Year: 1870




| WASHINGTON Thursday April 7, 1870


The Judiciary Committee OF the Senate were Instructed
| today 10 inquire whether the Fifteenth Amendment
confers the right OF suffrage tho Indians Mr. sher
man, In accordance with previous notice. called up the
Joint resolution relative toIthe Income but proftng
by the warning Of Mr.. Conkng yesterday, the Finance
Committee came to the conclusion to postpone the
general subject OF the revival Of the Income tax until the
general tax bill up and decided upon substitute
which they reported to-day simply declaring in effect
that the taxes official salaries and dividends Of or
interest paid by, corporations, shall be collected
during the 1870 to relieve the Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue OF embarrassment No resistance was
made the passage Of this decaratory resolution but
when Mr. Sherman announced that the Finance Commit
tee would recommend theI extension Of the Income tax
for several the Senators could not restrain them
selves and the vigorous protests came from all parts
OF the Chamber According to the sentiments expressed
to-day may be safely assumed that the Finance Com
mittee will get few to sustain them in any further
action OF this tax. Mr. Conkng suggested grave doubts
its consuonality, and Mr.. Sumner raised the cry
of Down with the taxes" and demanded the speedy
abolition Of this Of the most odous measures that
called for by the necessities Of country in time
Of war; Mr. Sherman declined entering into debate, but
asserted that when the occasion arrived he would provo
that this was the most equitable tax levied by the Gov
ernment. Mr. Cassery thought Mr. Sherman was plac-
ing himself in opposition to all the eminent writer's
political economy but tho latter smiled increduously,





his position with array Of authorities that could not
be questioned. The rest OF the day occupied in
considering the Northern Pacific Railroad land subsidy
bill The proportions of this scheme were so large as to
excite the alarm Of even Mr. Harlan who expressed the
opinion that there was limit put to this thing
the people would rise up and abolish the whole policy
Mr. Nye favored the bill in a characteristic exhibition OF
spreadeagle oratory, which seemed to accomplish the
desired effect OF entertaining the galleries The Senate
adjourned without reaching vote Mr. Ramsey before
the adjournment once more spoke OF taking up the Dill TO
abolish the Frankng Privilege. but attention was paid
TO him.


In the House, today interesting discussion took
place the Interpretation OF the in regard to the
morning hour. During the present session there has
been much complaint at the slow progress made with
the business before the House. which is owing to the
peculiar rules governing that body. BY the present
practice Of the House the calling OF Committees for re-
ports limited to hour in four days OF the week, and
as there Committees in the House. and each Com
mittee occupies at least week in disposng Of its
business, whole session may pass without half the
Committees having opportunity to report The
Committee on Ways and Means, Appropriations, Elec-
tions, Reconstruction, and Printing by the rules
privileged TO report at any time and they monopo.ze
the time The debate today showed that the practice OF
combining the report OF committee to one hour every
day until is disposed Of arbitrary ruling and
injurious the interests OF legislation The ruling before
Speaker Orr's time, that committee could report
bill or resolution and be allowed finish 1t without in
terruption unless q majority OF the House deter
mined TO take up the business on the Speakers
table, or 60 into Committee OF the Whole the
state OF the Union No defnite action was
today but 1t is expected the old practice will be
revived Nearly five weeks have elapsed since the House
up the pusIness ----'- 49, -- --~s
more than forty bills other than bills for pensions and OF


priyate nature have passed during the present
session Butler tried to get in his joint resolution
to annex San Domingo, but failed He will make another
effort on Monday next, when motion 10 suspend the
rules will in order. Slow progress was made on the
Tariff BILL the Committee getting no further than cotton
goods The House reversed its action Of yesterday in re-
gard to cigars and the duty remains as 1t now stands


Representatiye Hill OF New-Jersey to-day received
from the citizens OF his district petition, containing 1900
names praying for the abolition OF the Income tax
member from the West has received letters from num-
ber of his constituents saying that they are about 10
choose Delegates nominate candidate for Congress
that they canvassed the District, and IND that
OF the voters therein have pledged them
selves TO against one fayoring continuance OF
the Income and before they meet to nominate they
want to know his views. He has replied saying that
he is unquaedy opposed to the tax. as are at least
twothirds OF the whole House OF Representatives.


Gen Buffers investigator In regard to the abuses OF
the privileges OF the House the publication OF certain


matters before being presented to the House, but more
especially reference to the action OF what called tho
"Cuban Lobby" and the part taken therein by Members
of Congress and newspaper correspondents advances
slowly Dr. Bliss, who the attending physician OF
Secretary Rollins and eagerly interested in the success
Of the Cubans has been before the Committee, and re-
fused to answer certain questions 1t Is expected, rs
soon as the investigation is closed that Dr. Bliss VIII
be brought to the Of the House. and that Mr. Butler
will ask that lie made to the questions, or be
committed for contempt Of the privileges OF the House
The Committee yesterday visited Providence Hospital In
this city, to take the testimony OF patient therein VINO
was said TO know where large amount OF money or
Cuban bonds had been expended to secure favorable
action by Congress. The witness recited some vague
rumors which had heard, but Of his own knowledge
knew nothing. Gen. Butler after the examination, sad
Gpooh Pooh He don't know any more than nine-tenths
of the other witnesses sehor Ruiz. Secretary OF the
Cuban Jupta was examined, and testified that he had
been approached by black haired and black whskered
man. who proposed for certain sum 70 OBTAIN tue lnnu-
ence OF all the leading newspaper correspondents mere
hut he could give the name OF the man. NewIork
newspaper correspondent testified that he had met
certain man. answering TO the above description coming
ont OF Mr. Ruiz's room, and that Ruiz had impaired to
him he correspondenp the information before gwen,
but the correspondent could not give the name OF
black haired man." The Committee is now energeticay
endeayoring to run down all lobbyists who possess
"black hair a low stature, and black whiskers."


Mr. Chayes, the delegate from, New-Mexco, made
another argument before the House Committee on Ter
ritoes to-day In Of the admission OF NewMe1co
as State The Committee have not yet formally voted
ON the question: but 1t Is understood majority Will
recommend admission


The Senate Committee Naval Affairs this morning
considered large number pc eons from officers of the
Navy on the retired list asking to be reinstated on the
list but finally agreed not TO grant such petitions
unless recomme nded by the Secretary Of the Navy.


The Senate Postal Committee at their meeting today,
had long discuss ion the subject OF granting supS
dies I'm establishing lines Of steamers In the Gull ana
South American Dor ts majority Of the Committee are
inay ahlanf al