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

Of this bin II had just been printed and reported
the 9th Of this month There had not been sufficient time
afforded for It's examination From The slight reflection ne
had given to it since up he satisfied that lis pro-
visions right and proper far as applied TO the 50
aes OF officers who employed in collecting revenue
He thought the money should be paid into the Treasury IN the
i,st Instance aud that the salaries of the collectors like those
OF other officers, should be drawn from the Treasury by appro
priations made by law
But there serious difficulty about the second section
He agreed with his colleague (Mr MuRPnr IN tho opinion
that would subject importers to very serious nconve
nience ard difficulty Whenever they made application for
drawbacks they would be obliged to come here 10 the Iea
safy Department and in these cases. which were numerous
and fequent delays would be likely to aIse and they be
subc serious expense and Inconvenience The duty Of
the collector those nothing more nor less than
10 pay back the Of duties which he had received de-
ducins and half per He had received commu
ncaton om intelligent merchant 10 New York, who're
presented that this provision of the bill would subject the i'm
porting merchants very serious inconvenience and he
thought they ought at all events to give this very important
class OF our community an opportunity to be heard
He hoped his friend from North Carolina Mr. MCKAY
would either consent to strike this section postpone
for week, if the gentleman peased,o give the House fur
thsr opportunity examine the bearing Of this part of spro
vii0ns He should be very unwilling To make important
change, affecting commercial transactions in all our large CT
ties this second section would without more scrutiny and
examination than gentlemen all sides had been able to
give TO it.
He very sirry throw any mpedimen in the way Of
the adoption OF the other provisions OF the BILL He thought
they ought to be enacted into law, but he not prepared
and he thought it very evident the House not pre-
pared, to act upon this on the spur Of the moment
Mr.. POLLOCK said he concured entirely with the gen.
leman from North Carolina. He thought that this was
all nens and purposes, reform bill No serious objection
could be urged to its passage There good
why the money received from and the public Ian Is
should be paid into the Treasury and appropriations be
made by law for the salaries of collectors and receveas they
for the salaries of all other officers 1t truly
form BILL 1t would effect saving Of half million of dollars
annually to the Government and would the Govern
fart
laws received payment of demands upon the Government
without appropriations made therefor by law.
He could perceive the force OF the objections lint had
been urged against applying this principle the payment of
debenure He thought those objections had been answered
by the gentleman from North Carolina. AT present more
than onehaf Of the dehenures paid by the Treasurer
of the United States No delay inconvenience could arise
to the importing merchants from the simple transfer Of the
payment of debenure from the collectors OF customs to the
Treasurer Of the United States which all that this section
of the bill contemplated The BILL viewed in every possible
light threw around public moneys every security that
could be demanded II gave moneys received the
to that of Congress, whom by the constitution
mted particularly The supervision of the expenditure of all
moneys by the Government
As had been stated, three years allowed in which
drawbacks mi ht bedenandd fthese moneys allowed
10 remain in the hands Of the collectors of customs they
did, it afforded them the opportunity TO speculate upon
them. There might be millions in their hands
Il secured the public creditor also from the failure of the
collectors because this Government would not be bound to
indemnify the importers for losses sustained by them.
They also knew that the amount of expenditures in the
ous departments Ct this Government regulated by
the appropriations than by the wants Of the Government
that say, that however large The which ap
propated and placed the disposal of dsbursng officers
they all sure to he expended.
Mr.. HUNT interp5scd ard (Mr. p yielding) remarked
that according TO the gnicmans construction Of this section,
importers who paid money the Treasury upon expectation
Of their goods would he required the Treasurer of
the United States 70 receive their drawbacks.
Mr.. POLLOCK replied that all they would have 10 do
would be TO come t. the that was what they
did in nine out Of enand receive their drawbacks
out Of the Treasury ii the United States
Mr. EVANS, Of Maryland said, if he understood the ex
PLANTATION of the gentleman from North Carolina would
be necessary require particular appropriations for these pay
meni, but that this bill made general indefinite appropria
ton for the purpose
Mr. MCKAY in reply remarked if we made an appropria
ton for the salary Of the clerks in the house New
ur nobody supposed that they would be required TO come
Washington get their pay, but that they would receive
through the collector New York So if Congress made
indefinite appropriations for debenures the merchants would
4 receive the payments Of them al New York.
| Mr.. EVANS. So understand and that is right.
| Mr.. HUNT inquired if il in orIer to move to
strike the second section If SO, he would make that
notion
The CHAIRMAN replied that il not, as that section
had been passed. and the fourth under
to which an amendment pending.
Mr.. MCKAY said, under the establishment Of the ware
housing system there was perhaps necessity all the
law which allows debentures. Under the warehousng
any merchant could bring his goods in, and not re-
qured pay duties until he took them He understood
from the Secretary, howevehat the Secretary of the
Treasury bad this subject under consideration and that he
might mako recommendation Congess-to repeal the
law allowing drawbacks perhaps.
He thought the section stood perfectly harm
less and he hoped the committee would strike out
Mr. TOOMBS said that in very many there might be
the necessity for the law allowing drawbacks as existed
before the adoption Of the waehoung system For instance
many Of these mpoatons might be brought in in one shape
and be exported in another would then be necessary to
4 remove them from the warehouse.
Mr. MCKAY Gin his sea understood assent 10 this
suggestion.
Mr. TOOMBS (continuing) contsnded, however that the
second section emneny proper order give efficiency
TO the bill II gave other difficulties than at present
existed now nine tenths Of the drawbacks were paid al the
Treasury II they struck out the second section would be
compelled large and indefinite Of money in the
hands Of collectors and little, therefore, would be accom-
pished towards those reforms which the bill contemplated
The great object require appropriations to be made by law
before the moneys paid out would be entirely defeated
50 far the payment Of drawbacks concerned This bill
had been weconsdered and efficient for the purposes
which sought TO accomplish Those purposes carry
out important constitutional provisions He trusted the com
mttee would agree the motion Of the gentleman from
New York 70 strike out
II The CHAIRMAN reminded him that the motion was not
pending, not having been received.
i Mr.. GRlNNELL said the only possible objection to the
provisions Of this bill which struck him was that under the
importing merchant who entitled to receive his draw
backs would he required Washington before the
Secretary the he coud