Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-08

lures within the required standard, had during the
first six months of the present fiscal year, expended
1921, 1897 81 although aware that the law allowed
him only $4,000 for the last six months. The
Secretary of the Treasury instead of increasing his
expenditures in the first half of the year. should have
distributed his reductions throughout the whole time,
and thus avoided jar when the change did come.
He had right to act with total disregard of an
listing law, upon the supposition of being able to
force Congress into precpitate retreat An attempt
was made to raise cutlery against Congress- where
as the Secretary alone is biameable.
In this condition of affairs, the Secretary of the
Treasury asked the nterposition of Congress. Con-
gress for time after its meeting, could do no
business for want of an organization. The Senate
being first organized took up the subject and passed
joint resolution to give the Secretary the same
amount which had been expended for similar pur-
pose during the fiscal year 1848. The revenue col
leeted during the year ending June Both, 1S48 was
$50, O34,276; the estimates for the present year,
So, 100000. 1t was believed that what was sufi-
Gent for the first would certainly be sufficient for
the second but instead of that the Secretary had re-
presented to the Committee, of which he was Chair
man, ways and Means that this would give no
reliefthat the existing law gave him, according to
his understanding, $7SO00O and the resolution gave
him $840,7 39 52-diference $60,739 49, 1t was
commended that the sudden reduction which this res
olution would make necessary would be highly iniu-
rious to the public service and it proposed that
we should appropriate for the last half of the pres
emit fiscal year, one-half of what expended
year 1848. This agreed to; and it is the amend
ment now before you
In yielding this, it was believed that too much was
granted. 1t was believed that in the expenditures
for the first half of the year. the Secretary had ex-
ceeded both the law and the necessity of the case
but in of any sudden arrangement, it would be
the country and not tie Secretary which would suf-
fer, consequently such a state of affairs was to be
avoided.
Mr. Bayly said the expenses of the revenue depart
nent were altogether too large the per centage fol
collection was higher than That paid by any govern
ment in the world-State national In l848 the
per eentage nearly six and half per cent The
sum demanded for 1849 by the Secretary, would b.
upwards of eight per cent. The Secretary estimates
that the receipts from the customs for the year end
ing June 1851 will be $32,0OO0OO and he puts the
expenses of collection at S. 100000 or at the rate
/ near nine per cent
He believed that the per centage allowed for the
collection of taxes in the States was generally five
per cent at least such the rate in Virginia and
he did not know that it higher in other States
In England by the last RETURN the cost of collection
was five nineteen-twentieths per cent. Why shoulo
it it cost US more? Simply because too high salare
m were paid to officers in the employ of the Genera
p Government This is the case as connected with tn
N customs, from the highest to the lowest. We pa
the collector of Boston &c. 400; which is double wha
j. any State officer of Massachusetts, receives We pa
the collector of New York the same. The Governor
who is expected to do the inequalities of the State
receives 81, OOO- The Chief Justice, who must hav
h the highest professional attanments, receives bu
So, OO0 So in Pennsylvania, the collector &c. 400
or the Chief Justice about $2,5O0 In Maryland, tn
e collector Sc, 400 the Governor So 900; and Chic
IN Justice $4,000.
$. Mr.. Bayly alluded to Mr.. Meredith's circula
j. which he considered great error. 1t was use
ne shift an expense from the department to merchants
er it eventually be borne by the public. In rep
IN to question, he said that the law Of 1849 was NJ
e. proposed enacted from any feeling of hostility
On the present administration. 1t originated earl
as March, 1916, with Robert j. Walker then Seer
o. tary, at the time when the present adminisratio
he was not thought of. Mr.. Walker subsequently flu
70 nished draft of bill limiting expenses to 81 500
900, which was to have went into operation on til
3Oth June, 1847, but which was delayed and did NJ
LII pass the Senate until March g. 1949 when havin
ur been amended it sent to the House, Wing b,
d. dy and might have been rejected by that body ha
ls it chosen so to do.
as The Committee of Ways and Means was in fave
of the warehousing system, or, at least, the Dem'
W. cratic portion of that Committee. Some blunde
H. had no doubt been made in organizing system
ly but, nevertheless, the system good.
Mr. Brown, of Mississippi, obtained the floor for
he speech upon the slavery question. Mr. Brown toe
the usual Southern ground He spoke in favor of tt
ee Nashville Convention, and of the principle of mol
Intervention.
he At the close of his remarks, the Committee ros
'o- reported progress, and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, January 81.
nd SENATE.
OF Mr.. Mason presented bill, which he said h.
W. been drawn up with great by distinguish
ne legal gentleman which he proposed to introduce
er substitute for the bill in regard to the recovery
Nh fugitive slaves reported by the Committee the
dietary He moved that it be laid on the table al
Ills printed which was agreed to.
The bill for the division of the State of Arkans
W into two judicial districts taken up DISGUISE
10 and passed over informally. Various questions
precedence of business were disposed of, and t
Senate proceeded to the consideration of Gen. Cas-
resolution for suspendng diplomatic relations Wi
A'A Austria Messrs. Hunter, Foote, and Smith, par
cipated in the debate Mr.. Berrien obtained t
', floor, but yielded to an adjournment.