Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-19
,srs.ou Nvmsn ~s u able 70 DO it IN the Executive

,sc,.,ou Nv,usn M, bs able 70 do il m the Executive
Department Of the Government
The Secretary takes the estimates of last year for the col
lection Of the basis and upon that basis has
founded his estimates for its collection for the present fiscal
year. true there additional collection districts, and
which expensive but also true that there are now
existing abuses in the Government which have existed from
It's first foundation The estimates of the Secretary, have
no doubt may be much curaed especially regards the
system but at this Indictment season OF the
year would ask for its curament any serious extent
Were this the month of June instead of the month of Janu
,ary would not propose the amendment which now offer
but this oil the year the merchants and boards OF
underwriters have relied greatly upon the assistance afforded
the mercantile marine when in distress by the revenue cut
But willing to give them opportunity of trying
so that they shall take of themselves if they
There is also the dead-head" system, it is called,
where immense saving be had and if the warehous-
ing system going to cost 5000 OOO let US go to free ys
and encourage competition, by which means the ware
housing will cost nothing.
1t my decided opinion that these reforms all be made
cutting down largely the expenditures believe the amend
propose exceedingly liberal, and am highly graft
fed find that members of much experience on the other
side think that it is SO.
Mr. CALHOUN. One of the members of the Committee
Finance has furnished with statement OF the revenue;
of the income from imports for the year is49, with the ex
penses of its collection for the period and also slate
ment of the from imports for the year and OF
lis collection during that Wall read IT, beginning Win
the latter In 1921 the amounted to S5
the expense of collecting the revenue for that year was
S693, 900. In ls49 the nett revenue was S3i the
expense of collecting 200 600. Now this simple state
clearly shows that there something otten-somethng
wrong The expense Of collecting the has increased
upwards of 200 per cent in that period OF tme Now, sir
willing admit that the increased number OF custom"
houses and certain other account Tor some IN
crease, but sir this is than balanced by the fact
that in ls49 you collected sal 100000, and in 1921 but
Sl5 00O O00 You collect large sum much more
cheapy in proportion than you collect very small sum-
and taking altogether the expenses at this day ought to be
less in proportions estimating all the than they
in 1921. .".~ H..
know somehing of that nerioJ for was at that time
member of Mr.. Monroes administration There was no
charge whatever of any frauds upon the the
revenue was faithfully and promptly collected and yet the
pense has grown up TO this enormous sum- Sir, remedy
ought to be applied but tell The Senate from some little
experience that have had the subject that remedy
be applied but by the hearty cooperation OF Congress with
the head of the Treasury Department have not doubt
that the expense of the collection of the be re-
duced safely to The of 81, 500 0o0 and would much
lower would say that it may be reduced to 81, OOO 600
under proper administration Nor does this require the
ration of law, the law can do but little. Your system Of
specific appropriations will turn to be nuliy 1t
must be done by the Department. and only be done by
the Department Congress may to the aid OF the De-
partmen but Congress cannot take the lead Sir, know
requires the greatest industry diligence and great energy
purpose and that is the only way in which it be
done will be-
Mr.. President hope it will not appear as piece of ego
lsm part but of those circumstances which
pride myself that found the expenses of the War Depart
ment 81, 100000 and reduced them in three years to
81 100000, and that without single reduction by law
changing the former rates of expenditure know the whole
process it be done if Congress will aid the Secretary
without taking the lead But Mr.. President there will be
reform. No, sir, reform the Government Is OF the
difficult affairs that be undertaken This excessive
expenditure the collection Of the has created
strong interest; that interest is opposed to reduction but
sir that is not the worst have system OF revenue
which, instead of being considered burden by majority
of the citizens of the United States is considered benefit
The higher the revenuehe higher the rates of imports the
better for them and they will be in earnest in reducing
the expenditure because the reduction of the expenditure
will reduce their incomes There the ev-an evil long
felt-which we have been struggling to cty for years. and
have always failed all people have failed under similar
circumstances 1t will go becoming and worse until
it reaches that stage when the evil will correct itself.
Mr.. HAMLIN If understand correctly the amendment
proposed by the Senator from New York, shall vote with
great cheerfunes for the motion but while very
cheeruy in what has fallen from the Senators around
relation the expenditure for the collection of the
of this Government, perfectly well satisfied that when
every branch of the Government by tse may be able
much, least of the evils which the Sena
tors have alluded What not be the specific du-
ties OF Congress relation 10 fostering and taking charge of
the commerce Of the couHtry, do propose in
quire but is pertinent to look the of things which
has grown uP whether be wrong right, whether is to
be justified and continued, Or abogated The object
perhaps of the cutter system detect frauds
upon but whatever may have been the object
all know that of the collateral duties Of that
vice. they have rendered essential service to the commercial
marine of this country and essential service during the
lncement season along the whole extent of our coast.
Now, sir, if suspend the operation of the prov
OF Ia" IN Worus ii we 70 10
adopt the amendment proposed by the Senator from New
York, do not know but the Secretary of the Treasury will
be compelled by force of the circular which he has issued
curtail that service abolish entirely. As have already
sad do not propose into discussion to what
may not be the duties Congress fostering and taking
of that branch Of but think may take
this position clearly, that this of the year, this
riod when all the service that the has
rendered TO commercial marine has been rendered.
should not take any step to abolish it, for the simple
which appears satisfactory my mind, that
had of
and making preparations TO furnish themselves with
necessary substitute
If the amendment offered by the Senator from New York
be adopted apprehend there will be trouble during this
fiscal keeping the service up to its former
standard When the specific appropriations shall come be-
fore when shall find duty to pass upon them,
item by em for each part of the whole service OF the Gov
ernmea, aPprehend shall be found willing go far
ne who may arhes in relation prescribing the rules by
and controlled but not this of the year,
when notice has been to the of the
try. For these reasons shall with all cheerfuness for
amendment offered by the Senator from New York, and
it will be adopted.
Mr.. DICKINSON. | wish to make verbal alteration in
the resolution, to make it read, revenue from
toms"
The alteration made accordingly.
The VICE PRESIDENT The resolution has been re-
ported by the committee with certain amendments.
Mr.. WEBSTER. 1t will he BETTER Think to waive those
amendments for the present. and take the question upon the
amendment proposed by the Senator from New York.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question, them will be
the amendment of the Senator from New York.
Mr.. BRADBURY. do not perceive in the amendment
OF the Senator from New York that any aluson is made
the order recently issued by the Secretary the Treasury
the