The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-15

In protection II tended towards free trade and he
was in favor of free trade far il was compatible
with tariff for revenue lie thought, however, that
twas time to abandon the warehouses to private en-
terprse and considered the difference OF $l94 900
between the receipts Of the warehouses and their
i expenses attributable TO the government keeping
| such warehouses. He conceded that the establish
ment of collection districts increased the
amount of the expenses therefore, he was willing
to extend the limit to any sum reasonable, and
within just bounds. He thought no evil would re-
suit from the abolition of the whole system of
nue-cutters They prevented no smuggling. The
people of this country, to their honor, opposed
TO smuggling. There was less done here than in
any other part of the world. The American poo
pie abhorred a smuggler. There would be no evil
result from discharg ing from Office great number
of those now holding them, nor in reducing the
salaries This reduction of salaries would not pre-
vent applications for them if it did, he would
joice in it, This great desire for ofce-this aban-
donment of all other walks of life to obtain public
office-was great evil, and the most dangerous
one to the institutions of the country. He would
hail any thing tending to destroy il as great
MIR. WEBSTER said. as it was evident that Con-
gress not at this time prepared with the
sary information to enable it safely to regulate by
law the expenses of collecting the revenue; as II
was uniformed to great extent of the proper ba-
sis on which TO fix limit; as there were variety
of opinions to the abolition Of cutters in
whole or in part; variety OF opinions as to the
part-he thought the proper course was to adopt
the amendment of the Senator from New York He
would cordially support it.
/ MIR. DICKINSON agreed with the Senator that
there was not sufficient information before them on
which TO base correct estimate. His amendment
took middle ground between the Limitation and
the estimates OF the Secretary of the Treasury He
desired also to state that at the present season OF
the year he was opposed to the suppression of the
revenue cutters. The underwriters depended upon
the assistance afforded by these cutters and no
rangcments had been made looking to substitute
for them.
II Mr.. CALHOUN had been furnished with a state
ment ofthe annual amount expended in the collec-
ton of the revenue. He asked attention to the
great increase in that expenditure In 1921 the re-
ceipts from customs were $l5,l2l 900; the ex-
penses of its collection $685., 600 In 1S45 the re-
ceipts 1871, SOC, 900; the expenses So 200 900
This simple statement showed there was sometime
increased two hundred per cent. The expenses al
this day ought, in proportion, be less than they
were twenty years ago. You can collect larger
sum for less, in proportion, than you small
one. In 1921, he remembered well, for he was in
Mr. MoNRoE's cabinet, there was not the least sus-
picion of any wrong being committed in the reve-
nue.. There could, however, be no reform by Con
gress without hearty cooperation by the head o.
the Treasury. Without this cooperation, any
specification of appropriation by Congress would
! be useless He hoped he would not be considered
egotstical when he related that upon assuming the
! head of the War Department, he found the ex
penses of that department amounted to 81 ,000, 900
and, in three years, without any aid from Congress
he had reduced it to $2,700, 900. The same thing
be done now, if the Secretary would lead, anc
Congress back the Secretary. But the thing woulc
never be done. To do 80 required great effort
This very expense created an interest in the coun
try to maintain it. But that not the reason
why it would not be reduced. The reason is thai
the duties imposed upon imports for revenue no
! looked upon by the people as burden; on the con
trary, they hail it with pleasure They in favor
OF keeping up the expenses of the government
and thereby make necessity for higher sum tc
be derived from the duty imports, and, conse
duently, keep up the high duties
revenue service at this season, without any motto,
to the commercial marine, and without time being
given for the substitution of any other means O.
| protection.
Mr.. BRADBURY expressed similar views.
, Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, before voting on the
amendment, inquired if the Treasury Department
was to have, for expenses Of collecting the
the same amount as expended last year. and in
addition, the fund mentioned in the exception t.
the proviso in the act of March, lS49? If So inseac
Of reducing the amount, it increased it nearly
quarter of million.
Mr.. DICKINSON said it appeared as if sucl
was the fact.
MIR. DAVIS then moved to strike out all of the las
clause of the amendment, commencing with tn,
, word together"
} And the motion To strike out was lost-yeas 81
nays %.
| The question then recurring on the substitut.
, offered as an amendment by Mr. Dickinson, i
~
YEAS-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Berrien
) Bradbury, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Corwin, Dawson
! Dayton, Dickinson, Douglas, Greene, Hamlin
! Mangum, Miller, Morton, Pearce, Pratt, Seward
! Smith, Spruance, Underwood, Upham, Wales, ano
Webster-2.
NAYS-Nessrs. Atchison, Benton, Borland
Bright, Butler, Calhoun, Cass, Clemens, Davis o.
Mississippi, Dodge of Iowa, Dodge of Wisconsin
Downs, Fech, Foote, Houston, Hunter, Jones
King, Norris, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields Soule Stur
geon, Turney, Walker, and Yulee-27.
The VICE PRESIDENT voted in the affirmative.
Mr.. HUNTER offered, an additional section
the following, which was adopted:
And be 10 further resolved, That nothing in the act
aforesaid shall be 30 construed to deprive the
importer of the privilege of the transportation O
merchandise, under bond, from one district Il
another, and Of re-warehousing the same, accord.
ing 70 the provisions of the second section of tho
act of 9th August 1916, to establish warebousino
system, and to amend an act entitled can act L
provide revenue from imports, and 10 change and
modify existing laws imposing duties imports
and for other purposes"
The joint resolution, as amended, was then re.
ported back 10 the Senate; when
Mr. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, renewed his mo-
ton 70 strike out the last clause Of the first section
pending which motion,
Mr.. DICKINSON moved that it be laid over ill
TO morrow, which motion adopted.
Mr.. DOUGLAS moved TO take up the resolution
submitted some time since by the Senator from
Alabama, calling upon the President for informa-
ton in relation 70 the movements made in Cslifor-
mia TO establish State government, &c;
And the resolution was taken up.
Mr.. DAWSON submitted that resolution in
nearly the words had been passed in the other
House, and had been answered He thought the
passage Of this unnecessary.
Mr.. CLEMENS said he would not press his reso-
luton. The one adopted in the other House was
not in the words, but perhaps the answer to II
would cover all he desired 10 know. He would
wait 10 see the answer, and, If II was full, would
not ask that his resolution be considered.
Mr.. KING moved, and the Senate proceeded 10
the consideration Of Executive business; and then
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
RuLEs-THE VOTE OF THE SPEAKER.
NJ KAUFMAN rcd hat E,rt Al,