The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-11

qasat part Of th rspori explanatory the views ans
eouse Of this Department IN regard 10 these Treasu
~ notes. In this place il is deemed proper oniy ts
empress The opinaa >has no lsgisantiea viii DO nesss
ssry 70 provide for this amount Of more than four mil
lioos abd half other than the continuance BY Con.
gross Of the provisions Of The est of March g. I843
The loan made undes ths act Of 2lst July, l64I is Ia
terms rsdssmsbIs II the option OF The Government af
tor the lst Of January l645 yet u not doubted the,
the understanding Of the lenders at The time wss q il
always is in respect TO loans similar terms tst il
would be redeemed At ths specified time. Iu the opin-
ion of tho undersigned, the practice Of rendering
loans ndehnite or uncertain 10 the times Of pay
ment, ought not TO be INDUCED when it can possibly
be avoided. postpoaeme0t supposed to be tempo
rsry from year TO year embsrasses tho operations Of
tho Treasury BY the uncertainty Of the demands which
may be made upon il. In the present abundance Of
money Il " believed that new loan might be obtain
ed, on ten or fifteen years stock, terms more ia
vorsblc 70 lho Government than those on which that
| about TO become due was procured. This course 10
recommended also by the that the pro-
bsbIc deficiency In the revenues Of the next fiscal
70 meet the ordinary expenditures will be sufficient 10
call forth all our resources without encounterng this
additional amount.
The remaining eight millions five hundred thou
sand dollars, The estimated expenditures the re-
ceipts Of the present and next fiscal year, be
avoided in whole or in part by reduction of tho pub
lic expenditures, or provision must BIZ made to meet
them by an increase in the revenue Both these to-
pics, therefore, demand consideration.
First, reduction In the expenses of the Govern
ment.
The subjects for re.rcnchment fall peculiarly with
10 the province Of the legislative branch Of the Gov
ernment particularly those Of general character.
There some, however, which are necessarily bot
ter known to the Departments having charge Of
them. II is believed that the expenses of colloc ing
the revenue from customs may DO materially dmin-
shed by the abolition Of collection Districts and
of some Offices In other districts which have ceased
IN he Nv ri ala S,f fha
compensation Of those officers who may DO retained.
The subject has heretofore been brought to The aen-
ton Of Congress, and Il is again respectfully submit
ted to its consideration. Any additional information
that has been obtained and the views of the Depart
ment in detail, will cheerfully be communicated to
the appropriate committees.
large and unnecessary expense Is frequently in
CURED in the proceedings TO obtain Judicial condsm-
nation OF goods Of small value which have been seized
q having been illegally imported. In collection
district, and in single quarter, out of forty three
cases Of seizure balances Of costs were paid by the
United States in thirty nino Of them averaging ty
four dollars in each suit This is probably an
case, but the evil ID known 10 be very general IL no
claimant ventures to appear, the conclusion seems
irresistible that no defence exists. 1t is submitted,
therefore, whether more prompt aud economical
mode Of proceeding may not be adopted consistent
with the rights Of all Congress has made liberal pro-
vision for the remission Of foreitures where they have
been incurred without fraudulent intent, by short
costs Of trial It would but iust that similar
principle should apply in favor Of the Government.
In cases where the appraised value Of he goods seized
shall be less than hundred dollars, an ample pub
lie notice might be given requiring claimants to ap-
pear and give security for costs 10 Of failure and
in default Of ella m, the goods might be sold at pub
lie auction and the proce eds de osed ia the Trea u
ny for Convenient period prior to final distribution
to be refunded Ia the proper cases.
The act regulating the amount of compensation to
be retained out Ut their fees by Clerks of District and
Circuit Courts, when the same person dictates in
both capacities has received construction BY one of
the Circuit Courts which defeats the purpose that
Congress scoms to have had in view, and requires
nendment, il II b. intended that the surplus OF fees
beyond the given amount shall belong to the Trsa
sury.
Considerable expense might be saved by modi-
cation of the act Of June H. 1910, which would al
10" the consol ja'ion Of two surveying dis
irics, whenever the remaining surveys therein could
In the opinion Of the Department, be competed un-
der the Surveyor General Of one Of them and BY
authorizing the discontnuance Of land Offices when
ever their expenses exceed twenty per of the
nual amou, Of sales, and annexng the ands unsold
b some other Office.
The acts making permanent and indefinite appIo-
prialions might with great proprcty be revised with
view Of ascertainng whether justice to the coun-
try, as well rs economy does not require the repeal
oil some Of them, or Of least Limitation Of the time
for which they shall remain, or Of that in which ap-
pications shall be made and the proofs completed
The expenses charged upon the Judiciary fund call
for examination ana regulation, and will be the sub
ject of special report
To be continued