The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-24

reports on the table, which wa, agreed
to, and after the Governor and Senate
had retired the house adjourned to half
past nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
Saturday morning, Jan. 2I,-Mr. Al
len moved that the report of William
Sprague Jun, made yesterday, be recciv-
cd. Mr.. Hazard said, he hoped they
would not. 1t contained statements
which all the rest of the committee knew
to be false and he hoped the house would
not give it any countenance. lie, there
fore, moved to lay il on the table, which
was carried.
Mr.. Simmons made statement con-
cerning the finances of the state, for the
two last years and the first eight and
half months of the present, by which it
appeared that near ten thousand dollars
more had been already paid into the
treasury thus far, this year, than the last.
He thought that the whole amount that
would be received by the treasury during
the year would not be less than S45, 200.
But in as prosperous condition as was
the situation ofthe finances, he consider
ed that they might be improved. There
had been a great falling off in the duties
received on sales by auction. He wished
the cause might be enquired into; and for
that purpos ), he moved the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on f.
nance be requested to inquire into, and
report on the expediency ofmodifying the
duties on auction sales, and report such
modification us they may deem expedient.
Mr.. Potter said tha. he was one ofthose
who devised the plans by which these
sums had been received into the treasury.
But he considered the statements made
by the gentleman, mere skirmishing, for
electioneering purposes. When two ar
mics were about to meet in battle, skir-
mishes generally first took place. He
alluded to the lottery system, by means
OF which large sums are paid into the
treasury, and denominated system of
plundering and gambling.
MIR. Tillinghast said he would reply in
word or two to the gentleman. 1t was
to the idea suggested, that the treasury
was supplied by encouraging gambling.
He considered the granting of lotteries
expedient. People would buy lottery
tickets from Other states, if this state did
not grant lotteries. We had tried the ex-
pedient of prohibiting the sale oftickets,
by law, and found it answered no pur-
pose. We had, therefore, come to the
conclusion of granting lotteries and tax-
ing them for the purposes of education.
Instead of the profits on the sale of lottery
tickets going from the state to enrich
others, it was now retained in the state,
and no inconsiderable sums were brought
into il from the sales abroad. If we were
to cease granting lotteries and prohibit
the sale Of tickets, still tickets would be
sold to as large all extent as they now
are, and all the profits would go abroad.
The citizens of the state would only now
and then get few prizes, and our treasu-
ry nothing. Such was the disposition of
man, that they would adventure. We
had, therefore, in some measure granted
lotteries in self defence. The balance
was formerly against US. He now be-
lieved it was i'm our favor. We sold more
tickets abroad than ut home.
Mr.. Simmons said that he did not, at
present, contemplate any improvement in
the system of lotteries, or the terms upon
which they were granted. The object of
his resolution was to improve, if possible,
the receipts from the duties OH sales at
auction. Persons now sent their goods
to Newly for sale and the amount
of sales by auction, had greatly diminish
ed.
There had been but three lotteries
granted during the year, and but two of
them run. The last year, the treasurer
borrowed more than $1,000 from the
school fund, 10 pay the ordinary expenses
ofthe government. The gentleman may
call this skirmishing, if he pleases--it is
stating facts, such as will appear by the
treasury books. He now held in his
hand, statement from the General
Treasurer, by which it appears that the
school fund, last May, was minus more
than $4,000. This could not be explain
ed away by any gentleman.
Mr.. Potter said, we can talk about
minus and other things as much as we
please. He supposed the gentleman was
plus. But the gentleman had lost sight of
his first object. He hoped that n greater
plated. That would, of course, carry
business TO Ncw-York, which was the
London Of America. Goods were now
sen. from England to New and sold
at auction by those who had no local
habitation, who were not citizens of any
country, but mere servants and pedlers
of British merchants, who forced their
goods into this country.
After few words Of conversation in
which 1t was stated that the duties on
auction sales were muchless in New York
than in thic Sfoto ,.,t,:.L i'll.