Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-18

Treasury would be paid any day any hour in the city
Of New York any amount OF drawbacks
Mr., MURPHY remaTking that the gentleman from Mary
land (r McLAsE) represented that this money was not
be drawn out Treasury warrants asked what then would
be the benefit Of this provision If the money went into tho
Treasury il must come out legally by warrant.
The gentleman from North Carolina said this money would
be paid out the soldiers paid in Mexico Here them
large which would be drawn by the collector or
other paymaser in New York. and kept in his hands for
purpose of paying these drawbacks from time 10 time they
demanded Now he asked, what check there in
such provision lie had supposed that the object was
take Of the hands of collectors But il it were
be drawn out by warrant he told gentlemen from experience,
that often and often had it been in the navy depart
New York that the public creditors had been kept
back from receiving their money for months when the Gov
ernnen straitened for He not opposed
this bill He merely asked time to consider its provisions.
Mr., GRlNNELII suggested to the House an amendment
to the ID section, which he thought would obvale the whole
difficulty, and he hoped unite all in favor Of it, He hoped
the gentleman from North Carolina would approve of it,
He read the amendment and explained that it simply recg
missed the dea that these payments Of drawbacks be
made at the ports whence the goods were exported.
Mr.. SAWYER said he understood that the I'd section
under consideration, and therefore the amendment
not in order.
Mr. GRINNELL replied that he supposed it would he in
order by the general of the committee This bill had
up rather unexpectedly not having been printed Of
fered for their inspection until to-day He thought the OBJ
ec Of the bill good one and was in favor Of it but he
thought amendments to the I'd section necessary
in order that the merchants should receive their drawbacks at
the ports whence they export their goods,
Mr. SAWYER insisted upon his point Of order; which
was sustained by the Chair
Mr.. MCKAY said he did not think there necessity
for the amendment Of the gentleman from Massachusetts It
simply required the Secretary of the Treasury to be
deposited with the collectors of the various ports sums OF mo-
ney sufficient the demands upon them for drawbacks
Now, that was what the section itself authorized II made
appropriation, and when appropriation made by
law, of the duty of the officers who have the dis
bursement Of il to make that disbursement with much con-
venience to the public creditor possible The amendment
gave no additional authority at all The section provided
that the moneys thus appropriated should be expended under
the direction of the head of the Department.
Now, with reference the remarks of the gentleman from
New York that the money would accumulate in the hands of
the Executive officers did no. the gentleman know that at
this session they had appropriated and would appropriate
0O0 and that the Executive might draw every dol
lar OF from the Treasury and place IN the hands OF. the
discussing officers But, although he had the legal right
would be highly improper in him oit When these APP
preparations had been made they drawn for from time TO
time, according to the exigences of the public service No
doubt If this ID section stood originally reported the
Secretary would direct the expenditure Of the money to
work the least possible Inconvenience to the mercantile com
muny If there the slightest foundation for the APP
pehensons which entertained, he would agree to the
amendment Of the gentleman, but it would do good,
the section itself provided for the object.
The CHAIRMAN again announced the question 10 be on
the amendment Of Mr.. MCKAY 10 the 4th section.
Mr. GRINNELL moved that the committee rise, and re-.
marked that he would be willing to take up this bill again
KAr) desired but the House wanted time to examine il,
and were unprepared to act upon it
The motion TO rise rejected.
The question recurring the amendment of Mr. Mckay
decided in the affirmative. !
50 The amendment agreed to.
Mr.. HUNT moved add the end Of the 4th section the
following:
Provided also That all drawbacks debentures and boun-
ties authorized law may be paid the collector customs
the port of exporaon without previous application to the
Treasury Department and in the prae sed here
toiore. Disagreed to.
Mr.. HALL having offered the amendment modified copy
Of which will be found in another column addressed the
mee. lie remarked that the bill under consideration
of which he heartily approved II proposed take
effect at the of the next fiscal year. He de-
Sired therefore, that as proposed by his amendment that
time should have statement Of the precise Of
funds in the Treasury, designating absolutely the amount be-
longing TO the United States and the amount held Ivy the
United States for the Indian tribes, for other
purpose whatsoever.
The first section which he offered proposed moreover that
the Secretary Of the Treasury should the Of
standing warrants, and why they had not been paid This
statement would show the amount OF money in the Treauy
subject or if there such money, would
show the which the United States indebted
account Of trust funds and the amount remaining the
Treasury.
He proposed also require Of the collectors and all other
officers having public funds in their hands the amount of
funds held by them. As far he had been able TO learn,
there had been made report TO Congress within long pc
Rod which enabled them TO determine the amount Of trust
Of those funds He desired see, the Of
the next session Of Congress- report made by every officer of
the Government who holds trust funds and that they should
give account Of their stewardship.
Mr. Mckay suggested this not the place to insert
calls for nomaton this being bill which would go the
statutebook that the gentleman from New York would
compish his object the resolution day by offering
resolution calling for the information which he desired
But the first section proposed wholly unnecessary.
Il required the Secretary Of the Treasury report to Congress
at the Of the session the amount in the
Treasury the LIST Of July, ls4s. Now, the Secretary
always had done that he required to do by the law Of
1889 Look at the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
the present session. and the gentleman would find that the
Secretary stated the amount which in the Treasury the
LIST Of July last and the session he would give the
same inormaon coming up to the LIST Of July next he
would state the balance then remaining in the Treasury
Then in regard the next poinvn the call upon the Sc
cretay Of the Treasury state the amount of trust funds
the Treasuy-f the gentleman would take the trouble TO
look into the tables attached TO the report Of the Commissioner
Of Indian Affairs he would there find oil the information he
asked this point All the money the United States held in
trust for the different Indian tribes distinctly stated this
information given at the commencement Of every session.
Then in regard the call for the amount Of outstanding
upon the Treasury did not the gentleman know that
every three monhs-upon the LIST Of April two three
days ate and at the beginning Of every three months there
aferhs very statement published the Intelligence and
Union
Therefore the sections wholly unnecessary In
the inquiries necessary, they would more properly form
the subject Of resolution But all the information asked for
was found in the printed documents.
Mr.. HALL replied that he understood there such
in relation outstanding drafts the gentleman men