Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-14
. Tw ENTy.sEvENTH ooNeREss
IN SENATE,

stsps have been taken to obtain meteorological OBJ.
sstva,ions at military posts.
3. From the Same Department, enclosing copies
OF the Army Register for the year lS41.
3. From the Navy Department, in compliance
with a resolution Of the 18th ultino. directing the
Secretary Of the Navy TO communicate TO tho Sc
nate the number Of vessels OF war belonging TO the
navy during the years 1883, 40, and al DISTINGUISH.
ing those in commission from others in ordinary;
the respective classes, and tho number OF guns
also, the expenses Of the navy for the same period,
Distinguishing between active service and ordinary,
and the number Of officers and seamen; and likewise
directing the Secretary OF the Navy to furnish TO
the Senate similar information for the years 1872
and 1924.
MIR CHoATE and Mr. TALLMADGE pre-
sented remonstrances against postponement or a
repeal OF the Bankrupt Law.
Mr. WRIGHT presented q memorial from de-
legation Of the Stockbrdse tribe Of Indians, resd
ing in Wisconsin, asking for settlement Of their
accounts with the u. States.
On the motion OF Mr. PORTER, il was resolv-
cd that the Secretary Of War communicate 10 the
Senate any documents which may be in his posses.
sion relative TO- the survey OF the Northern and
Northwestern lakes.
On the motion of Mr. SEWER, it was resolved
that the Secretary Of War furnish the Senate CO.
pies Of the proceedings Of the Court Of Inquiry.
held some months since, on the case of DR.. Mar
we'll, Of the u. 8. Army.
Mr. MOUTON asked the Senate to proceed to
the consideration Of several bill Of importance the
State Of Louisiana: and stated that he would not
make the request TINS were not the last day that
he would remain in the Senate, and as he intended
to leave the city in the course of the afternoon.
Mr. WALKER desired that his resolution relative
TO claims Mexico be considered. II il should not
be disposed Of in i've minutes, he would agree that
IT should be laid aside to enable the bills suggested
by the Senator TO be taken up.
The Senate, however, proceeded to the consdern.
ton OF the following resolution, heretofore submitted
by MIR Benton, viz:
Resoired That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
directed 10 report to the Senate:
I. A statement showing the annual amount Of
drawback paid on the expectation of refined sugar
from the commencement to the end Of the year IS42
2. monthly statement of such payments for
the year lS4f;
3. The estimated amount OF such payment for
the year 1872;
A. The amount OF duty annually paid on import
ed brown sugar, rs nearly as il can be computed;
5. The annual amount Of fishing bountes and
allowances paid since the commencement OF the
same, with the annual amount of the salt tax per
bushel, and the annual gross product of the salt
tax, and the nett prod uct OF the same after deduct
ing the fishing bounties and allowances;
6. The estimated amount Of fishing bounty and
allowance TO accrue from the year 1912 and the
gross and nett amount OF salt tax for the same
year.
MIR EVANS proposed an amendment, as fol-
lows:
"Also, statement Of the number OF vessels in
the aggregate and the aggregate of the tonnage OF
the same, and the number Of persons employed in
The resolution, as amended, was adopted
THE N. YORK CusToM-HousE INVESTIGATION.
The resolution Of Mr. Pievce, was taken UP for
consideration, as follows:
Resolved, That the Secretary OF the Treasury be
directed TO communicate to the Senate copy OF any
commission other authority issued for the purpose
of investigating the affairs OF the n. York CUSTOM
house, and the law under which the same issued
Also, copies Of all letters or other documents &c
companying the said commissions; that he furnish
the names Of the commissioners the times when
they respectively entered upon their duties, and
where SAID duties were performed, and how long
they continued, are expected TO continue; and
also state NE fact whether the commissioners FIRST
appointed made report either verbally or in writ
ing and, If so, why II has not been made, and the
forth by said commissioners, or any and
which Of them, for the appointment Of a new COM
mission that he also report in detail the expenses
with copies Of the voGchers) that have, directly or
indirectly, arisen in the execution of said commits
sions, the names Of all parties employed, and how
employed, and the allowance made to each, includ
ing all items of incidental expenses, and from what
fund such expenses were paid. Also, the number
and names OF witnesses examined by the commits
sioners, whether the commission still continues and
which OF the commissioners are st acting thereun
der. and who are now employed by them. And |
also TO report copies of all letters communications
made to or from the Treasury Department, or on |
fe there, in regard TO or in any manner affecting
the course of proceeding by said commissioners, or
the acts alleged to have been done by them or any |
Vi the persons 10 their employ.
Mr. CLAY said that the extravaganza praetised |
10 the New York custom house, as we'll as in other
branches Of the public service, demanded On in.
ye-..setion. He had understood that, on q revenue
of less than eight millions of dollars collected at
New York, there had been an extravaganza in the |
collection amounting to nearly eight per cent,
Vhch was larger, by three or four times than tn.
expense incurred when the revenue collected al
Ihst port was sixteen millions. When Jonathan
Thompson was the collector, and when the revenue
was fifteen sixteen millions, the collection was
made with less than one third Of the number Of
persons now employed. This frightful increase of
persons engaged III collecting the revenue. and the
consequent increase OF expenses, occurred when
the Senator from New Hampshire (Mr Woodbury.
at the head Of the Treasury Department. He
supposed that that gentleman could have no ooec-
ton TO investigate this matter, and as report for
q revision OF the tariff was in preparation, he hoped
that, when II came before the Senate, the exlraya-
sance would he probed TO the bottom.
MIR PIERCE ssid that the Senator was no. more |
DESTROYS than he was 10 examine into frauds OF New
York or any where ese-hnd Tetrench wherever i, |
could be done with benefit 10 the publ: service |
His object in introducing the resolution 10 ob-
tain, II he could, the information which ii called |
for from the Treasury Department, but which the |
Senator had derived from some other source The |
public press had teemed with various accounts re-
ative TO this matter, aud much had been said which |
appeared discredtable TO tho Government He |
assured this morning, that one report had been /
made by the commissioners, and, II they could pro
cure It, they would be enabled 10 make some pro-
gress with the inquiry into the affairs OF the New |
York Custom House. The Senator from Kentuc |
ky should have his hep, humble as it was, in uny
measure Of reform which might be proposed; aud
as the resolution was likely to create some Discus
sion, he would move that il be laid, for the present.
upon the table.
MIR WOODBURY. assured the gentleman from
Kentucky, that he would 20 as far ns the Senator
himself in retrenchment. As 70 the increase OF Off
GERS ADD expenses, he would remark that, when tho
imports increased from one hundred TO one hundred
and eighty millions in single year, every gentle
man must see that II was necessary 10 increase the
force OF the m-house; and whether the inn
ports be free or dulable, there must be persons to
sUperntend their landing, and 10 take an inventory
Of them. II this resolution should pass and be
complied with, the report OF the comm ssioners
would show that he, instead Of increasing the e1-
penses, had urged q reduction as speedily as prac.
ticablc.
Mr. CLAY did not mean to enter into diseue-
SION OF the subject, but he must say that the sug
gesuon Of the Senator from New Hampshiro was
no apology for the augmentation Of persons at the
custom house, for the increase commenced before
there was large increase Of impoftatlons. and
which did not call for an increase OF public officers.
lie repeated that he did not mean 10 discuss this
subject, and he hoped that corrective would soon
be applied.
WOODBURY. remarked that tn. nerea,,
began before no went into the Treasury Depart
ment.
Mr. CLAY said that pcrhap, it occurred under
the administration Of the Senator's immediate pre-
deeessor.
The resolution was then laid upon the table.
Ill T. 81