Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-19


The amount of imports for successive years,
and from which an inference was drawn that
Il considerable part of the excessive importa- |
lions IN 1924 was intended for re- expectation
and before THIS opinion was hazarded, an en-
curry was made from the Secretary of the
Treasury whether the debentores would ex-
coed the calculation for the present wear or
not. To this the Secretary replied, that no
certain answer could be given to the question,
bht that, without fear of contradiction, the
committee might say that the amount of de-
bentures would exceed what had been calcu-
i"eo. III any part OF the report should Ire
incorrect, Mr.. Ii. said he should at all times be
ready, aud it would afford him pleasure. to
correct il. But he held il to be the indispensa-
bic duty OF this house to tell the nation how
ITS finances stand. The fact is, said Mr.. II.
we have added to the national debt, since
1890, upwards offOur millions OF dollars and
even with the aid of loan Of 900 900 the def
cheney OF the revenue for the year 1891 will
prove to have been about 1000, 900 of dollars,
which must be charged upon the revenue for
1922. To refuse TO print the number of CO
pies OF this report, as moved for, on the
ground that the statements in the report are
false, before any enquiry was made on that
head, would be treating the committee with ii
disrespect and contempt which this house had
committee could have been more anxious to
discharge faithfully the duties imposed on
them-ln doing which they had encountered
great labor.
The question having been taken on LAYING
the report on the table, as moved, and after
wards on printing the usual number of the re-
port Zone for each member, sc. and agreed TO
and the question recurring on printing an
ertra number
l
Mr. VAN WICK said, as this appeared to
INN To be as fair and candid an expose of the
situation of our country as had been laid be-
fore Congress, at the present session, he NOV
ed that .fre thousand extra copies be printed
Mr.. Baldwin said it was very unusual to
have discussion of the merits of report when
iirst presented to the House, and he was sur
priced at the subject being now debated. This
report, he said, had been drawn up with great
pains, and M doubt according to the best
Judgment o! the committee 1t certainly con-
famed Il great deal of useful information,
which ought to so forth TO the people. Do
cuncn,s of this kind were little read or I'M
| lersiood by being published in scraps in the
newspapers of the country and the money
OF the country was, he thought, well laid nut
mat was spent in The circulation of documents
like this. lie WAS therefore in favor of the
printing, Sc.
Mr.. McDUFrIE said, he did not wish to be
understood as being opposed 10 the printing
OF this report; because until il was printed
and fairly before the hnrse all lis fillacies
could not he exposed. Eui he was unwilling
TO print for diffusion among the people, un-
I'll 1t was examined and ascer,ained To be wor-
thy of being SD difilsed. 10 sew that it
was not thus worthy, he referred TO one
particular feature in the estimate, con
tanned IN the report, of the ways and means
for the current year The gentleman stated,
that hr had it from the Secretary of the Trea-
sUry that the amount ofthp debrnturcs will be
increased for the next year. This, Mr. Med.
said, was very extraordinary for he himself
had it from the Secretary of the Treasury,
both verbally and in writing, that the revenue
| from lmposts for the present year will exceed
the estimate by million Of dollars lNIr.
! Hardin here briefly explained. Mr.. McDuiiie
would have gone on further IN debate hut the
Speaker declared debate on the principle of
| the report not to be in order, on this incdrn-
| tai question: Mr.. McDullie concluded by
| saying that, on this point at least, the re-
port was directly in the face of the documents
on the table, and of the oral statement OF the
Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.. Cook said he was decidedly opposed
to printing an extraordinary number of this re-
port. He thought that W hen document Of
this sort was presented To this house for its
| special patronage to go through the country in
extraordinary numbers, the house should be
satisfied that the report WAS such m one as TO
deserve It's special APPROPRIATION. h. did no.
say whether this was such report /; but this
he would say, that the doctrine in this report
applicable TO the western co;niry-that which
applies to the policy of bringing The public
lands into market, WAS one which the whole
western country would revolt a: and reject
Mr. L. was going on, but was stopped by the
Speaker Ia the range Of his REMARKS.
Mr.. WRIGHT opposed the publication Of
more than the usual number Of copies of the
report. He was not at this time prepared 10
decide on the merits OF the report but sure
he was of this-that it was an improper mode
oil proceeding for committees, in reports tn this
mouse; to report to il the opinions of officers
OF this government instead Of their own
Such practice would lead TO collisions be-
tween this house and the departments, &c.
On the general subject of retrenchment, Mr.
W. said he was as much devoted as any one
to such a reduction of expenses as was con
slstent with sound polcy-that is, TO Just
economy, though he had no idea of parsimony
being mistaken for il.
Mr.. MITCHELL opposed the motion under
consideration. Many members had not heard
the whole of the report, as read. He confess
sed, Tor one, that he was not master Of the
principles of that report lie did not know
that the policy therein proposed would be
agreeable to the house or to tie nation III
five thousand copies were ordered to be print.
ed oft, the report would go forth as the act
of the house. But it is not so it is the re-
port ola committee only, the principles of
which are not so clear as TO receive unani-
nous assent. He was not prepared to say whe-
ther this document was falaciOus or not he
protested to know very little of it-and for
that reason was opposed TO printing more than
the usual number Of it.
Mr.. GILMER asked whether gentlemen, in