The Madisonian., 1840-01-28

importation oil silks In presenting thts memorial mr.
b. said that he would take the liberty OF making e "
brief remarks. The morus mullcaulis speculation
had passed away but, unlike iheI speculatiuns, II
had produced const quences which were destined al
no distant day. 10 promote essentially the prosperity
Of The country. The culture and manufacture OF
silk were now naluralized amongst us, and must,
ere long, In considerable degree, serve to reduce
the amount OF those exravaganl impoItatons which
mi uiou> TO the bes Interests OF the country
Ia the year 1886 silks TO the value of nearly So,
600 600 had been imported, and in 1887 the amount
was more than Sl4,0O0OOO. In the general reduc-
lion Of imports IN 1888 their value had sunk 10
about $l0OO00O0; but the expansion OF 1889 had
doubtless considerably incre sed the amount, al
though he had no Information in his possession which
enabled him 10 state precisely 10 what degree. Ii
was an astonishing iac that during the three years
OF 1886, 1887, and 1888 We had Dpored consider
ably more than three times greater amount ia val
ue OF silks than we had exported -four.
Mr. b said he had not the least doubt that before
ne close oil the present session we should be COM
PEELED to raise additional revenue in manner 10
meet The necessary expenditures OF the Government.
And he asked, was there single article imported
Into The country upon which duty could De itnpos-
ed with more proprieiy than upon silkI SILK goous
were articles not Of necessity, but OF luxury; and
by far the larger proportion Of this tax would DC
paid BY the wealthy Whilst II would b. imposed Tor
The purpose OF revenue alone II danord inclden-
tol encouragement 10 The domestic production Oh ths
article; and here anti-tarih Senator With ms
knowledge who would object TO such a con >equential
benefit 10 so important domestic interest. A duty
upon the importation Of silks would not violate, but
was in accordance with the letter and spirit of The
compromise act Of March, 1888. This act express
ly provided that. in the contingency of deficiency
Of revenue, duties might be imposed, not exceeding
20 per cent upon such articles as either paid no
duty, or a less amount Of duty than 20 per cent II
was known to the Senate that under our existing
laws silks we're admitted free Of duty In his opin-
ion, IL would be much wiser TO raise revenue on
the mpor alton OF silks than 10 create debt against
the country, either by the of Treasury notes,
or BY borrowing money.
MIR, Is. said that we had no treaty with any foreign
aa,ion which would prevent Congress from imposing
my duty they may think proper the Importation OF
silks He had heard stated IN conversation that our
treaty with France might stand IN the way but he had
examined that treaty, and found It had application
whatever to the subject.
He knew that under the Constitution Of the United
States all bills for raising originate in the
House Of Representatives but the Senate might pro-
pose such amendments to those bills they thought
proper
Nolwi,hst anding this prohibition, he hoped that the
Coininitlee on Finance Of the Senate might have
opportunity Of consiitutonaIy expressing their opn
this subject before the close Of the session. and
TO their hands he committed il with the most perfect
confidence.
The memorial was then referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Mr.. KING presented a memorial from the Iegisla
ture of Wisconsin Territory, in relation to ports and
harbors
Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from citizens Of
Illinois, praying that their preemptlon rights may not
be set aside by claims OF certain Polish exics
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. WALKER. from the Committee the Public
Lands, asked to be discharged from the further cons
deralion Of the petition of T. f. Patterson and from
that of Charles ID Connor.
Mr. HUBBARD, from the Committee on Claims re-
h,ll E,vth vaIt. If
Of David Stone.
Also, report and bill for the relief Of John J. Nc
lntosh,
Also. an adverse repor. the petition of George
Whitman
Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, from the Committee on
Public Lands, asked 10 be discharged from the cons-
dvratior Of the memorial of the Columbus and Ports
mouth Turnpike Company.
Also, from the memorial Of the General Assembl, Of
Alabama, asking new land district
Mr. LINN, from the Committee on Private Land
Claims, reported the bill enable claimants try the
validity Of their claims 10 lands in Missouri and Arkan
Mr.. NORVELI from the Committee on Public
Lands. reported bill to create an additional land office
in Michigan
Mr.. KING from the Committee on Commerce, made
report the memorial VI Edmund Tanning in rela-
ton to an exploring expedition. The ne,norlalist
stated the cost Of the expedition 900, and ask
ed Congress for $50, 900, intending to make up the
balance from private sources. The committee thought
th- prayer ur reasonable, and ough, be granted
Also, adverse report on the petition Of Isaac Col
ler.
Mr.. YOUNG, from the Committee of Claims, made
adverse report the petition Of Abel Pennington.
The hill for the relief Of Ssmue X. Slaymaker was
taken up IN committee Of the whole, and, after being
advocated by Mr.. BUCHANAN, was ordered to be en-
crossed for a third reading
The bill to confirm the title to certain tract of land
n q was also cor IN
tee Of the whole, and ordered to be engrossed.
BOARD OF CLAIMS.
The Senate proceeded to consider as the special or.
der the bill to establish Board of Commissioners t.
hear and examine claims against the United States.
Mr.. HUBBARD explained and advocated the bill,
stating that ii was the same in form which passed
by majority Of about two thirds Of the Senate the
last session Of Congress.
The arguments sdduced by Mr. H. and others in "a
Of the BILL arguments substantially the same as at
the last session. few, obvious, and simple, though
welghty, were, that private claims were very
before Congress, and continually increasing
that the whole evidence is pare brought in by the
claimants; that committees Of Congress have the
time even if they had the means duly TO examine these
claims that their labor upon them is notwithstanding
excessive that those committees continually chang
ing that thus losing all the advantage Of their know
ledge and experience; tha, Congress are compelled in
too much haste to pass judgment these imperfect
rofs that those Judgments are consequently often
erroneous aud unjust, now to the clsmsnts and
the Unted States that, from these and other causes.
claims, after rejection, again aud again revived and
past decisions ufIen reversed that many claims are
long and unjusy left uuexamined and that the pro-
posed board Of commissioners would or less OBJ
vate the whole of these difficulties.
The bl was advocated bv Messrs. HUBBARD,
SMITH. Of Connecticut, MERRlCK, GRUNDl
PRENTlSS, and DAVIS.
1t was opposed by Mr.. CALHOUN, on the ground
that the decisions Of the commissioners would not be
final, and that claims would be revived and decisions
reversed again and again before BY Mr.. SEWER,
chiefly the ground that il unnece cessary as Com