Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-27

There not only these difficulties but have no place
for the depose of the collected there while the office
remains closed The law requires that receipts from the
customs shall be deposited there million OF bullion Is
there which cannot be drawn out because the former occu
pant OF the office has resigned and has locked up the door,
and has any business to meddle with IT, men,
ton these facts that the committee may perceive the imPo
lance Of taking up this subject and acting upon il with
great Prompnes and hope they will also consider The I'M
poance Of increasing the salary there Perhaps the same
may be requisite also elsewhere but certainly at New Or
leans There Is another consideration which Is impor-
an to consider There is not now at New Orleans suf-
cent force to carry the necessary coinage For lnstanc
in the department of assayng though we have gentleman
there who is competent do all that business when i Is the
ordinary business, now, when it is doubled, and perhaps
quadrupled is impossible for him to do fast enough.
would suggest whether best to authorize the Secretary
Of the Treasury such additional force as is
cesary TO carry the coinage rapidly that the bullion
may be kept thus locked up and Of circulation.
think the whole subject requires the early and prompt action
of the committee.
Mr.. HUNTER. Mr.. President the subject to which the
Senators from Massachusetts and Louisiana have referred is
II great importance subjec which has yet only been
partially submitted to the Committee Finance, So much
has been submitted them has been already considered
and the result of their abors will be by bills
your tabes-one for relieving the mn,s from the surplus
quantity Of bullion by increasing their numbers and there
has been reported bill for the establishment of mint
in the city Of New York We have also had notice of an
amendment to be offered to that bill for the purpose of esab
fishing mint in California
This, sir, would be of the realies modes Of
diminishing the amount of bullion. The whole subject,
should this resolution pass, will receive the earliest consider
alton and attention Of the Committee on Finance 1t is
matter know, in which the chairman my friend from New
York, (Mr DIcKISsoS,) who is now absent takes very
great interest and he will be very glad, imme
diatey his return, call up the bill to establish branch
mint in New York.
Sir there are am aware difficulties attending this sub
ect but was not aware Of the difficulties to which the hon
orable Senator from Louisiana alluded. did X that
there any nsufcency Of salary, any difficulty in OBJ
L.. H.
compensation which given If these difficulties have
occurred, that too is matter that will engage the attention Of
the committee
understand, though not from official sources-fom
who is well acquainted with the officers of the mint in
Phladephiahat there has been peculiar difficulty in
separating the alloy from the bullion which is brought from
California peculiar chemical difficulties which may
perhaps account for the sowness with which coined But
this s matter into which have not yet inquired and
have only say that have doubt that the Committee
Finance will take it early and consideration.
MI. COOPER. Mr.. President have but word to say
this subject have been in correspondence with very
we'll informed gentleman Philadelphia the subject
ter of this resolution and that correspondence shall take
the liberty of handing to the Committee Finance shall
say word in reference that branch Of the subject
which has been under discussion But desire say word
in reference to the capacity of the mint Philadelphia to
perform the work that is necessary TO be done. 1t ue
the honorable Senator from Virginia has remarked that there
has been peculiar difficulty in separating the alloy from
the gold The mint has capacity to coin much than is
likely be received from California other quarters any
time Arrangements being made which will greatly
increase its capacity in that respec and will add that in the
assayes Office where the difficulty has been which produces
the delay there likewise being taken to remedy the
evil From this forward, from short period from now
forward the mint Phadephia will have the capacity
coin the Of S. 500 900 month, the least
informed. And there is communication the table
OF the Senate, in the hands Of the Committee Printing
from the director of the mint there, which shows the capacity
of the mint to do all the coinage which will be required It's
capacity for this purpose abundant and than abun-
dan have stated this in order that the Senate may know
that there of ability in the mint Philadelphia
to perform all the coinage that is necessary, or that will be
necessary.
The other branch Of the subject referred by the honorable
Senator from Massachusetts, have remarked has been treat
ed Of by distinguished gentleman Of Philadelphia thoroughly
informed upon the subject and he takes precisely in
respect at least the view OF remedying the difficulty
the quantity Of coin that is locked in the mint in the
hands of the subreasury that he does He suggests the
Of relief that he does and will take the
liberty hand to the committee the letters they
worthy of perusa they from practical man, who
every day engaged in commercial and monetary transac-
tons.
Mr.. PEARCE. Mr.. President concur entirely in all
that has been said TO the importance of making provision
for the prompt conversion Of bullion into coin the different
mins of the United States only desire add to what has
received consideration from the Committee Finance
communication before that committee from the super
ntenden Of the mint stating two defects going TO show the
nadequacy Of the mint in its present condition to do the
work which is required. The apparatus which has
been very long in use, had became deficient was
sary to have boilers which, in the present condition Of
the building, could not be worked up to their capacity
part Of the also decsyed by me that al
though the boilers of the engine in good working
order the structure too weak to sustain the Of
the apparatus at its full power The Comm,e Of Finance
in view Of these circumstances introduced appropriations in
the deficiency BILL which has passed this body, and is
the House OF Representatives, 10 remedy that ev and
understand that if these appropriations shall be applied
their object the efficiency of the mint will be far increased
that its capacity for coming money will be increased hun
dred fold.
Mr.. WEBSTER. I do not intend TO extend my remarks
this subject Gentlemen have spoken of the existing law
depostes But that is the important object
which the attention Of the Senate has been called by my
luton have doubt that the evil complained of by the
honorable member from Louisiana requires remedy. The
office is high and responsible The bonds very
heavy ard the salary is very email but these subjects
which will come very fairly within the consideration Of the
Committee Finance, and have the least doubt that
they will receive proper consideration the hands of that
committee.
Mr.. MANGUM / desire to learn from some member Of
the Committee Finance whether the subject has been
considered in this aspect whether any initiative measures,
looking ultimately the establishment of branch mint in
California have been under consideration that at least the
gold vhich obtained from the mines in California may be
assayed there hope that that will be taken into consdea
ton when this question up in all its aspects and bear
ngs, for the consideration of the committee sppehend,
without knowing much about it, that il is the smaller holders
of gold in California that subjected to considerable loss
have heard from newspaper report The Government Is
not prepared at this early day. to put into operation
branch mint there but cannot preliminary measures be
taken by which gold be assayed proper degree OF hne-
ness marked in bullion that holders may not be imposed
upon Will il not be safer for transportation
r.. - ~tn,1 - ha aCnr,of that