Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-24
FRIDAY. JANUARY 10. 1899

Mr.. FINDLAY submitted Il resolution direct
ing an inquiry into the expedency of establish
ing more direct post route from Washington
City tn Pittsburg
Mr.. KING, of Alabama, laid before the Senate
certain resolutions of the Legislature of Ala
bama, having for their object the obtainment
of an appropriation by Congress of sum
OF money to treat with the Greek and other
nations of Indians, relative to a cession of their
territory.
OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS.
The Senate then resumed the considera-
ton of the bill to establish certain collection
districts, and fix the compensation Ofollicers of
the customs.
The Secretary proceeded to read over the
bill by sections, for the purpose of afliording
opportunities for proposing amendment.
Mr.. DIcKERsoN proposed TO strike out so
much of the Sd section of the bill as proposes
to abolish the Office of Assistant Collector at
the town of Jersey, in the district of New
York, and he supported the motion at some
length
Mr.. HOLMES, of Maine, opposed the motion
at some length-asserting in the course of
his remarks, that this office was mere sine
cure, the incumbent receiving thousand dol
lars per annum for doing nothing whatever.
So little was he known as a public officer, that
he had had some difficulty in ascertaining who
he was. &c.
Mr.. DICKERsoN replied, and accounted for
the circumstance that no duties appeared TO
be discharged by this officer, by the fact that
all the business was done in the name Of the
Collector of the port of New York. Should
this office be abolished, Mr.. d. argued, moth
log would be saved TO the United States.
since an officer must be still kept at Jersey TO
perform the same duties as this officer, but
under different designation, SC. If the Of
flee was TO be abolished, however, he hoped
the appointment of the substitute officer would
not he placed under the control of the Collec-
tor. Of the port ofNew York.
After some further observations between
Mr.. HOLMES and Mr.. DIcKHRsoN, the ques-
ton was taken on Mr.. Dickerson's motion,
and decided in the negative, by decided ma
jority.
The 9TH section was then read, which,
among other provisions, fixes the commits
sIons OF the Collector of thcpor of New York
at one-eighth of one per cent INSTEAD of one
fourth as at present allowed) on all moneys
collected by him. On this clause a debate
arose of considerable extent, of which, as IL
was in great degree local. the following brief
report will afford sufficient view.
Mr.. King of New York, had not all the in
formation he desired and expected on this
point, but he considered the reduction fable
to objection on several accounts. If the re-
duction took place, the commission would
not be sufficient to defray the expenses Incl
dent to the collection, and leave four thousand
dollars for the collector, which was The amount
proposed by the bill for him 10 receive. In
fact, since the present Collector came intn
Office, he had, IN one year, been loser, even
with the present commission, Of One-fourtl
per cent.-t was clear, therefore, that the
reduction would make the Collector debtor
instead of gamer, by his Office further to
shcw which, Mr.. X. particularly adyerted Il
the great expenses which are incidental 10 the
Collectors Office in New York, in which, n:
one item, there were no less than twenty-cigh
clerks necessary, and they always fully EN-.
! ploycd-onc-half of the entire revenue o
the country passed through the hands %
the Collector Of the port Of New York
and NJ. X. argued against the prophet,
ofleavIng an officer Of so much responsible
| ty in sucha situation as To his emoIuments-
! That officer was required TO give bvnd