Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-20
T v:urre tn CONGRESS.
IUBspAY, JANUARY IL, 1929.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
The resolution Submitted yesterday by Mr..
tiendricks, for disposing OF the iands purchased
ION the Pattawatna Indians, was considered aud
agreed 10.
The bill 70 allow salary to the Collector OF the
Ports of Norfolk and POI tsn,outh having been
read
Mr.. Smith. Of MARYLAND, said there was yarie.
y OF petitions from the collectors al different ports
upon the same subject, but the Committee Of FL
nance Rad selected this particular case. This
collector not only did not receive any thing fcg his
own services, but actually was obliged 10 pay mo-
ney out oil his own pocket, and in seven months OF
the year 1927, he sustained loss of Sl63 73.-I
There was but little received from the CUSTOM
House ut Portsmouth, but il was an important
port, kind OF outport, and there considerable
care required TO prevent smuggling. II was very
hard the gentleman should not receive any thing
Tor his own services, but should pay out Of his own
pocket this sum, TO make up his accounts with
the Government. Under these circumstances
the Committee thought it advisable TO present
this one ease, as one requiring the assistance OF
Congress.
! The Collector peti,ioned for remuneration for
the losses he had sustained, but there was no
| law which allowed Congress TO grant Collectors
alton Tor losses suffered, and the Commit
tee were Of opinion that when he took the place he
took IL good or Tor bad, and that it might be bad
one year and good the next; therefore, they could
not remunerate him FOR his losses, and as from the
dimnuton of imports, the commissions were We
ry considerably less than formerly. he Committee
had thought il advisable 10 give this Collector {.
salary Of 400 dollars per annum for the years 1929
and 1880; they hoped by that time to intro.luce
and procure the passage of bill settling the saa.
ries oil Collectors at different ports, apd perhaps d.
tninishng the number. Several years ago. when
he was in the House, the Collector OF Baltimore
peiiiioned Tor the payment Of five hundred dollars
which he had lost at that port during the last war
ana bis petition was rejected. Having that case
in view, the Committee thought it best TO grant
the salary, that Inc Collector % Noro!, aud Ports
mouth might be enabled 10 make np the losses lac
had sustained
! Mr. Chandler said, he had no doubt the Com
mit,ee were right in their view of the subject but
he wished to have il explained in what manner the
Collector hal expended all his receipts and this
amount Of his money.
MIR. Smith read the document setting forth the
| receipts and expenditures OF the Collector aud
showing the balance of 1853 73 upon the wrong
side. IL contained large charge. something over
four hundred dollars, for Clerk hire. hIr. s. said,
the Collector had four or five lighthouses 10 take
care OF, and one or two which were building, in
addition TO his duties Collector.
Mr. Woodbury. said, he was very willing the
! gentleman should receive compensation for his
services; but, if the business at this port was so
very small, he did not the necessity of having
so many Clerks. If the Collector had the addition
al duty OF experimenting light houses it was very
wen known TO the Senate, that he also received
additional compensation for his services and unless
the clerk hire was necessary for the custom house
he should not have compensation fur the money he
4
Mr. Smith, OF Maryland d., not know how
| Collector could do without Clerks. The Secretary
oil The treasury had cogOizance of this matter am,
could decide whether the charges were correct or
not. Although there was not so much business at
the CUSTOM house formerly, still the Collector
was obliged TO keep the Clerks, on account of the
writing necessary fer the supcrntcnJance Of the
| lighthouses. II was said the Collector received
separate compensation FOR t.!a'; bat, by section
| OF the act OF 1922 he obliged TO refund 20 the
. of the nj
sing form the superintendent. lie thought where
the man was obliged to DO duty he should be com
peDsated for his services.
| Mr.. McLane said, he voted for this hill in the
! committee on Finance. In the year 1872 bill
| was passed regulating the salaries, fees commits.
sions, sc. OF the Collectors, giving salaries TO
| some, and commissions TO others, and, among the
i rest hxihS the emounents of this very Col.ee tor
| AZ That time, a greater amount of Ccrk hire was
necessary than AZ present, owing the decline OF
business since; b the intention of the act of 1922
was that the Collector should be Compensated In
consequence of the commissions being fixed an,
the decline OF business, the fees did not amount 10
go much as formerly and the Collecio got netting
but sustained this loss. He voted for the bill in
the Committee, in order that the spirit of the ac,
OF is22 might TIC carried into effect. Some Clerk
bire was necessary on account OF the business OF
the light houses, for which, also the Collector re-
eeivtd nothing.
MIR. Tyler made some inquiry in relation to the
general act spoken OF by MIR. Smith, but was not
i MIR. Benton said he wished TO ask one question
" was usual for officers who were obliged 10 hire
clerks, VINO had SONS under age, 10 set them 10 d n
lie duties oil clerks, and The business of the nfiicn
Tic did not suppose the gentleman from MARY
land was acquainted with the fact, but he should
like to know whether such was the case in tho
present Instance IL so. this LARGE amount cbarp
ed for clek hire still went into the fathers poci
/ end hc not loser.
MIR. Smith replied, that ne knew IL. 'i,ing aoil,
| the fact, but if the collector had SONS and ne
phews, lie supposed the collector would have The
greater confluence IN them, and, as lie must have
| clerks, he must be paid for them.
! Mr.. McLane said, in answer 10 the Senator
from Missouri, ibat The gentleman would ind. on
looking at the act that tIie Committee OH Finance
knew nothing more than appeared IN ;l,e srs o.
lSZZ. tie then read a section from the act which,
provided that no money should be allowed ami
paid TO Clerks, until they knew that the services
had been performed, and that lie received the
salary Tor hrs own personal benefit.
MI tyler AGAIN made few remark IL, relation,
10 tie Collector al Petersburg; hut '. icb were
not heard distinctly where the Reporter sat
MIR. Beircn said, he had hccD Tor tao OF tl,rc .
years, charged with petition from flie Coilecto,
n al savannah, OF similar nature, and AZ the be-
ginning oi The present Session, he bad presented
D 10 the Senate, AMI i had been referred To The
Comlniitec on Finance; since which l,c had bcsrt
nothing ut ". lie did not understapd tfc s,cr,r,
man from Maryland, whether the claims ~ d.
other applicants had been investigated. Ue ha
iieved the memorial he presented contained =.
strong an appeal AZ could be presented -"
ne then moved 70 lay the bill upon tie ,abt.
which motion prevailed.
The hiD Ito divide portion OF tbe Rrvsppc nj
ihe united States among tic several STATIC. w.
then taSon UP AMI discussed. by Ar Biracrson.
10 lhvor' AMI mcssrs. Smith OF MaryIfnd. Ifavne.
N. 10. .s 80