Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-16
ITO be continued. }

ne trusted that the Senate and American People would con-
cur In their opinion. ~
(TO be eontinued.)
Monday January I3
- IN SENATE.
The Vice President laid before the Senate the
commune alton from the Secretary of the Treasury, ID
compliance with the resolution OF Mr. FreIinpbuy sen
adopted on Friday, which read as follows:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
. January ID, 1884.
he io!h instant directing "the Secretary of the Treasu
ny 10 INFORM the Senate Of the construction which has
been given by that Department TO the act passed at
s session Of Congress- entitled AN act modify the ac
OF 'he i4th OF July, 1892, and all other imposing du
ues imports and also TO furnish copies OF instruction.
may nave been given to collectors regulating duty
under said ac have the honor herewith to transmit
printed copy oil the letter OF nstruc from th. Dep,
ment TO the officers of CUSTOMS dated April Goth 1899
stating the principles which the duties were to be cal
cuatcd under the Of the 18th of July 1890 ,nJ ,,
of the 81 of March, 1885, modifying said act and a,"
printed copy OF the instructions given by the Comptroller
OH the 26lh ultmo.
No other instruc lions have issued from tbis D,,.,.
IN relation 10 the subject mentioned in the resolution
ohder me construction OF the law, given by the De-
Parment IN the Circular Letter of April last the duties on
manufactures oil cotton, or OF which cotton shall be COM
ponent part are to be calculated according to the act of
The l4h' 1892 and the act of the I'd March, 1888 re-
ducng the duty, will operate upon the rate of utv ca
lated Ia the minimum principle; and will forth,
WIN be given to the collectors accordingly
Ma, NO decision has been made by the Department since
understand from the Comptroller that his
were by him to carry into effect decision &C
ihave the honor to be, very YOUR obeden
servant, r. b. fancy
=, Secry of the Treasury.
Hon. MARTIN VAN BUREN, Vice President of the
. United States and President Of the Senate.
Mr. Clay said he was glad 10 see that the in the
Interpretation oil the act OF last session now
aud that instructions conformable 10 the meaning Of
the act would issue That the Secretary of the Tre
and the Comptroller had given TO the act the n,erpre,a
ZION Imputed TO them, he had received, he might saw
hall peck Of letters and commune to prove and not
only tna but also communication from Of the OFF,
GERS oil The customs in the city Of New York. informing
nn ,hat such were The instructions which had issued to
him from the department. He was glad TO see that the
error was corrected and that the construction given would
De repealed and Others conormabe the spirit and plain
meaning OF the act would be issued. He moved the re-
terence OF the report to the Committee Manufactures
Mr.. calhoun added thareto the motion to print
MIR. Forsyth thought the Committee on Finance the
most appropriate committee. The ueson involved had
reference to the revenue alone. He therefore moved to
amend The motion, TO send the report that commit
ee IL was very obvious that decision of the head of
the Treasury Department had been made this subject
except that which was made in April ast.by Mr. McLanc
and seemed that in carrying out the decision OF the
Secretary, the Comptroller mistaken fIe thought
the gentleman (Mr Clay was in in suppong that
the Comptroller and Secretary both equally ista
KEN ' ~
Mr. Clay thought, that regarded the reference of
the report proper committee ii the Treasury Deoar,
men do what they said they would do was Of no
consequence what committee But il related
10 much greater degree to the manufacturing interests
OF the country than 10 the He thought there
fore, that the Committee Manufactures was the most
proper committee As respected the adjustment OF The
the
gentleman (Mr. F. might settle that he thought pro-
But had the present Secretary been devoted 10 the
removal OF the deposites and the regulation of the p
cent deposiorie OF the public money! that he could not
attend to it! There had been least cupable an oms.
sion In his not experimenting the carrying the nsuc
tons Of his as there az in The Comn,ro
Mr. Forsyth replied, that he had doubt but the Sc.
cretsry had been properly employed in his ocisi duties
what the nature OF them might be- he. Mr.. F., would
not pretend TO say. But the gentleman from entucky
himself, had furnished him with good deal TO do The
Secretary certainly had not attended the details of this
matter They were properly left to the subordnaes in
e ONCE would be impossible for him attend 10 the
details In his oificehat would require ten men But
he, Mr. r., was anxious the error, whatever it were,
should be fixed on the proper person. because would do
him no harm As regarded the reference of IL TO the
Committee on Finance il obviously the most proper
one, as immediately affecting the revenue; for the mini
mum duties by this construction got rid of entirely
ana great difficulty was likely TO be given carrying il
INTO effect aud would require general rule TO be
made by that committee on the subject.
Mr. Clay said there could not be the slightest Difficulty
IN carrying the act into effect The 1892 subjects
cotton abrcs to duty OF 25 per cent ad uaioJe M and
iuher duty, in the form Of minmums of 30 cents and IS
GEMS The compromise act of last session provides for
hpenhal reduction Of 10 per cent. upon all duties impos
60 oy previous acts He held in his hand calculation in
nB"es "mch was as clear as the at day, made
Sys COLLECTION ohcer himself going to show conciuyelv
that there was no legislation necessary If The ac
was carried out according it, plain import As 10 tIe
details, which IL said Secretary conld not aI,snJ
90, he (Mr. CO. would say, that when mmensev imaos
ant duties affecting the collection Of imposts on manu-
features, were committed TO him, lie would have booyI
he could ad time TO attend 10 them. But if he could not
ned time TO attend 10 his duties Secretary Of the Treas
Ty how lac able TO attend 10 those duties which wee
EXCLUSIVELY assigned TO the Treasurer Of the United States
MT Forsyth would attempt to defend the Secretary
from the gentleman; but lie determined TO find su
win MN Mr. +. thought the circular Of the CoDpolIer
was me mere practical application OF the rule
taOsbed ana he was mistaken ia it, II was not the Score
tsrys duty supernend in carrying out the provisons
the act The act declares, that II the duties shall exceed
20 per cent. on the value reduction of one.tentb sba
be made. Now, what is the value spoken on Unon
what s The calculation TO be made9 The minimum value
fs supposed by the Treasury be totally DESTROYED hui
the actual value Of the article is 10 be taken into view In
fixing the duty.
Mt Clay said, there not the slightest change made
~ the dd gGoTem duty. The act Of last session
that the collection shall continue the existence Of duties
imposed by law prior TO the act OF last session.
MIR. Preston observed, that Re far the South we're
eoncerned they we're disposed 10 carry into effect the law