The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-10

then.
name OF the officer My correspondent is gentleman OF
intelligence and responsibility, the gentleman would
vouch, il | could give him the But cannot do
it, do not wish TO bring about his ears the whole Bos
ton custom house.
viii state other fact AT the very time the New
York papers were attacking for not granting at
and without inquiry all the Secretary OF the Treasury
asks OF US and complaining OF deficiency Of force in
the New York custom-h house. saw about this Capitol
in the lobbss and reporters desks Of the two houses,
and probably writing those very attacks, OF the en-
poyees OF that custom house How is II. il there be
deficiency Of foce the custom hou,e officers can find
Il g.
say what they please. but my table groaning under the
letters received from gentlemen in the large Cities Of the
highest responsibility expressing their disgust at these
things.
The gentleman from New York lMr BRooKsl insists
that the change which has taken place the description
houses necessary than formerly He says that since the
introduction OF seagong steamers, merchants make more
frequent importatons and in smaller packages Doubt
less there is something in ths but is more than coun
tefbalanced by changes in other respects Every one
knows that the size OF sail vessels, engaged in foreign
commerce. has been greatly enlarged OF late Instead Of
ships OF three four hundred tons, have them OF
twelve and fifteen hundreds and other going vessels
have been enlarged in like proportion. The number OF
when is made in large vessels. is much less than when
in small; and far this argument is concerned,
think i is against the gentleman,
Gentlemen tell great deal about the necessity OF
do not put much faith in this Our tariff affords but
small nducement to smuggling, in comparison with the
this light In the State OF Rhode Island not much
larger in territory than some OF the counties OF
Virgnia- indeed, as large-here are So persons con
nected with her custom houses. That State is sit.
uated between Massachusetts and New York, and
not very far from the grea. emporium, Virginia
chssaps ira q America
forated BY the majestic rivers Potomac, Rappahannock
York. and the James. running into her very heart Yet
have connected with the custom houses but fifty lone
officers and they are enough There is no smuggling
there. notwithstanding the great facilities which present
themselves, growing out OF our immense water line and
son further There connected with the custom houses
Of Massachusetts, two hundred and ffy,fye officers
virginia and Maryland with their great disproportonae
territory, but one hundred and ffty-ihree
| Mr.. CHANDLER inquired if the amount collected in
MT. BAYLY Certainly it is. But am speaking now
OF the necessity which we are told exists OF large force
WN sTTHafs5Pps wha. is the expense Of collecting
Mr. BAYLY. 1t is not quite S per cent 1t lacks a
MIR. WINTHROP. 1t is less than the same expense in
Mr. BAYLY. The gentleman says that il is less than
/ in England will inform him-to make the comparison
more equal-that it is about double the same expense in
MI STEVENS. wat is !, in Norfolk
Mr. BAYLY In Norfolk it is, as the Secretary of the
receipts But Of that Si7564 is the expense Of the reve
cutter which guards the whole Chesapeake Of Vir
ceipts are $2352s, and the expenditures what have
stated. But will also inform the gentleman that at
the three port. Of Nantucket Barnsable and Edgar.
and the receipts SLIPS There is not attached to either
of those places cutter TO swell the expense. II you
take the whole State of Massachusetts the expenses OF
collection very large but cannot state the precise
per centage, have not made the calculation. But il is
much beyond any necessity.
Mr. Walker said, mis- annual report OF December, ls47
that he had made all the reductions OF expenditure
sstent with the good Of the public service But gentle
take all he said on that subject together each Of his
ing date respectively on The 10th Of March and the 2sh
explicitly that, to enable him to make all the reductions
which were desirable. the passage Of law was indis
out the inerposon Of Congress- but in his letter Of the
sth OF February lS47, he said:
at will be perceived, by reference to the communca
tions of the % Of March and 25h Of May last that this de-
parment then entertained and expressed the opinion s
under the new tariff the expenses Of the
&c Sa .nde,ea
made by law; 3D. that Of Conveas ,cas then dssed
hsi the popey Of embracing such an IN Il:
tariff OF ls6 suggested to the committee and section
sa1 reduction could not take place i, the full s sneo un
less accompanied by the enactment OF the rif OF 1886
bssssa BY hi. that these ssa,
forms may be carried into full effect and, wk the
opsrafion Of Congrs the of half milo. Of dollars
may BE- saved TO the sassy ihosf any dsttmnf TO
hs pr6iic service"
Gentlemen in constituting the report, ought do in
connexion with this letter OF the year; and when
he says that he had made all the reductions he could
Make he must be understood to mean without the CO.
operation Of Congress, which he deemed necessary
carry these great reforms fully into effect
/ Sir, without Mr.. Walkers assurance TO that effect,
doubted that was impossible Tor him TO make the
necessary reforms without the cooperation OF Congress
He might write circulars till doomsday and he would not
effect much All OF the collectors knew quite well as
Mr. Walker did that, till the enactment OF the act Of the
I'd OF March, ls49, there no limitation oil law upon
these expenditures. He would issue circuur, for in
stance saying to the collectors The expenditures in
your houses are too great-they must be reduced.
The collector would not find 1t very pleasant to set
able business Men like patronage, and dislike rails
ing hornets nest about their heads and most COL
lectors would find il easier to give plausible excuses
for not making reductions than to do IT, But suppose the
Secretary should have in his power TO say, the law
allows me but much, II you expend in your depart
ment more than particular sum, your disbursements
will not be allowed the Treasury: my life for IT, the
reductions would be made. And IL there hope OF
frightening Congress into by making the reduc
ton In the most oppressive way have no doubt they
could be made IN manner not at all detrimental TO the
public service But there extraordinary charges
upon MIR. Walker in ls4s which do not now exist.
There was the debenture system abolished BY the act of
Sd March, ls49the heavy importations OF that year
and the war The revenue cutters were employed in that
war; and, although they were armed equipped and en-
poyed as vessels OF war; they were supported from the
cost OF collecting the revenue.
Mr.. EVANS, of Maryland Will the gentleman from