The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

IL
in the chair-and resumed the consideration of the
joint resolution from the Senate limiting the ex-
pense of collecting the revenue from customs for
the present fiscal year.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Mississippi. said that what
ever doubt hung over the opinions of General Tay
or previous to the election, one thing definite
in his last annual message, and that was the re-
commentator that there shall be strict economy
in the expenditure of the public money. On that
sentiment and on that principle he would support
the Administration, and whenever strict obscrv
ance OF economy was required, it was the duty of
the House to march up and support the principle.
He could not see the urgency of this resolution.
He had seen it stated that the treasury entire
ly out of means, and, in consequence, could not
pay for the collection of the revenue. He then
deavored TO prove that this erroneous in fact;
erroneous by the statement Of the Secretary of the
Treasury himself The Secretary has $7S0,00O
now to defray the expenses of collecting the
nue.. 1t is impossible that he could have spent this
from the first of last January to this time. Not
withstandng the decision of the Attorney General,
for whose opinions lawyer he had respect, he
proceeded to prove that the law lin which the limi
taton occurs) went into effect the 30th of June,
lS49; and no candid man can come to any other
conclusion. He thought that this law was the best
in the statute book. He wanted specific estimates
for the collection of the revenue he did not wish
the expenditures to be left discretionary with the
Secretary.
Mr.. HOLMES was of opinion that gentlemen had
not seized the question. 1t urged as if they
were now to resolve whether the expenditure
should be limited, without full statement and cal
culation by this House. This is not the question.
The Secretary of the Treasury has informed Con-
gress that he has expended nearly all the money
appropriated at the last session, and he requests
that Congress will give him the means to carry on
the operations of his Department. The gentleman
| from Georgia had called the law of March, 1919,
| salutary measure, and lauded its originator,
General MCKAY, not now member of the House.
The last named, with an honesty of purpose, with
genius for small things, like owl in the barn,
could see all the mice holes in the dark, but in the
SUMS blazing rays he could not at all. Ia
voice: '9Thats fact"1 He hesitated not to say
that the action of this bill detrimental to the
interests the merchants, the employees, and the
Government.
We have commerce which, under the ad paIo-
| rem system, vindicates the great doctrine of free
| trade. In 1916, when the tariff under revision
the Wings said that, If free trade was carried into
operation, we would not get more than sixteen or
eighteen millions of revenue annually; but the pro-
phccy failed, else we would now have the manufac
turers here asking for and receiving protection.
Unless we have an adequate number Of officers, the
! nd palorem duties cannot be levied. IL merchant
comes in with an invoice, the only way to establish
| its honesty Is by measurement, gauging, or weigh
ing, according to the description of goods; hence
| the importance of making the necessary provision
| for the service of the Treasury Department
He proceeded TO speak Of the importance of the
cutters, which often save property, which
Government receives duties which it would other
wise lose. The extensive mind of Mr. Meredith
could not be questioned. He had never seen in any
man more rapid glance and quicker perception.
He considered him decided acquisition to the Cab
inet-a man whom the Administration cannot well
spare.
| If Congress deny to the Secretary the amount
which he asks TO collect the revenue they will in
| fct blow more whitening than any yet dealt.
| For want of adequate assistance in the Treasury
Department, he knew the fact that commerce SUI
fered in Charleston, as well in New York, Bos-
| tom and elsewhere. Grant the money, and then
let committee sit and mature plan OF retrsnch-
ment He had spoken in relation to no party; he
had been vindicating free trade. While gentlemen
were talking about curtaihng the salaries and re-
ducing the number of Government employees, they
can go to the Sergeant at-arms room at any mo-
ment and get their own pay, but they have SYM
pathy for the thousands of persons engaged in the
collection Of customs, who have not received their
| monthly compensation.
| Mr.. BROOKS made n statement, showing that,
since 1916, the entire mode of doing business had
1 been in a great degree altered. Previous 10 that
period, the number of importers were comparative
| ly few, and the duties were paid by hundreds and
| thousands Of dollars. Now the importations were,
TO a wide extent, in small packages. A steamship
may have, perhaps, twenty five hundred packages,
| and three hundred consignees. A steamer arrives
| at Boston; two hundred OF the consignees may re-
side in New York, Charleston, st. Louis, and Nash
vile. The packages come from Brussels, Lyons,
and other ports; greater part of the invoices are
| in foreign languages, somewhat difficult to deci-
| pher, but necessary TO be examined. Examina-
| tons and entries have 70 be made, and officers
| have 10 De IN readiness 10 receive and forward
packages. In consequence of all this putting the
! goods in warehouses, making entries, &c, under
| the system, additional expense is incurred.
Under the law of 1896 with the ad vaiorem duties,
and the construction given TO the law by the Secrc
tary of the Treasury the appraisers are made law
makers of the country. For himself, he wanted no
better protective system than the ad palorem sys-
tenn, justly enforced. There has been great ex-
travagance with the cutters, but he washed
his hands Of it. There Is not now a revenue cutter
in the port of New York; there only one there
during the last year-the Morris. This not
| sufficient for the enforcement Of the law. He was
glad 10 see the manner in which the discussion had
been carried on. He had INDUCED the fear that the
other side would resort TO violent action the party
| in power, which would have been met in n CORE
spending spirit on the Wing side. IL was a stop
| page OF supplies the law now stands. The
Chairman OF the Committee of Ways and Means
is in direct communication with the Government,
and
Mr.. BAYLY was understood 10 ask whether he
had shown any party spirit IN this matter.
Mr.. BROOKS replied that, in reading that gen.
tleman's speech, il struck him that the Chairman
had not exhibited proper feeling towards the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. Holding high and hon
orable position, he should tear himself aloof from
party, and stand forth the prime minister of the
House, doing justice TO all. He begged gentlemen
70 look TO the fact that the port OF San Francisco
was larger than that Of Philadelphia, and the rev.
enue collected there would amount 10 one or two
millions of dollars. He desired gentlemen 20 take
these things into consideration Meet the Wings
here next winter II il then be found that they have
wasted the money, il will be time enough TO assail
| the party in power. Exercise some little charity.
Mr.. BAYLY closed the general debate, the priv
ilege being accorded by the rules. He defended
the positions advanced previous occasion, and
replied 10 gentlemen who had preceded him. Hede-
Tended Mr.. Mckay from the attack made upon him
by Mr.. HOLMES, saying that that gentleman was
at the head of the Committee Of Ways and Means
in former Congresses, and did more than any other
man to carry through the tariff act oil le4o, and
break down that OF 1912, which the gentleman
from South Carolina denounced as worse than that
| of 1s2S--whch Sosth Carolina disposed TO null
lily rather than submit TO ii and the gentleman
was not generally in his place TO sustain Mr.:
| Mckay. Mr.. b. contended that the salaries Of
government officers ought TO be reduced to what
they in the States, as TO put down the scram-
bic for public stations. lie said that there could be
curtailmcnt enough on the Atlantic coast TO defray
| the expenses in California.
! The honorable gentleman consumed an hour in
the delivery Of his remarks.
The committee proceeded TO vote on amend
ments. The substitute Of the Committee OF Ways
and Means for the original resolution of the Senate
was amended to this effect That instead Of the sum
| ato1 for of