The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-12
Cmemtp=Sebenth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
In SENATE,
THURSDAY, February 10,


In SENATE,
THURSDAY, February 10, 1912.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the loi-
lowing communications VIZ -,
l. From the War Department, in compliance WIN
a resolution of the Goth ultlmo, covering rePor'
from the Acting Surgeon General, as TO what steps
have been taken to obtain meteoroiogica oo'oi'
tions at military posts. =
9. From the same Department, enclosing copies "a
the Army Register for the year l84l. >,
g. From the Navy Department, in compliance with
resolution of the 18th ultimo directing the Secre-
tary of the Navy to communicate 10 the senate 'he
number of vessels of war belonging to the navy
during the years 1885, l84O and lS4l, distinguishing
those in commission from others in ordinary the re-
spective classes, and the number OF guns; aiso the
expenses of the navy for the same period, disun-
gushing between active service and ordinary and the
lumber of officers and seamen and likewise direct
ing the Secretary of the Navy to furnish to the Pc
nate similar information for the years 1877 and 1874
Mr. CHOATE and MIR. TALLMADGE presented
remonstrances against postponement OF rePeai u
the Bankrupt law. b
Mr.. WRIGHT presented memorial from de-
legation of the tockbridge tribe OF Indians residing
in Wisconsin, asking for settlement OF their ac-
counts with the United States.
| On the motion of Mr.. PORTER, it was resolved
that the Secretary of War communicate to the Sc
nate any documents which may be in his possession
relative to the survey of the Northern and Northwest
| ern lakes
| On the motion of Mr.. SEWER, it was resolved
that the Secretary of War furnish to the Senate CO.
pies of the proceedings Of the Court of Inquiry held
some months since, on the case OF Dr. Maxwell, OF
| the United States Army.
MIR. MOUTON asked the Senate to proceed to the
consideration of several bills of importance to the
State of Louisiana: and stated that ne would not
make the request if this not the last day that
he would remain in the Senate, and as ne intended
| to leave the city in the of the afternoon
| Mr.. WALKER desired that his resolution relative
to claims on Mexico be considered Ii 1T should not
be disposed of in five minutes he would agree that 1t
should be laid aside to enable the bills suggested by
| the Senator to be taken up.
The Senate, however, proceeded to the consldera,
ton of the following resolution. heretofore submitted
| by Mr.. BENTON, viz:
| Resoloed, That the Secretary of the Treasury be
directed report the Senpte |. statement show
ing the annual amount of drawback paid on the ex-
portaon of refined sugar from the commencement u
the end of the year 1912 g A monthly statement o
such pa ymenls for the year 1912; B. The estimated
amount of such payment for the year 1872; A. The
amount of duty nuaIly paid on Imported brown su
gar, as nearly as it can be computed D. The annua
Il amount of fishing bodntes and allowances paid since
the commencement of the same, with the annua
amount of the salt tax per bushel, and the annua
gross product of the salt tax, and the nett product
the same after deductng the fishing bountes and al
owances; 6. The estimated amount OF fishing boun
y and allowance from the year 1912 and The
ross and nett amount of salt tax for the same year.
i Mr.. EVANS proposed an amendment, as follows
| " Also a statement Of the number Of vessels IN thu
aggregate and the aggregate OF the tonnage OF th'
same, and the number of persons employed in tn
fisheries other than the whale fisheries"
The resolution, as amended, was adopted
THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.
The resolution of Mr.. PIERCE, taken up TO
consideration, as follows
Resolved That the Secretary of the Treasury b.
| 70 tn the Senate n of
commission or other authority issued for the purpos
of investigating the affairs of the New York custom
house, and the law under which the same issued
Also copies of all letters or other documents accom-
panying the said commissions; that he furnish the
names of the commissioners, the times when they re-
spectively entered upon their dutes and where said
duties were performed, and how long they continued
or are expected to continues and also state the fact
whether the commissioners FIRST appointed made re-
port either verbally in writing, and, if so, why il
has not been made and the set forth by said
commissioners, or any and which OF them, for the
| appointment Of new commission; that he also re-
port IN detail the expenses with copies Of the vouch
ers that have directly indirectly, arisen in the
ecution of said commissions, the of all parties
| employed and how employed, and the allowance
made to EACH including all items Of incidental eXpen-
ses, and from what fund such expenses were paid
| Also the number and names of witnesses examined
by the commissioners whether the commission still
continues, and which of the commissioners still
acting hereunder, and who are now employed by
them. And also to report copies OF all letters or
communications made to or from the Treasury De-
partmen on file there in regard to or In any man
ner affecting the course of proceeding by said COM
missioners or the acts alleged to have been done by
| them any Of the persons in their employ.
| Mr.. CLAY said that the extravaganza practsed in
| the New York custom house. well in other
branches of the public service, demanded investi
| CATION. lie had understood that, a revenue of
less than eight millions of dollars collected at New
York hprp had beer n n N
ton amounting to nearly eight per cent, which was
larger by three four times than the expense inef~
red when the revenue collected at that port was SIX
teen millions When Jonathan Thompson the
collector and when the fifteen or sixteen
millions the collection made with less than one
third of the number of persons now employed
This ghtful increase OF persons engaged in collecting
the revenue and the consequent increase or expenses
occurred when the Senator from New Hampshire
(Mr. Woodbury. was the head of the Treasury
Department. He supposed that that gentleman could
have objection to investigate this matter, and,
report for revision of the tariff was IN preparation, he
hoped that when it came before the Senate the ex-
travagance would he probed TO the bottom.
MIR. PIERCE said that the Senator was not more
DESTROYS than he to examine into frauds at New
York any where else-and retrench wherever
it could be done with benefit to the public service
His object in introducing the resolution to OBJ
TAIN if he could, the information which it called for
from the Treasury Department but which the Sena-
tor had derived from some other source. The pub
lie press had teemed with various accounts relative
to this matter, and much had been said which APP
peared discredtable to the Government. He was
assured this morning., that report had been made
by the commissioners, and, if they could procure it.
they would be enabled to make some progress with
the inquiry into the affairs of the New York Custom
House. The Senator from Kentucky should have
his help, humble it was, in any measure of reform
which might be proposed; and, the resolution was
likely to create discussion, he would move that
il be laid, for the present, upon the table.
Mr.. WOODBURY. assured the gentleman from
Kentucky, that he would go far the Senator
himself in retrenchment. As to the increase of
officers and expenses he would remark that