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

called 10 by committees of
other House Then he recommended the addition of 900
for storage caage &C. to the amount before reported
cesary by him, thus increasing the 10 900
the required to deay the expense of collecting the
Now, believe that sum is not enough and am will
ling go for extending It until the requisite specific appro
pridons shall be made. But willing open the
whole matter again, and let the Treasury drain Of, and
suffer the stream to form that may not be closed
very soon again,
will not follow this subject further this time, but will
give my views when the question up regularly for
sderaton But will repeat what said BEFORE that is due
to the Government that it should know at what it has
to do, and what principle of legislation to be adopted in
ference to this subject
The motion take up the resolution was agreed to-
Senate as in Committee ofthe Whole proceeded othe
sideration OF the resoluton which read, follows:
Resore That the operation of much of the approx
ed Sd March, lSi9 entitled An requiring all moneys
eevabe from customs and from all other Sources to be paid
o and for other purposes provides that the OF
collecting the from shall exceed the
OF million five hundred and sixty thousand dollars
together with such sums under the law paid into
the Treasury for dayae carriage labor and storage be sus
pended till the end OF the session of Congress- unless
Congress shall sooner act on the subject
This resolution when introduced referred the Com
mttee on Finance On the Sd instant it reported back
with amendments.
The first amendment proposed TO strike out from the last
line but one the words session of Congress and insert
"fscal year."
The next amendment was additional section, follows:
sSec 9. .4nd6 further resoiued That nothing in the act
the privilege of the transportation OF merchandise under bond
from district anoher and of rewarehousng the
9th August, 1916, establish warehousng system, and to
amend act entitled Ae to provide revenue from i'm.
ports and change and modify existing laws imposing duties
on imports and for other purposes"
Mr.. HUNTER. Before The question is taken, desire to
offer few remarks in relation to this bill was of those
who agreed that This bill should be reported from the Finance
Committee, urged by the Secretary of the Trea
suy who insisted upon the necessity of the immediate action
of Congress willing then to suspend the operation Of
the restrictions contained in the bill until should have
time examine the question in detail and fix upon what
believed be the necessary amount for the expenses of col
Letting the Bat the action upon this bill has been
so long deferred that have had opportunity to examine
the estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury and come
to definite opinion upon the subject The result OF
my examination has been to convince that the bill ought
to be guarded and limited than it is 1t seems that
of collecting the has increased beyond
bounds and that ought take immediate steps
10 curai it for the present. and limit its future growth find
upon reference documents that in 1921 the expense Of col
lection between four and five per cent upon the nett
CUSTOMS whilst the expense the last fiscal year
has been between and eight per cent upon the nett pro-
ceeds from customs. The estimated from customs
cordng the Secetarys report for the next fiscal year
S32 O00 600, and the estimated expense OF collection
O00 between nine and ten per cent upon the nett
proceeds from imports We shall thus have constant and
rapid increase of the proportion which the expenses of coec
ton bear TO the nett proceeds from customs, unless we do
something to avert the present OF expenditure under
that head Upon looking over the items which constitute the
sum of these expenditures find what to TO have
great abuses and many Of expenditure which
might be reasonably curaled When speak Of abuses do
charge them upon the present any other Secretary of
the Treasury. They the natural fruits of the system
which have pursued The expenses of collecting the
have been long paid without specific appropriation,
and upon tka order Of the Secretary that il not
the scrutiny and examination Of the representatives
Of the people. II enough for to know that abuses exist
and have existed From that moment becomes my duty to
them can, and this shall eneavor do without
I,r., ind Itopnc IaFpp
reductions may be obviously made and shall specify these,
it my purpose vote for amendment which learn to
be offered to limit the expenditures which the Secretary may
make certain The first OF exravagant ex-
penure which struck my eye that for the cut
system. hold in my hand statement OF the expense OF
the cutter SYSTEM furnished me by the Commissioner
of Customs from which it appears that the average expense
for eleven and half years. from s3s to June 80 ls49, was
S342, $780,. ~"
In the year ls45 the expense under this head alone was
$685. 1885, Here again, must be permitted to say that
make these remarks spirit of invidous criticism towards
the present Secretary Of the Treasury On the contrary he
has made audabe efforts reform this abuse. He found
upon his accession to office full complement OF officers for
twenty cues he reduced them to the number
ry for sixteen He did well in this only wish he had gone
further in his eforms Upon consulting with of long
perience in these matters and who far better judge Of
such subject han pretend to be, am informed that
eight would probably suffice for all the just
of the The estimate for each Of these if mov
ed by sails and net by seam would be, am informed,
about Ss, 900 per Of this does not include
REPAIRS but is esmed requisite for the expense Of man.
ming and sailing than for year. is probable, however,
that would the whole annual expense of eight
such cutters and this subacted from $685. 1884, the expense
for the last scayea would give saving of about OO0
The main question such reduction in this branch of
the service is the of The service have not
doubt but that the system might be properly reduced TO this
point and perhaps lower. For of the purposes
for which these cutters designed as am informed they
have disappointed public expectation The main object for
their service supposed be ha, of preventing suggng
but the Commissioner of Crstoms informs that he is yet
learn of the first of smuggling which has been de-
ected prevented by cutters The only real
which he suggests that Of pltng small armed force at
the disposal of the collector to enforce the laws and
prevent vessels from sailing before they have complied with
those laws know that another has been suggested for
these cutters has been supposed that they ought to be
relieve vessels which have been wrecked and cruise
with supplies of and provisions to relieve vessels in dis
tress for either both But if this be legitimate subject
of appropriation then submit that the former complement
for twenty -four cutters not sufficient We ought to fit
out feet and increase these expenses very largely order
to perform such service fully. But there any
why should maintain system at this expense for such
purpose than there would be in appropratng money fur
Expenses Of Reoenue Cutters.
| u.s all n.uus' i. ts.a a. .ne Total.
| For wear 1888 $257. $50 65 S257I5O 65