection OF Com
missioners meets with general approval
also. Itis known that that portion Of the
Commission coming from England will
sail at once, and it is altogether proba-
bic that the joint High Commission will
have organized and proceeded to busi-
ness by the lst OF March.


No Word from the Steamer Ten
nessee.


WASHINGTON, February l0.-Up to
noon to-day no intelligence has been
received at the Navy Department con-
cerning the steamer Tennessee. 1t is
suggested that perhaps the Commits
sion, after they got to sea, resolved to
commence examination in that part OF
the island distant from the capital OF
Son Domingo, intending finally to visit
President Baez This is given as the
only reasonable explanation Of the de-
lay in hearing from the Commission,
as the naval authorities here have faith
in the strength o: the vessel.


senator Williams Con nfirmed.


The debate in executive session to-day
involved the eligibility Of Senator Will