Mr. HENDRICKS. Mr. President, a year ago I felt it to be my duty to oppose any tax whatever upon the production of gold, and I am not able to see that the considerations that governed me at that have passed away. I think, instead of taxing the production of gold, we ought rather to encourage its production, especialy while we have a public debt upon our shoulders. The increase of the circulating medium of the country, especially of that which is the standard of value the world over, makes the payment of ourdebtaud the annually accruing interest easier as we continue to increase. Upon this view of the subject, I shall move to strike out all that portion of this section which relates to a.proposed tax from and including the 16th line to the close of the section. If I had a view to revenue I should not advo cate this particular measure. I think that very little revenue will be realized from this mode of taxation. It proposes a tax upon the net production. I presume that means the profit which the miner makes. How is that to be ascertained? I submit to the authors of this bill whetheritean be satisfactorily and certainly ascertained what is the net production of a mine. As is stated by the Senfrom Ne vada, some of the mines are managed by large comanics who keep an account of their expenditures as well as their incomes, with the view of ascertaining the dividend of each stock holder. If we had entire confidence in the books of all these companies, perhaps Wecould' ascertain the net production of a particular mine; but certainly there are very arge productions of gold by persons acting in their individual enterprises and not in the form of companies. Who is to ascertain, then, what is the net production of the mines of the country, and what machinery are we to adopt by which this shall be ascertained? The present tax, as I understand, is 5 8ths of 1%. upon the gross productions. I should like to see that repealed. I think it is very undesirable totax the mines at all, but if we are to tax them we had better have it upon something certain. I submit tb the Senate whether a tax on the gross receipts, in regard to which there can be no evasion or fraud, is not much more desirable to the government than a tax upon the net production of the mines? The one is ascertained at the assay office, the other on information to be communicated by the mine r. One miner is an honest man. he gives an account of all the expenses which he has incurred in the production of a certain amount of gold; another miner, not so scrupulously honest, willgivea very different account of his operations during the year. And when is this tax to be collected, and how collected? I thinkit proper to strike out all of this bill that relates to a tax upon the net production, and I offer that amendment.