Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper/Volume 18/Number 450/Congress

CONGRESS.

In the Senate, on the 26th of April, a bill providing that no naval officer shall be retired until the age of 62, and whose name shall not have been borne upon the navy register 45 years after the age of 16, was referred to the Naval Committee. The rest of the proceedings were unimportant and preliminary.

In the House, the consideration of the Tax bill was resumed in Committee of the Whole. An amendment that incomes derived from the interest of notes, bonds or other securities of the United States shall be included in the estimate of incomes was adopted. Another amendment, providing that on incomes exceeding $800 and not more than $10,000, a tax of 5 per centum shall be imposed; on incomes of $10,000 and not exceeding $25,000, a tax of 7½ per centum shall be imposed; and on incomes of over $25,000, a tax of 10 per centum shall be imposed, was agreed to by a vote of 73 against 35. A proposition to tax the salaries of Members of Congress 10 per cent. was voted down by a large majority. At the evening session a number of bills giving away a large quantity of the public lands for Western railroads and other purposes were passed.

In the Senate, on the 27th, the National Currency bill was under consideration at length, but no conclusion was reached. Several bills of commercial interest were passed, and petitions presented from the wives, widows, mothers and sisters of soldiers, praying for an increase of the soldier's pay.

In the House, the Tax bill was taken up and considered vigorously, progress being made to the 119th section. The joint resolution from the Senate appropriating $25,000,000 to pay the expenses of the 100 day troops was passed.

In the Senate, on the 28th, after the transaction of some unimportant business, Mr. Fessenden reported the House joint resolution, increasing the duties on foreign imports temporarily 50 per cent., with an amendment making the increase 33½ per cent., and exempting goods in bond and in transit. A spirited debate followed the submission of this amendment, and after considerable manœuvreing the House bill was finally passed without alteration by a vote of 30 to 8, whereupon the Senate adjourned.

In the House, the Internal Revenue bill occupied the larger part of the session. A spirited debate ensued upon a motion to tax the circulation of all other than National Banks ¼ of 1 per cent. per month, but the amendment was finally adopted by the close vote of 52 to 51. An amendment was offered by Mr. Fernando Wood repealing the act of March last, which imposes a tax upon liquors on hand; and Mr. Washburne moved, as a substitute, to tax domestic liquors on hand 50 cents a gallon, with some restrictions. This amendment was adopted by 72 to 62.

In the Senate, on the 25th of April, Mr. Sumner presented a joint resolution authorizing every road operated by steam to become a postal or mail route, and to carry the mails at such compensation as the Government thought fit to bestow. The disagreement on the Montana question came up, and was discussed by Mr. Doolittle until the close of the session.

The House sessions, both day and evening, where occupied mainly with the Tax bill, and considerable progress was made.

In the Senate, on the 30th of April, Mr. Sumner offered a resolution requesting the President to communicate to the Senate the opinion of Attorney-General as to the rights of colored persons in the army and elsewhere, but Mr. Powell objected, and the matter was laid over.

In the House, a resolution for a Special Committee to investigate the charges against the Treasury Department was adopted, and Messrs. Garfield, Wilson, Davis, Fenton and Jenckes, Republicans, and Brooks, Stewart, Dawson and Steele, Opposition, were appointed said Committee. The Army Appropriation bill was then taken up, the question being on agreeing to the Senate's amendment thereto. The amendment placing colored troops on an equality, as regards pay, rations and allowances with white soldiers, excited a long and lively discussion, but finally the amendment was adopted by a vote of 81 against 49.