Mr. ALLISON. I desire to say a word in vindication of the committee against the as sault of the Gentfrom Cincinnati, [Mr. EGGLESTON. R believe that the committee is no more in avor of monopolies than the gentleman is; but we found this difficulty in the case: these gas companies and railroad companies are local corporations, chartered by the different municipal authorities and State Legislatures, and we have imposed an additional burden upon them since those charters were granted; and when the House adapted the provision by which this tax was not allowed to be charged over to their atrons these companies came here and sai to the Senate that they had been before their several Legislatures askin relief, but were remanded back to Congress, because Congress by legislation heretofore had allowed them to ad the tax to their charges. Therefore it is that the committee have provided that until April, 1867, these corporations may add the tax, but after that time Congress would give them no relief, because in the meantime they could go to their munici af corporations and State Legislatures and asli the relief which they sought at our hands, and if just would probably receive it, and at all events after that time Congress would refuse to allow them to charge over these fares. It is not the purpose or design of Congress to interfere with local or State legislation; either to impose upon the people burdens or to take off burdens imposed under State legislation where such legislation is not required by the necessities oft e General Government; and those who are not in favor of interfering with the rights of the States will not desire to interfere with local charters or corporations unless the necessities of the revenue imperatively require it. Therefore it was that the Senate insisted that this provision should apply until the 30th of April next, and the committee on the part of the House finally yielded the oint, and in the mean time if the State Legisatures do not give relief, these companies must incur as we do the taxation imposed by Congress without diminution however onerous it may be. Besides that, it was shown that many gas companies are so limited at this time by boucradl ecnh, arters that they cannot pay these heavy unless they are permitted to charge the burden on the consumers of gas. It is so in' the case of one corporation in the city of NewYork where their charges do not pay the cost of the productipn of the gas at this time; and when We have placed by our legislation here an import tax 0 $1 50 perton upon coal, I doubt very much whether the gas companies can live at the existing rates which the muni cipal authorities have authorized them to charge for their product. I wish the House articularly to mark that this whole provision expires on the 30th of April, 1867, when these gentlemen will be remanded to their States; in the mean time all railroad comanics are required to kee for sale at convenient points packa es of tie ets of not more than 20 with the tax only added, thus repealing an obnoxious provision in the existing law. One word upon the subject of the income exemption. 'lhe House revised the income tax so as to exempt $1,000 instead of $600, as now provided b law; but the Senate refused to consider this question of income at the present session for the reason that any law passed now could not affect the collections for the present year, as they are all as sessed and are now being paid; and it was hoped that at the next session, which must en before another assessment of income can be made, still further exemptions might be made, so as fo relieve further those having small incomes. Therefore, with the be e in view of extendin further relief the house committee recede from its non-concurrence in the amendments of the Senate upon that sulfierc. tL. E BLOND. I would ask the gentleman one question before he takes his seat. I understan him to say that those members of the committee who believed that Congress he not the power to interfere with this matter in thp differed from the rest of the committee 13, ! the final conclusion theyicnme to. Was it the determination of the committee that Congress had or that it had not the power to control this matter in the States?