Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-19

that it would be redeemed AZ the spec'nso ''ihe ~
the opinion of the undersigned, the pfao.'ee u ~
dernr loans indefinite uncertain rs 10 the tunes u
navmeut. QUE 4 not be Irdulged, when u can poss
Div be avo:d.d A pustponement, suppose - oe
temporary from year tn year, emhsffasses 'e 'peia
lions OF the Treasury by the uncertainty OF 'l- oe
,o,nd, which nay be made upon II. In tha fteseh'
abundance of money, it is believed that new ioa"
mioht be obtained. tn or fifteen years st ch on
Terms more favorable TO the Government, iah 'hoae III
which that about II become due was procured "S
course is recommended also by the consideration, a.
the probable deficiency, the revenues OF Tue neA'
fiscal year. the ordinary expenditures, WIN DC
sufficient call toiti resources without ehcouh
tering this ada,tionai amount.
The remaining eight millions FIVE hundred thousand
dollars the mated Expenditures the receipts OF
The oresen, and next fiscal year, must De avoided IN
whole or in part by reduction Of the public exPend-
lures or provision must be made 10 meet them oy an
increase in the revenue. Both these TOPICS therefore,
demand consideration
F,rst-a reduction in the expenses oil the GOVERN
ment. ;, -.
The subjects for retenchment fall peculiarly within
the province of the legislative branch OF the Govern
lent particularly those Of general character. 1here
are some, however which are necessarily oeler known
10 the Department having charge OF tnem IL IS De-
lie we'd tina. the expenses of collecting the revenue from
customs nav be materially diminished by the abolition
of some collection DISTRICTS and 10 some ocss III otueI
Districts which have ceased 10 be useful ana oy more
exact regulation OF the compensation OF tEose ocefs
hi 10 the attention of Congress, and It is again
respsctray submitted to its consideration Any add
,iona information that has been obtained and The views
OF the Department in detail Will chseruiy DC cohmu-
nica,ed to the appropriate committees:
A large aud unnecessary expense is frequently IN
curreo in the proceedings TO obtain judicial condemna
lion of goods uf small value which have been sezed
as having been Illegally imported In one COLLECTION
district and single quarter oct OF foriy-thie cases
of seizure balances OF costs paid by the United
them. hltyiour Q0i-
lars in each suit This probably an extreme case,
but the evil known 10 be very general no c'aui
ant ventures appear, the conclusion seems ffesist-
Bile that no defence exists It's submitted, therefore,
whether a more psomp; and economical! MODE OF pro
ceediuy may not be adopted consistent win the rshs
of all Congress has made liberal provision Tor The
remission Of orieures where they have been incurred
WITHOUT fraudulent intent, By short and simple pro
cess which saves 10 the applicant the costs OF trial
Ii would seem but Just that SIMILAR principle should
apply in favor OF The Government In cases where Tue
appraised value Of the goods seized shalt be less than
one hundred dollars, IN ample public notice might DC
given requiring claimants to appear and give secnrily
for costs in case Of failure and in default OF caim
the goods might be sold at public auction and the pro-
ceeds ted the Treasury for Convenient period
prior u final distribution ~ be refunded IN the proper
cases.
The act regulating the amount OF compensation to
be retained of their fees by Clerks of District and
Circuit Courts, when the same person othciaes IN both
capacities, has received construction by one oil the
Circuit Courts which defeats the purpose that Congress
seems have had Ia view, and requires amendment II
il be intended that the surplus OF fees beyond the gwen
amount shs belong to the Treasury.
Cons,derabl. expense might be saved by n modica-
ton of the act OF June ~ lSi0 which would allow the
consol taoa Of two more surveying districts, when
ever the remaining surveys therein could, IN The OPT
MON of the Department. be completed under the Sur
yeyor General Of Of them; and by authorizing the
discontnuance Of lind Offices whe never their expenses
exceed twenty per cent OF the annual amount OF sales
and anGexins the lands uLsold to socie other Office
The acts Ea king permanent and indefaite appropria
tons might with great pTopre,y, be revised, with
view CT asce.ianing whether justice 10 the country as
well as economy does not require the repeal OF some
of them, or least limitation of the time for which
they shall remain, Of That which applications shall
be made, and the p.oofJ CONF leted. The expenses
charged upon the Judiciary Fund call FOR examination
and regulation and will be the subject of special re-
port
Secondly 1t becomes the duty of the undersigned, to
examine the remaining question presented, whether
any, and what provisions can be made, to meet the
tsmpats deficiencies, or such portion Of them as may
exist after the reductions which Congress my d..
The alternatives which sugges! themselves s,e'
tsxation augmentation OF the proceeos u lie
imports and the imposition of duties upon articles now
free
1t presumed, that direct taxation Of real and per-
sonal property, would not be attempted until all other
resources have failed The undersigned has, therefore,
nothing TO suggest on this subject
II is not believed, that any modification Of the land
laws be made by which any renanen increase OF
revenue from The public domain con be secured Some
temporary accession might be obtained by reducing the
price Of land offered Cor sale, but it would be with the
hazard if not certainty Of destroying rich fount1in,
whose regular and steady stream 10 kept up by main
tanning moderate price adapted to the crcumsian.
of fellow i,izans, and yet nc. inviting specu
latye investments. Oar ultimate resource then, must
be the duties imports. And when it is considered
how large portion OF the expenditures Of the Govern
nent is caused by our light houses by our foreign IN
tercourse by navy and other means 10 protect and
extend our commerce with foreign nations; and with
how much more equality and equity tax upon the I'M
pora,,on of foreign merchandise operates upon all
classes Than any other mode of raising revenue; with
how much is collected, and how it entire
~ ODDS all collision with The State soveregntes
gpectinI the subjects of taxaton this mode of supply
ing The wants Of the Government will commend itself
10 favorable consideration.
Sufficient information has not yet been obtained
citing the practical ration OF The act of 2O'h Au
gust, 1912 establishing the existing rates of duties on
foreign lmpor,atons TO authorize accurate opinion
of the probable results of lis different provisions The
commercial statistical statement required by law, en-
bracing the returns from the 30h September, 1872 10
the 30ih of June, lS43 is in of preparation, by
all the force that can be applied 10 IT. and 1t IS hoped
will be laid before the two Houses Of Congress in The
course of the ensuing month. As II Will embrace the
first nine months during which the present Tariff has
been in operat,on it will probably conain the desired
information Blu, the undersigned feels bound TO say
that from The examination OF reports be has caused to
be made from the principal ports, and from general
view of our commerce, after the best consideration
which he could give TO the subject, he has not been
able to discover any Of the existing duties which can
be increased with any reasonable prospect OF augment
ing the The danger from tins source is, thai
articles upon which high duties are levied, will either
be olandestineg introduced, or not imported at all =
il is believed tina, to The great Wig lance which has
vailed during the ras, season, along the coast and on
extended inland frontier it 10 manly owing, that
The fraudulent mporiatons which had been antlcipa
Ted by some, have been prevented. The temptation
however, shoud not be carried far, that success, in
one enterprise, will remune1ac for The losses in several
failures.
On the other hand looking at the subject, exclusive
ly n lis bearings upon the revenue, the undersigned ia
no: prepared to specify any very important rates o.
duty that will bear reduction ualess the deficiency be
supplied by duties upon other articles. Those levied
glass, particular kinds Of iron, coal and sugar, arc
considered by many too high for revenue purposes
Should the statistical information, before referred -
exhibit such result respect 10 these any