The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-15
for eleven and halt years, from 1885 to June 3d. lsas

OIL
make these remarks in spirit OF invidious criticism
towards the present Secretary OF the Treasury On the
contrary he has made audabe efforts TO reform this abuse
He fousd. upon his accession TO office, full complement
OF officers for twenty four cutters he reduced them to
the number necessary for sixteen. He did well in this
| only wish he had gone further IN his reforms Upon
consulting with OF long experience IN these matters
and who is far better judge OF such subject than can
pretend to be- informed that eight Teyeaue cutters
would probably suffice for all the just wants Of the service
The estimate for each OF these moved by sails and not
By steam would be, as informed, about ~ 900 per
annum or course this does not include REPAIRS but is
estimated as requisite for the expense of manning and
sailing them for year Ii Is probable however, that
$40 900 would cover the whole annual expense OF eight
such cutters and this subtracted from 1884, the ex
pense for the last fiscal year. would give us saving Of
about $40 900.
The main question as to such reduction in this branch
OF the service is as the wants OF the service have
doubt but that the system might be properly reduced
this point and perhaps lower For some OF the
purposes for which these cutters were designed, am
informed they have disappointed public expectation The
main object for their service was supposed TO be that oil
preventing smuggling but the Commissioner OF Customs
informs me that he is yet to learn oil the first Of
smuggling which has been detected or prevented byreve
nue. cutters The only real which he suggests that
OF putting small armed fo.ce at the disposal OF the col.
lector enforce the laws and prevent vessels
from sailing before they have complied with those laws
know that another has been suggested for these
cutters II has been supposed that they ought to be
used 10 relieve vessels which have been wrecked, and
cruise with supplies Of and provisions to relieve YES
sells in Distress either or both But this be eg
Innate SUBJECT
mer complement for twentyfour cutters was not sufi
cent. We ought to tit out fleet and increase these
expenses very largely in order to perform such service
fully. But is there any more reason why we should
maintain any system at this expense for such purpose
than there would be in appropratng money 10 furnish
ships Of commerce with money and provisions in the
s2 Ms Ssp
y' The only legitimate use for such vessels IS or
the maintenance Of the revenue laws,-a purpose
which may be accomplished, so far as they can aid
tho nhi With m pvna
that OF this service in the last fiscal year by about
s24o.oOo Mr. Walker in his estimates submitted on this
III. q expenditure q he
precise amount, speak from memory not having the re-
port before me- But will hear take occasion to inform
The senator from MARYLAND that this bill was not framed e
Secretary OF the Treasury think 1t probable Mr. Pres
ident, that il these vessels were not employed beyond
the necessity which exists for them, the service ought
10 be reduced below the estimate made either BY the
former Secretary OF the Treasury or myself butths 10
not the only item of expense upon which large reduc-
ton might be made The Secretary Of the Treasury est
mates the expenses of the warehousing system beyond its
receipts $le4634 This arises entirely from the mis-
taken policy Of embarkng the governmental the business
OF storing goods.
There are three classes OF warehouses authorized by
the existing treasury regulations: FIRST stores rented by
the government and superintendent by it's own offces
secondly, licensed stores OF private individuals. who
make business OF storing goods; and thirdly, the
warehouse OF the importer licensed Tor the occasion, un
der certain regulations established by the department
The expenses the two last betrayed BY the import
er. The whole loss of the government is upon ware
houses OF the first class This part OF the system ought
to be abandoned, foSa variety of reasons. In the first
place. il is against principle and experience for govern
ment to enter into competition with individuals IN the
business OF storing goods The British government, with
experience upon this subject larger and longer than
ours, has left the business TO private enterprise. Our
own experience teaches the same lesson.
In your own city Of New York, Mr.. President, the
merchants reluctant 10 store in the public warehouse
The amounts stored there so large that the insurance
~t{~ ana fur
OF the incapacty OF government machinery to adapt
itself 10 the sometimes delicate and often rapid vbra.
tons in commerce. makes this branch OF the system
eminently unpopular Nor are these the only objec-
lions TO this branch of the system. Goods some
times lost in the public warehouses No provision ex-
lists for compromising such losses But, without doubt.
compensation will be demanded Our private calendar
will be ncumbered with such cases. and in legislatng
or attempting to legisate for them, we shall probably
waste more than the amount involved Let us get rid OF
this part OF the system have il from high authority
that could probably sell out the leases which we have
York.
and had better submit to whatever loss is TO accrue
upon them at once. What this will be know not. But
the leases must have been mprovdent, indeed the loss
il more than Is per cent Al this should save
something more than $4,000 OF the $4,000 referred
to by the Secretary. Upon the two items alone OF the
revenue cutters and the warehousing system ought
to save al least 100000 This subtraced from 200,-
OOo the expenses Of The last fiscal year, would leave
81 100000 These reductions might be made by treasury
regulation There is no law, OF which am aware, 10
prevent H. and the and oil reduction
especially matters for treasury regulation But Mr. Pres
ident, yet we are only on the threshold OF the IN
qury into the reforms proper TO be made Ind an i'm
"sersonnel" 10 the revenue service which mani.
fsstly ought 10 be reduced
The act of March last requires annual report OF the
persons employed and expenses incurred IN the collec.
lion of the from customs in the several collection
districts OF the United States This, sir, provision
introduced committee upon my motion, and the facts
developed by this report curious and startling enough
Sur invite public attention 10 H. The report IS 10 be
found in the letter OF the Secretary containing the est
mates OF appropriation. find from this report that there
are employed IN the New York custom-house 7o5 per
get $500 per annum. whilst engaged al the same
port the cutter service receive but Sg2 BY the year
This number exclusive OF the revenue cutter service
Al New York thus have 715 al Boston 233, at Phil
adelphia 1876, at Baltimore 90, at New Orleans 207-
making at these five ports 400 persons employed ex
usvey OF those engaged in the revenue cutter service
Nov, sir, had the curiosity To compare these num-
bers with those engaged here IN the departments Ae-
cordingly procured statement compiled BY our ex-
ceeoi clerk Mr. Hickey from the Blue Book, and Civ
ing the number OF officers. clerks and messengers ~ the
several executive Offices OF the government OF the Uni
ted States Washington, the 30th September, ls49
The entire number, counting heads OF departments,
compolers auditors clerks, and messengers. amounts
10 640-many less than the number oil employers
at New York alone, and not half the number al the
i've ports TO which have just referred And yet, SIR,
whole operations OF receipt and disbursement OF the
government, have TO be audited and settled here. Will
any pretend thai large reduction might not be made
in the numbers engaged in collecting the from
cusoinsl This, again, properly matter OF admnisra
ton. No law is required to effect it, Without doubt al