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

venience than is supposed. Sir, commencing
new, and as all confess, sautsry system Let US, then
exert ourselves, not difficulties, but the
obstacles from its proper execution. -.
Mr. PEARCE. The Senator from Virginia has remark
ed upon this question he supposed be opposed
sanitary reforms in this department, and though that
the drl OF the remarks which made Now, sir this no,
at all the case believe with the Senator that the
Of collecting the revenue have been greatly increased and
incline TO think most unnecessarily increased during the last
twenty years and though marvel that the discovery was
not sooner rnade and the proper corrective applied during all
that hme rejoice at the awakened vgianse which has Just
detected this enormous expenditure of public money.
The Senator from Virginia las the candor to adnat that
the present Secretary Of the Treasury has good
ample in this matter by reducing the expenditure for the re-
venue cutter service. Under former Secretary he says,
this expense has been much half million thereaous
while the reductions made by the officer the head
the Treasury have brought down S275 0OOa reduction
Of almost fifty per cent.
believe that the expense of the warehousng system may
be reduced, and perhaps altogether avoided by dispensing
with the system itself Although that is a question as to
which much may be said both sidee know that very u
dcious and ts have considered il Of doubtful expe-
diency and In fair arguments mar be adduced to show
that neither the Government the importers should be
charged with this burden Upon the whole, sir, do
know that there Is any great difference between the Senator
from Virginia and myself present. unless be that think
that these expenditures which have been permitted to
up until they have reached the of which he
complains should be checked and reduced by legislative
ton, and not by the discretion Of the head of Department.
Topping of, he compelled do, here branch and
there another Of service think it the bounden
duty Of Congress carry out the law which they passed
the Sd OF March, 49 and make specific appropriations for
all allowances for objection of the revenue the same man
in which it determines what shall be the expenditures
other branches of e public service and the wonder that
this done Dng ago. And new s the sole result of
refusing to suspend the operation of this proviso will be
transfer the duty Of making those reforms which ncum-
bent the Natom Legislature to make, after careful in
vesgaton of all the facts and their probable influence upon
the facilities of commerce. and the faithful prompt and eff
cen collection Of the revenue to the arbitrary discretion Of
the Secretary omake him. in fact agent and attorney
| am not opposed to an exact economy. have avowed
my readiness 10 cooperate the passage OF
calculated to effect judicous etenchment and will prove
the sincerity Of that ayowa every proper OCCASION care
in what branch of the public the investigation
may be made lei us pursue every charge OF excessive
pendtue in all its minute details, not hastily and eagerly
adopting every proposed reduction, but carefully and cadid
investigating the facts and acting only with full knowledge
of the subject All this think is properly the duty of the
Committee Finance, and by refusing suspend this pro
vso, rid ourselves OF the labor which is duty, and
throw upon the Secretary the business Of legislation.
have said that the expense of collecting the revenue
the present basis about S2 per annum 1t is true
that the Secretary has estimated the future at S2
This is done by assuming tie present scale Of allowance and
adding what proper for the OF the new collection
districts upon that basis and increased expenditures points
where the business has increased il this amount be too
high if the of those who have here
toore managed this Department. let ascertain and deter
mine wherein the allowances made too much, what
parts Of the system shall be Topped off, and what the precise
scale of reduction shall be. We do this by strict legsa
tive and specific appropriations. *-...
Now sir the act Of Sd March, ls49 was introduced the
session before the s fully expected that would be
passed during that session To suppose otherwise would be
to imply repoach not at all respectful to the other sdeo
the Senae-to suppose, Short that it allowed lnger
on our calendar until was ascertaned what Administration
nichca by ii. That mputaion will make
suppose intended tha, shonld pass ago,
and in that Congress would have had the whole Of the
Ia he MT
inquiries which to base action But Congress fail
ed to pass the bill until the last night Of the last session. and
then far as recoect without dscusson certainly without
the investigation which might otherwise have been had is
surely nothing but fair that opportunity for this should
be afforded by suspendng the proviso until shall
have had the time which it supposed tie last Congress
might have applied to the subject. .
What information the Committee on Finance might have
had do not know take granted they had detailed
plan of reduction they would have incorporated into the
BILL and have left every thing vague is and altogether
within the discretion Of the Secretary. do desire that
any abuses exavagances shall be pepetuated but that
Congress may do work of retrenchment with full
knowledge Of what they about and not break the pre-
sent system by a blow at random.
have objection the amendment limiting the suspsn-
of the provse the end of the fiscal year. The Sece
ary called the attention of the Finance Committee this
subject early period, but the delay in organizing the
House of Representatives and taness here have
PEELED them 10 cut down the public service in this de-
pament to large inconvenleni, and embarrassing extent
The expense of collecting the upon the present scale
Of and expenditure has been about ST. OOO and
the limitation imposed by the suspended
$780, 000-a reduction of nearly third, while additional
expenditures demanded by the collection districts IN
Texas, California, and Oregon This act introduced into
the House Representatives early ls4s passed that body
the first session the last Congress- and slept in this cham
br till the last Of the last session, when became law The
provso going operation the LIST of the present month";
aud of the detailed arrangements and specific appropria
tons CONTEMPLATED b. act having been made the Secretary
is compelled make great and important changes IN the COM
plex operations of the customs-department.
He has been obliged to issue circular directing the
nue. cutters be laid up and their be discharged
This while relieves the Treasury of charge amounting
S275000 dspenses altogether with class of public service
hitherto supposed to be indispensable prevent smuggling
and period of year when it has been considered to be
of great value commercial marne to which it affords
frequent assistance during the storms Of winter Besides it
has become necessary direct that the of the
housing system hheopad by the receipts from storage
&c., shall longer be charge upon the Treasury but be
paid by the importers This another item Of Sl94 00O
So too the cos of weighing gaugiDg, marking and
ing goods heretofore paid by Government and amounting to
$780, 000 must be thrown the owners, agents,
consgnees The expenses attending apprasement must now
be betrayed by the importers instead of the Government this
will relieve the Treasury of another charge 000 Be-
sides this the allowance for California, Oregon Texas and
other districts and for estimated increase OF business else
where must be curtaled TO the amount of S67 900, and
alter all per centage the compensation OF all officers OF
the be retained until the effect of these changes
shall be ascertained.
Every that these vast changes in the
established system of the Department. not proper to be made
without full consideration such Congress has not devoted
to hem and that they demand the immediate attention of
this body. The act of March Sd, s4e could not think
have been passed with due delbeaon Proper estimates
not furnished detailed system of reduction not
submitted but intended that future legislation should
specific that which have thrown