Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-19

against the Treasury for the reason that when the mporta
tons large additional agents will be required, and when
they small the regular employees would have than
ordinary leisure but would hardly be turned Of office
find that the Secretary Of the Treasury, his annual
port for this year, the Of additional expenditure
Of the warehouses at 1884, 634 &C. beyond all
receipts for storage Now, the remark of my friend from
Virginia (Mr HUsrER) s very happily directed to this
point public warehouses to cost Sls4 900 beyond
all receipts for storage is surely wiser to withdraw the
Government from competition with private individuals and
leave private enterprise to supply those stoehouses sa
striking instance Of the waseu expenditures OF the Govern
ment that this should be drawn from the treasury to sup
port ehouses, when private individuals induced by
their profit invest capital in buildings, and consider it
privilege to be licensed public warehouse But is this
tl94 900 properly chargeable to the waehoasng system
contend that Il is not In the first place, distinction should
be made between the charges created by the present
housing system and those Of the imperfect warehousng
tenn which previously existed Heretofore goods passed
into store for at least thirty days. and stores clerks aboer
and draymen required then as The difference
found exist only should be charged the present system
But let see how the warehousng system has probably
increased the The total of foreign exports
housed in oil pvrss from August g. is4sa September g.
ls4S-by referring to Executive Doc No. 81 VOL n for the
ls4s and estimating at the same rate, from 3oh Sep
tembery ls4s, to December 81, lS49-wouid amount to
slO4, Sos2ss; of which, nearly the ime for the Pc
riods do not exactly coincide with the Secretary Mr. Mere
dh reports exports of warehoused goods S7 lS2
the balance, consumed in three years and Ave months is
352 06 The probable duties collected estimated 30
per cent, the lower duty goods being less frequently
housed, will be S26, 205 $3.50.
increase conSe
quent equal to per ce- has been estimated
much higherwe have for the addition to the fIom
the warehousing system, the of so, 620, ,506 sum,
might think sufficient to silence complaint account of
the expenditures ascribed TO the SYSTEM il the whole
charged had been created by the system established
by the act Of August, ls46. ...a"..
ready concede that by the creation Of the col
lection districts and from the expansion Of commerce.,
additional expenditure must in the collection of
the l willing, therefore, to support the
amendment of the Senator from New York, proposition
IF
increasing the sum- however, wish it be admitted that it
is not be added to the ST. $50 0o9 but to the ST. ,o0o to
which the existing specific appropriation Is raised by the ad
don Of the receipts for storage dayage, &C., the expense
of which borne by the general fund to be under
consider the to make an addition which
will make the appropriation amount to S20OOOO annually
II the Committee Finance, however, believe that
be necessary, will object to il, any other specific
which is within reasonable, oIerabe limit but shall insist
preserving the principle Of making specific appropriations,
by which it will be known what amount is actually
expended and how should be cuad
have fears that the turning out OF great number of
the employees in the cusomhouse the reduction of the
Der Of cutters and the dsconnuance of many
tomhoues maintained for the prevention of smuggling
will be likely work any injury to the
of pride every American that people opposed from
patriotic motives and moral feelings TO smuggling. know
of no other country which make the boast. be-
eve that people abhor the practice that therefore very
little smuggling carried on, and that would not be eI
couraged if attempted scale which could materially nure
the and that the revenue cutters are not wanted for
any such purpose the prevention of that vice. do not
believe is necessary useful therefore to keep the
system continue those cusum houses which
pay nothing and established only to prevent smuggling.
think these proper subjects for the application of
reductions Nor afraid that there will be such reduction
Of officers will render the duties Of those who
remain oneous that from the proposed reform there will
be such reduction of salaries that the Offices cannot be pro-
perIy filed Least Of all do fear that they will be
sought if this should be the effect however for one should
heartily eoice the change would be RADICAL indeed which in
this would my regret The thirst for office is the great
and growing evil of country. should hail great
political REFORM and shall be happy to any thing either
the result Of departmental legislative action which will
have tendency reduce the number Of those who abandon
their private pursuits to seek employment from the Federal
Government thus sinking the independence of the American
citizen and tending inevitably to the greatest political coup
,on It is made part Of the Secrearys duty under the
original law establishing the Treasury Department. report
all reforms and Improvements that may be made in reference
the collection Of the He then but dschagng
this duty when he recommended change in the system of
expenditures, and bound sustain him every
tempt useful reform. When making specific appro
priatons which bind the Treasury Department by limited
amounts and strict accountability we but do TO him what
do every other Departments that is bind him in his
ditures to certain number Of dollars and cents
These remarks suggested by sp! OF opposition,
desire throw distractions in the Of this any other
officer department OF the Government So far as have
any political opposition 10 the Administration will cot be
shown such manner. will endeavor as TO pre-
the system of in force and certainly
willing to give all aid the officers of this Ad-
minsaon in the proper discharge of their functions if
were politically connected with it, and bu, insist holding
the present Secretary Of the Treasury the policy indicated
by the Secretary the last Administration and carried
in tbs law by the last Congress, where his political oppo
nents in majority in the House of Representatives, 1t
the policy which applied every other department.
of Government and without which the branch of the
Government will, uneen uncontrolled, have the power to
keep army of retaners to he mustered dsbarded
caprice motive may dictate.
Mr.. WEBSTER. 1t is evident Mr. President. that there
is general disposition in the Senate, and probably in both
Houses Of Congress- to revise aud cura these
is subject which good deal discussed at the last
sion Of Congress is evidently complex, and in
respects difficult subject calling doubtless for specific ap
propriaion, and specific appropriation by law because al
though has been sy remarked by the honorable member
who has Just resumed his seat (Mr. DAVIS of Mssspp)
that is the official duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to
report such amendments and reforms should take place.
yet that duty of making report has hitherto been pretty
much the extent Of his official authority He has report
Congress- that Congress may have the light and knowledge
of his experience for their action. evident that, by the
provision Of this fourth section OF the aw passed March last
intended that Congress, the of this
session. should have opportunity consider tina: roviso
and instead Of it. make if proper, specific appropra
caused delay for the first four five weeks Of the session.
and disabled the houses Of Congress fo acting this
subject, any other that the time arrived for the
ton OF the power and confded the Secretary before
Congress could act upon it. ..... : ..., @.
Now, sir considering that there may De great variety OF
opinions Ia regard to the topics which embraced IL the
Treasuet circular and in regard the expedescy OF main
tanning the cutter system in whole o. in part and o
keeping the warehoCng system in whole Or in part ans
do not think that proper Information on these saec's
Immediately be Tad for the OF Congress, am very