Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-10
Wednesday, .iiay 4, 1912.
kpppopi,TATiuN BILL.

al nm blI
Mr. Woodbury. TO the clause appropriating o'oooof
defravinu the contingent expenses OF foreign inter-
onrse oddinn proviso that no part OF tins aPproPr
alton be applied after the first OF July next 70 ,he pay
ment of special agents abroad, appointed "'hnul Tue
consent of the Senate without the authority OF Con
rress nor for compensation ~ ageh'' 'PP
ceive or transmit dispatches. !,
The amendment was debated at some length by
Messrs EVANS, WOODBURY., PRESTON, MoRE-
HEAD. WRIGHT, and others; when
MIR BlCHANAN expressed desire 10 nave lie
amendment divided, giving his reasons at length and
moved IN strike out the first part, relating 10 specia
agents abroad a;;;o, md tho
question then REQUIRED on the adoption oil the osnai
anne ndment. and il was decided IN the negative, as
follows , , c,L,
c,,bber,. Fulton McRobers, Sewer, Smith OF Conn.,
STURGEON, Tappan, Wilcox, Woodbury., Wright, Young
vn,s-Messrs Bates, Bayard, Berrien, Buchanan
chonie CLAYTON, Conrad, Evans, Graham, Henderson,
HUNTINGTON. Merrck, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter
Preston Ryes, Simmons, Smith of Indiana, Sprague,
Tomndre, Walker, White, Woodbrdge-2'
Mr.. WRIGHT submitted very long amendment re-
atinp TO restricting the tees oil dslrcl ceiNs
of courts marshals, &c.
u This amendment was very deliberately argued by
Messrs. WRIGHT, CONRAD, BERRlEN, BAY
ARD, HENDERSON. WOODBURY., HUNTING
TON, and others; when lhequeston was takeh On the
Adoption OF the ulhehu"e"' ""N NN " "
tive, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Bayard Ben
ion. Buchanan, Calhoun, Cnihbert, Fulton, king
Linn, McR,berts, Nerrick, Phelps, R'ves, Sey'er
Smith of Connecticut Tamad as rappan; "'0A
Naus-Messrs. Bates, Berren, Choaie, Conrad, Crit
,enden. Crafts, Evans Graham, Henderson, Hunting
ton, Mangum, Miller, Nlorehead, Porter Preston SIM
MONS Smith of Indiana, Sprasue and Woodofinge-l9.
Mr. BUCHANAN said, with view to set himself
than In
come in at the end of the 69Sh line, page " the b
And prorided further That part of thIs apPropr'
alton be applied, after the ls of July next Tor com
pensaton to diplomatic agents appointed without the
consent of the Senate or any act oil Congress auhor
ling it, for receiving and transmitting dispatches
IL would be seen it the same as that Offered by
the Senator from New Hampshire, and which he had
voted against because it connected with the hrst
branch of the original amendment
The question having been taken, the amendment
was agreed to.
Mr. SEWER moved that the Senate adjourn.
Mr. EVANS hoped the bill would be passed first
he exceedingly DESTROYS that It should go TO the
House in the morning, otherwise 1t could not be got
The Senate refused TO adjourn, the vote being
Ayes II, noes L.
The amendments were ordered to be engrossed, and
the bill read third time aud passed
And at six o'clock the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
NEW YORK CUSToM-HoUsE REPORTS.
The House proceeded to the consideration Of the
unfinished business of Saturday, being The motion OF
Mr.. WISE to print the message OF the President and
the accompanying reports and documents from The
commissioners appointed to investigate the affairs Of
the New York Custom.house.
| Mr. UNDERWOOD was entitled TO the floor, and
addressed The House at great length mainly IN an ar
nument adverse the constitutional power of the Pre-
sdent TO institute such an investigation, and THEN IN
some general remarks on the merits of the matter
Mr. u. yielded the floor several times for PURPOSES
of explanations amonst other members, to Mr. EN Elk
ETT who in reference 10 that portion of Mr. us ar
gument which related 10 the constitutional power Of the
President called for the reading of the commission I'M
der which the investigation was ordered.
The document not being found among The papers on
| the table
Mr. CUSHING said he could furnish copy.
And the commission read, as fonws:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May 10, ls4l.
"To the Hon. George Poindexter and Alfred Kelley,
Esquire:
at appears that, for series Of years, there have
been heavy losses and defacaons in the collection OF
the revenue the port Of New York 1t appears also,
that the number of officers engaged in the collection
of the customs at that port has been much augmented
and the expense incurred in the collection has greatly
increased; and it has been alleged and charged in man
and under circumstances which require notice, that
there have been frauds and connvance at Frauds and
partially and corruption, among some OF the persons
connected with the collection Of the CUSTOMS whereby
the revenue has suffered loss and the honest and fair
traders have suffered injury
1.-THE President considers it his duty, under and by
virtue of the provision of the Constitution which re-
oues him to see that the laws be faithfully executed
10 inquire into and ascertain the best means within his
power Of correcting the evils which have been found
10 exist in this branch Of The Executive administrators
and also to inquire into the existence of such abuses as
alleged to the end that if discovered TO exist, they
also may be corrected
"For this purpose he has appointed you commits
sion of examination and inquiry, and wishes you 10 d.
!. rect your attention 10 The following points
"lst. Whether any Of the public moneys derived
from the customs have gone into the hands OF any oil
the collectors other officers Of the customs-whch
does not appear in the accounts transferred to this de-
parment and If there have, why it does not appear
in the accounts-wheher it owing to defect IN The
mode OF keeping the books of the custom house, and oil
stating the accounts, to the negligence or mscon
duet of the accounting officers.
Z, "2d You will inquire and report whether the mum
Der of clerks in the office of the collector naval OH
Ger be greater less than the full and prompt perform
ance of the clerical duties in such office requires
"3d Whether frauds have been recently and haoi
tuay pracsed by importers of merchandise, 10 The m
jury of the revenue; and if so, whether 1t was owing
any defect in the existing laws or to The connvanct
negligence any of the officers of the customs; and
if so, by whom.
9th Whether there has been discrimination or par
aliiy between individuals in the apprasement pass
ing Of their goods-the extending of favor to one ant
doing injury and injustice TO others 1t there have, bJ
whom those abuses have been practsed; and what ha
been the ground of distinction between importers.
s5th Whether the number of inspectors employed il
greater less than the prompt and efficient execution
Of the public duties requires.
Goth Whether any loss accrues TO the revenue from
the present adjustment of duties and drawbacks.
80, does 1t arise from defect in the existing law,
frauds upon it.
"7th. And you will inquire and report upon all case
of bribery, abstraction of goods from the public stores
misappllcalon of public property fraud Partially, mis-
conduct irregulary in the said service, or among
the public officers or agents engaged therein, as ma.
appear you to exist and such other matters ma.
be indicated from time 10 time by this Department.
"You authorized 10 proceed jointly severaly
the execution Of this commission, and for the purpose
of the inquiry 10 books of The custom house
examine the officers thereof and other persons, whe
Their employed in the collection Of the customs or not
under OATH and you requested to proceed dilgent
y in the inquiry, and report to this department at h'
, earliest convenient day. For all which this shall b.