Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-18
Mr.. CazhGun on Collecting the Reue7,ue.

MIR. CALHOUN made the following interesting
remarks in the Senate, on Monday, during the de-
bate ON Mr., Phelps resolution to suspend, for a
limited time, the limitation upon the expense of
collecting the customs, imposed by the act of
March Sd, 1849:
Mr.. CALHOUN. One of the members of the commit.
tee on Finance has furnished me with statement of the
revenue OF the income from imports for the wear 1919
with the expenses OF It's collection for the period
and also statement OF the from imports for the
year 1921 and OF its collection during that YEAR will
read it, beginning with the latter Ia 1921 the nett re-
venue amounted to $l5ll5O00 the expense of collect
the nett was $3l 100000 the expense of COL
Letting it 2,200O00. Now this simple statement clear
y shows that there is something rotten-somethine
wrong Inc expense OF collecting the revenue has in
creased upwards OF 700 per cent in that period OF time
Now, sir am willing to admit that the increased num-
Der OF houses and certain other causes NAV ac
count tor some increase, but sir this is more than ba
anced by the fact that in lS49 YOU collected S3l GOO
600, and in 1921, but Sl5000O0O You can collect a
very large sum much more cheaply in proportion than
you can collect very small sum- and taking it alto
geher the expenses at this day ought to be less in pro-
portion estimating all the causes than thew we're in
1921 WY WOW ~
know something of that PERIOD for l was at that
time member OF Mr.. Mr.. Monroe's administration -
There was no charge whatever Of any frauds upon the
house, the revenue faithfully and promptly
collected ana yet the expense has grown up to this
enormous sum- Sir, remedy ought to be applied but
can tell the Senate, from little experience that |
have had on the subject, that no remedy can be applied
but ny the hearty cooperation OF Congress with the
head oil the Treasury Department. l have not doubt
that the expense OF the collection of the can be
reduced safely to the of 81 100000 and would 90
much lower;l would say that it may be reduced to
S!,ooo,0o0 under proper administration Nor does
tins require the operation of aw the law can do but
little our system OF specific appropriations will turn
out 10 be mere nullity 1t must be done by the De-
partment, and can only be done by the Department.
Congress may come to the aid of the Department but
Congress cannot take the lead Sir know requires
the greatest industry diligence and great energy of pur
pose, and that is the only way in which ever can be
done or ever will be-
MIR. President, hope it will not appear as piece IF
egotsm on my part but it is OF those circumstances
on which pride myself, that found the expenses of
the War Department 81 100000, and reduced them in
three years to S200000 and that without single re-
ture. know the whole process can be done if Con-
gress will aid the Secretary without taking the Lead
But Mr President, there will be reform No. sir to
reform the government is OF the most difficult af-
fairs that be undertaken This excessive expendi-
ture IN the collection OF the has created strong
interest; that interest IS opposed to reduction but
SIR that is not the worst; we have system of revenue
which, instead OF being considered as burden by a ma
Joty OF the citizens OF the United States considered
benefit The higher the revenue-the higher the rates
OF imports, the better for them and they never will be
ducton OF the expenditure will reduce their incomes s.
here IS the evl-an evil long feltwhch we have been
struggling to rectty Tor years, and have always failed
as all people have failed under similar circumstances
IL Will go on becoming and worse until reaches
that stage when the evil will correct itself.