The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-13

iect between auerent modes that WHICH Is The leas
| Objectionable -
AT all events, the small amount of convertibl
treasury notes that may be- issued under existing
laws less Than one third Of the annual receipts,
less 'han one-fourth of the annual public expendi
lures cannot create any very dangerous paper cur
rency." And 1t is supposed that the objections 70
ierred to are not SO much to the issue of such al
| amount as a temporary expedient, but founded
rather upon an apprehension that these notes will bt
20 useIui 10 The Government and beneficial to the
people that Their issue may hereafter be carried t.
excess II IS lair question whether the danger Of
excess ~ TINS mode OF borrowing money is equal t
mat arising from loans upon deferred times Of pay
ment! While the wisdom aud frmness Of Congress,
ought not to be distrusted in either case, yet it il
worthy Of observation that the mode which requires
immediate liability to pay, furnishes guard in ise
against abuse by the instant and infalliblc check
which u furnishes upon issues beyond the means Of
converting into coin. y, n ea,s]. fanbk III
A brief synopsis of the foregoing statements and
suggestions IN relation to the deficiency Of means te
meet thc -Ordnary expenses of Government during
the current and the next fiscal year may be useful
BY extending the loan which becomes due LIST Janu.
ary 1885, its amount ($5672976 s8) may be provided
for. Al sHS a'# 4'9Af H.pl -saW
BY raising Of lightmoney by duty on articles
now free, particularly tea and coffee, and by the
other means suggested in this report. addition may
be made to The revenue of between four and five mil
lions Of dollars Estimating this at four millions FIVE
vldcd for four millions FIVE hundred thousand dollars.
and the outstanding Treasury notes amounting to lit.
tie more than four millions six hundred thousand dol
lars These two items, amounting in the whole to nine
millions one hundred thousand dollars might be sup
piled by continuation OF the act of March g. l843
providing for the reissue of Treasury notes, with
contingent authority TO fund into stock } which is
limited to the list OF july 1874, and by extending it
TO include the anticipated deficiency of four
millions five hundred thousand dollars, or such por-
ton Of it as may be found eXpedent to meet in this
manner. BY this an increase Of the permanent pub
lie debt may be avoided and any reduction of expen-
dtures or increase of revenue that may take place
will enable the Department to redeem portion OF
this floating debt For this reason if for no other, it
is advisable that this portion of debt should be
kept in such condition that it may be redeemed at
pleasure. Should the discretion to the rate Of in
terest the Treasury notes to be issued be abroga
ted, or should the authority to purchase them on pre-
sentatiOn be withheld which would be equivalent to
direction that interest shall be paid at all events
then it will be necessary to add to the estimated de-
hccncy for the service of the next fiscal year at least
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
There same sub. cts which Il seems duty
TO invite the attention OF Congress before closing this
report.
To prevent Illegal importaons our souhw,s,-
ern frontier, as well as TO afford the proper facilities
u Traders no may wish TO bring merchandise that
direction, il would be advisable that port of entry
should be established in tina quarrer The town Of
Independence, in Missouri, has been suggested as
good position.
BY the existing law an appeal to the Supreme
Count cannot be made from the decision of Circuit
Court Ia cases involving the amount of duly that may
be levied on imported merchandise, because the
amount IN controversy in the partlc ular never
exceeds the prescribed limit. The courtesy of the
Judges sometimes induces them to disagree in form,
IN order to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court.
But II FRI queny happens that only one Judge hu ds
q II sepm he ia III
ought not TO he indebted 10 the courtesy OF any officer
for The opportunity of correcting what may he an En-
r,neous co struc'ion of its revenue laws The prin-
cpe which prrscrlbes limitation OF the value of the
ubjec in controversy in civil suits TO en'ltle party
TO appeal is believed to be applicable TO ques-
tons OF Ieveoue, whtn he decision of particular
may and often does involve hun lrcds of ih u
sands of dollars and II is subnkAd that in all sncb
cases the United States should have the right of op-
peal Of course, but that the costs consequent upon
such proce ed should no. in any evcnl be charged
upon the opposite party.
A practice has prevailed of allowing the comrcnsa-
ton Of clerks employed ia the custou-houses 10 BE-
I'D out of the revenue IN where the fees were
not deemed adequate % obtain the necessary number
Believing this praclice unwarranted by law ADD be-
Ing conf med In that by the opinion OF the AT
toIney Cereal, it has been abolished. There are
probably cases, however where lcgslstivr provision
will be Necessary to procure the proper as,l,iance TO
he collectors and naval officers.
The provision for The relief Of sick and disabled
sean is and for years has been wholly inadequate
10 its purpose Setmen, beng from their purporc
usua y unable 10 hare IN the general provision fr
the destitute, and having contributed TO this fund
what the law demands, claim = benefits wi bout
knowing or RETIRING 10 It's amount, TO the legal
-raints upon those charged with It's ad DinIstraiOn.
All Efforts TO prevent the expenditure exceeding the
means provided have heretofore been unavailng and
there /, constantly balance against the fund, which
is supplied by apl rOprlat from the Treasury. To
increase the amount demanded from them would be
odlous if not onct,us By the act Of March 1913,
the la = s requiring contributions 10 this fund en-
tended to the Of registered vessels. II is sub
mi,ted whether this principle might not with great
prourie, be It'll further extended 10 the of all
ycssels in The form Of either monthly or yearly con-
tubulons GRADUATED by the tonnage of the &c sci.
This frovison with that already sug cstcd Of appro-
pnaiinr to tho sapc purpose The discriminating ton
nave dutv won furnish the relief which HUI anl'y,
az well as policy ciates shUuld lie extcndcd to a
rlrss of men probebalIy nprovdent, but yet dentl-
fed wi b The power and pr perry of the country.
The condition Of the marine preventive service
against smuggling has been materially improved,
while a wholesome economy has been preserved. IT
will be the subject of special report.
The light house establishment will also be the sub
iect of a future communication to Congress Re
norris from the Commissioner OF the Land Office, and
irom the Solicitor Of the Treasury, respecting suits
and prosecutions in behalf Of the Government will
also be submitted.
II affords great pleasure to state there has been no
delinquency or default on the part OF collectors OF
the customs, the receivers of public moneys, or any
other officer or agent charged with the receipt or
deposite Of the public funds. The sums which col
iectors aud receivers permitted TO retain IN their
hands have been lm ed TO the very lowest amount
the public service would allow, while they have been
required to deposite tho surplus Immediately 10 the
institutions designated for that purpose
A rigid adherence to these regulations Is maintain
ed by means Of a constant wacbfulness OF their &C
counts. A list Of tho repositories selected by the
Treasury accompanies this report. The terms or
which they are employed are the same as those set
tied in 1888, and promulgated IN the circular oil Tie
Secretary of the Treasury on the 9th day oil October
IN that wear. A few Of them merely receive the
public moneys in special deposite II IS but an ac
of Justice to say that they have faithfully fulfilled al
thar engagements have transferred the funds as re
oulred without expense to the Government and have
promptly met all drafts upon them
am unwilling to omit the opportunity OF inviting
the attention of Congress TO the multitude and Ire
ouency Of oaths prescribed in our system OF collect
800 oath ~