The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-15


disposal OF between seventeen aud eighteen hundred
thousand dollars would vote for this increase. be-
would extend the limitation far enough TO enable
the Secretary 10 operate without embarrassment and
difficulty. think there can be no doubt but that he
would have quite enough IL this limitation law were i'm
posed II he could save $500 900 upon the two items 10
which have referred that sum alone, deducted from the
expenditure OF ~ 00D for the last fiscal year. would
leave only eighteen hundred thousand dollars Deduct
from this again what might be saved by the other reduc
tons 10 which have referred, and there can be little
doubt of his ability TO meet all reasonable expenses in
collecting the revenue with $l,750,000 know that
the Secretary oil the Treasury has estimated for
$500 900 additional expense in the revenue service in
California. There is also small item for other
new collection districts But il Is TO be remembered
that even. II 100000 were proper and moderate
still the whole OF II Is not an additional charge upon
the expense for the last fiscal year part OF that
~ 100000 expended in this very service. The
pense OF repairing and fitting out the revenue cutter
Lawrence, during the last fiscal year. 10 TO be charged to
the California district She fitted out and sent TO
that district during that year. suppose, too, that the
custom house officers appointed Tor California also
ceived something during the year ending Juae 80, ls49
But, sir be this as il may there ought to be an offset to
these expenses in new Districts what is saved by abo
ishiDg old districts that useless II any senator will
take the trouble TO deduct from the annual expenses OF
collecting the revenue from isa0 to lS45 the amount
spent in the revenue cutter service, (more than
thus computed to have been less than the sum appropra
ted In the act Of Sd March, ls49 (See report Secretary
OF Treasury, Dec. 81, 1sa5)
to desire in this bill some limitation which will define the
sum beyond which the Secretary Of the Treasury shall
not be allowed to go. | shall sustain such an amend
Secretary in the administration of his department On
The contrary, believe shall render him service if l
succeed. shall smooth his path towards reforma re-
the administration 10 which be is attached. II fixed
sum is proposed by law, as limit to his expenditure in
this branch OF the service, ne may make the proper reduc
tons without embarrassment He has ready answer to
all Inconsistencies against the necessary reductions He
may point to the law, and justly throw the responsibility
upon Congress. II, the contrary, we suspend the
mite, il will be almost impossible for him to make any
reductions in the personnel OF the service. He will be
besieged by he Office holders and their friends. lnu
ences, PERSONAL social and POLITICAL will be brought 10
bear if possible upon him. Add to this the natural re-
luctance TO parting with patronage and power. which is
to be found in almost every human heart and You state
case in which reform becomes almost impossible i
know that inconvenences will always be found in every
attempt to reform such abuses exist in this branch
of the public service. But "where there is will there
will be way" Let create the necessity by law for
reforming present abuses. and will be venlurng far
to predict that the work will be accomplished with far
less Inconvenience than is now supposed Sir. we are
commencing new and as all confess salutary sys.
tenn Let US, then, exert ourselves no, 10 create diff
cues but TO remove the obstacles from its proper exc
cution.
Mr. PEARCE The honorable senator from Virginia
has argued this question as il he supposed that was
opposed to this reform. Now, sir he is entirely mis-.
taken. agree with him that the expenses OF collecting
the have been enormously and unnecessarily
increased and rejoice at the watchul vigilance that has
Just detected it. | am glad that the honorable sen.
ator had the candor TO admit that the Secretary has
set example in this matter. When the former
Secretary OF the Treasury examined the subject he
found what led him TO make reduction in the revenue
cutter service OF over half million. think il exceed.
ingy likely that the government might be relieved to an
equal extent by reduction OF the expenses oil the ware
housing system. do not know but those expenses might
be reduced half and not that careful and
judicous investigation would not show that the whole
r. AZ he -
neither the government the importers need be charged
with the expense Of the warehouslng system think il
extremely probable that in every branch OF the public ser
vice to which the honorable senator alluded the expense
has been excessve and really do not know any great
difference between US, unless il be that think that these
expenditures which Congress has permitted 10 grow up
should be checked and rebnked BY legislative action and
moi by the action OF the Secretary Of the Treasury
think il is occasion requiring legislative action, and
that il is the bounden duty OF Congress TO determine. BY
b ~ Sa So had hs
power did not it long ago. want to see done by
Congress- and not by the Secretary OF the Treasury
Now, SIR the sole result q refusing 70 suspend THIS pro-
the Treasury Why give to him the discretion which we
should exercise upon full understanding OF the facts
OF the casel ! do not wish that and l VIII prove
the sincerity OF my avowal, il the Senate will give
me opportunity 10 investigate the matter. As one
OF the Committee on Finance care not in what branch
OF the public service these reductions are made Let us
pursue every charge OF excessive expenditure and
anime il in all its minuiest detail am willing 10 do
that think is the proper business OF the Committee
Finance, and OF the Secretary Of the Treasury
BY refusing to suspend this proviso, compel him do
what should be done by you as legislative body. Now,
the actual expenditure upon the present basis OF col
lectng the revenue has been about S2.2o0Ooo. The
Secretary OF the Treasury has estimated II at larger
amount Reckoning on that basis, he has undertaken to
tell what reduction shall be made for the future
But assuming that the expenditures are to be made upon
the same scale heretofore and allowing for the
caused by the new collection districts latter
sum being deducted from the whole sum estmaed-there
remain less than l0o00O0 for the actual expenditure
hitherto Now, sir II is proper for Congress, IN the
this purpose, IL 10 proper that Congress should know
what II is for which they TO make specific appropra
tons, and not turn it 10 the Secretary OF the Treas
ury II s for to fix upon the scale oil expenditure
and 10 make all the reform that think necessary, alter
a full examination
Now sir the Of the Sd OF March last was introduced
at the session before the last, and manesty expected
10 be passed at that session. II IT were not so
expected, il would be necessary TO suppose that which
would be hardly respectful TO suppose, and which
i will not suppose. | presume the bill was INTRO
duced in March, lsls, bona fds, with the inien-
ton OF being acted upon. II did so happen that II
did pass Congress until the very heel OF the last ses
sion, when the new administration was about 10 come
into power Suppose il had passed in is4s what would
have been the resui We should have had the whole Of
this session, commencing in December last to make these
reports and inquire into this subject But as Cong ress
failed 10 pass the bill at the time contemplated by those
proper discussion here-for certainly whatever the Com
miiiee Of Ways and Means may have intended, there
certainly discussion In this or IN the other branch
on this bil-it passed as II had allowed full time for
Congress TO perform that duty for which there not
time For this ask TO suspend the operation Of