The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

CONGRESS.

The bill granting to the relief of Elbridge Gerry, the late Vice President. the salary which he would have received (had he so long lived) during the remainder of the term for which he was elected, has passed the Senate, and is now before the House of Representatives. Let it be remembered (says the Evening Post) that this bill was brought forward in the Senate by the Honourable Mr. Gore, a federalist, and a political opponent of the Vice. President. And at the same time let it be remembered that this same body, when the late General Hamilton's widow petitioned Congress for his commutation pay, due him as a revolutionary officer, rejected the bill for granting the prayer of the petitioner.

A bill has passed the Senate authorizing the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint one Vice-Admiral, and two Rear Admirals.

An alteration has been made reducing the tax on paper. from five to three per cent.

A motion has been made by Mr. Bradbury, that paper used for printing bibles, testaments, and common school-books, should be exempted from taxation, which was negatived.

The House, December 17, had under consideration the bill for laying duties on household furniture. on horses, and on gold and silver watches. The rate of duties to be imposed are as follows, viz.-

On all household furniture kept for use, the value of which in any one family (with the exception of beds, bedding, kitchen furniture, family pictures, and articles made in the family from domestick materials) shall exceed $200 in money and not exceeding 400, one dollar: if above 400 and not exceeding 600, one dollar fifty cents; if above 600 and not exceeding 1000, three dollars; if above 1000 and not exceeding 1500. six dollars; if above 1500 and not exceeding 2000, ten dollars; if above 2000 and not exceeding 3000, seventeen dollars, if above 3000 and not exceeding 4000, twenty eight dollars; if above 4000 and not exceeding 6000, forty-five dollars; if above 6000 and not exceeding 9000, seventy five dollars.

On every horse, kept exclusively for the saddle, one dollar; on every horse, kept exclusively for the carriage, one dollar and fifty cents; and on every horse kept both for the saddle and carriage, one dollar and fifty cents.

On every gold watch kept for use, two dollars ; and on every silver ditto ditto, one dollar.

Household furniture is declared within the meaning of the act to include pictures, plate,, clocks and time pieces except watches; and as excluding books, maps, and other philosophical apparatus.

The remainder of the act principally respects the assessment and collection of the duties— It was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

A bill has passed for laying and collecting taxes on certain manufactured articles.

Mr. Burwell, of Virginia, on the 19th instant, laid on the table the following resolution :

Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report a bill directing the Secretary of War to reserve from the regular troops furnished by, the militia of any State, in lieu of their own services a sufficient number to perform garrison duty within each State.

The bill to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of the government and maintaining the publick credit by laying duties on household furniture or horses kept exclusively for the saddle or carriage, and on gold and silver watches, was read and passed by the following votes :

For the bill 102

Against it 46

The House then, on motion of Mr. Eppes of Virginia, resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Nelson of Virginia in the chair, on the bill to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of the government, and for the maintenance of the publick credit, by laying a direct tax upon the United States.

This bill is of great length and minute in its details, proposed amendments to which occupied much time of the House in discussion..

First section lays a tax of six millions, divided among the States as follows

New-Hampshire	$193,586.74
Massachusetts	$632,541.96
Rhode Island	$69,404.36
Connecticut	$236,335.41
Vermont	$96,687.42
New-York	$860,283.54
New-Jersey	$217,743.66
Pennsylvania	$730,958.32
Delaware	$6,492.50
Maryland	$303,247.58
Virginia	$688,360.88
Kentucky	$337,857.52
Ohio	$208,300.28

North Carolina $440,476.56
Tennessee $220,173.10
South-Carolina $303,810.95
Georgia $189,872.98
Louisiana $56,590.22

The act constitutes a board of principal assessors to revise and equalize the taxes among the different counties of each State, taking for the basis of their proceedings the valuations heretofore made. The tax to commence on the first day of February next.

After the bill had been gone through, the committee rose at a late hour, and reported to the House the amendments they had made.

Congress have enacted that from the last day of December instant, there shall be paid the following yearly rates and duties upon every carriage, with the harness used therefor, kept for use, which shall not be exclusively employed in husbandry, or for the transportation of goods, according to the following valuations, to wit:
If not exceeding fifty dollars, one dollar.
If above fifty and not exceeding one hundred dollars, two dollars.
If above one hundred and not exceeding two hundred, four dollars.
If above two hundred and not exceeding three hundred, seven dollars.
If above three hundred and not exceeding four hundred, eleven dollars.
If above four hundred and not exceeding five hundred, sixteen dollars.
If above five hundred and not exceeding six hundred, twenty two dollars.
If above six hundred and not exceeding eight hundred, thirty dollars.
If above eight hundred and not exceeding one thousand, forty dollars.
If above one thousand dollars, fifty dollars.

This law has been signed by the President.