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

expenses Of weighing marking. and guasing expenses
heretofore charged TO the Tevenueshai now be paid by
the importers He has also been obliged TO direct that
the expenses Of the wsrshousng system amounting 70
a large sum, should be charged upon the importers
and n the new collection districts Of Texas and Oregon
he has been obliged TO suspend operations In addition
70 all these Reductions which amount 70 almost million
per cenage OF all the salaries OF officers Of the customs
should be withheld until some remedy is provided
Inc EXPENSES o. collecting the Tsvsnue heretofore nave
bill passed the third Of March restricts the Secretary
TO 600 being about $4,000 less than the expense
less amount relatively, when we take into accoun, the
law.
demands the immediate attention Of Congress Every
senator must know that the act passed the third OF
March last not passed after due consideration The
act OF March last proposes that instead OF the expenses
being deducted from the gross amount Of the revenue,
the gross should be paid into the treasury OF the
United States and all the expenditures arising IN the col
lection OF the customs should be met BY an appropriation
which should be made BY Congress So far. the law is
very good but then the poviso is added that after the
first q January 1850. the expenditure Tor those purposes
thousand dollars This limit was not based upon any es
innate No investigations were made TO ascertain what
salaries could be cut down, what Offices could De
abolished, what services could be dispensed with
presume sir that this estimate was arrived at entirely
by guess and presume that even then i would not
been introduced into the bill. except that having
passed the House OF Representatives escaped observa
lion here entirely until the last night OF the session L
could not have received due consideration from the Senate,
IL s od The b was aposa sk
the month of March, iS4s, passed the House, up
the Senate the last night Of the last session. and had
scarcely received any consideration from the committee
There was very manifest incongruty in the act.
Now the Secretarys circular has various reductions
in these expenses for example, the laying up OF the rev.
enue CUTTERS and suspendng the pay OF the officers OF the
Indictment OF the when Inc
commerce the coast is peculiarly exposed which will
avoid charge on the treasury OF $2T5000 This propo-
siton, if carried out must tend TO the injury OF the
heaviest importer by opening the door to those who are
disposed to commit frauds upon the revenue The ex
penses OF the warehouslng system are per an
mum. $l75Ooo OF which are betrayed BY the receipts
The difference is paid out OF the treasury This charge
the Secretary of the Treasury is obliged to lop off, al
though the laws impose him the obligation Of main
tanning that system He is obliged to choose between
the laws and he has chosen he says that this expense
must be borne BY the importers. So likewise, Of the
expense o. weighing. measuring: and guagmg. mat
similar reductions and shifts have to be made in order to
bring the expenditure down 10 67o00oa sum not yet
within the requirements of the law.
Now, sir, the Secretary carry out system like
this, and it is by this only that he comply with
the proyiso ask whether it is not the imperative duty
and 20 INTO detailed examination OF the items Of
pendlture and, inasmuch that cannot be done now
that they should suspend the operation Of this provso
during the present session, which will give Congress an
opportunity to act understandingly upon the subec If
this body shall not be willing to do SO much in the way
OF relieving the Secretary OF the Treasury from these
difficulties they must infct upon the commerce OF the
country upon the 4evenue Of the country. evils for
which, think, they will find cause OF sereproach al
forwards.
duced by the Senator from Vermont during the holyday
season. and reported by the Committee Finance on the
day which returned from the country. few days
since, il was moved that il be taken up was DESTROYS
that il should be taken up have suggested several
times the proprety OF that agree fully with the
honorable senator from Maryland, that is due to the
executive Of the that they should know GER
tanly what they have dos that this question should be
taken up and acted upon to-day, and completed to-
morrow BY this body, if possible Il will not require
great deal OF time and, although cannot agree with all
the positions assumed by the gentlemen the other side
of the chamber, as TO the way in which should be done
due 10 the that the subject should be taken
up and disposed Of believe that this law was passed
with much more elaboration than my friend from Mary
land supposes 1t recommended by the Secretary OF
the Treasury as long ago as ls46, that Limitation
should be imposed on the expenditure for collecting the
revenue Of $l320.0o0. That recommendation sub
sanaly repeated during the last administration. in every
report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury until last year.
did not recommend it then until called upon by the CON-
mtees OF the House and then il recommended by the
Secretary with the addition OF S4oo and that after the
first OF the present January the Limitation upon the COL
lection OF the customs should be, addition to storage,
carriage &C., 81 900. adding $4,000 to the limitation
which the Secretary had proposed 10 limit himself TO,
| the execution OF the duties OF his office
Now, sir, believe that that limit is not enough.
am willing that il should be extended to some amount
am dearou that il should be extended. will 90 for
extending IT until specific appropriation can be made
But may not be willing to open the whole matter again,
and let the treasury dram off, until the stream forms crew
ices that cannot very readily be closed again will
not follow this question through now. will give my
views upon when the question shall up for con-
sideraon but repeat that il is due to this government
know whether they have to curta in the very rgor-
manner which the Secretary proposes 10 his circular
The decision should be promp certain and unequivocal
and shall give my vote to take up the subject to-day
and finish IL. ii possible, tomorrow.
The question being then taken upon the motion TO pro-
coed TO the consideration OF the joint resolution suspend
ing for limited tune the act limiting the expenses OF
collecting the from customs. il was decided in
the Affirmative
The Senate accordingly as in committee OF the
whole proceeded the consideration OF the joint reo
luton
The joint resolution having been read the question
stated first upon amendment reported from the
Committee Finance, providing that the suspension
OF the shall OILY be for the present fiscal year.
Mr. HUNTER Before the question Ia taken, desire
to offer few remarks in relation 10 this bill was one
OF those who agreed that this bill should be reported
from the Finance Committee urged az we were by the
Secretary OF the Treasury. who insisted upon the neces
sity OF the immediate action OF Congress. was willing
then TO suspend the operation OF the restrictions contain
ed in the bill until should have time examine the
question in detail and FIX upon what believed 10 be the
necessary amount for the expenses OF collecting the
nue. But the action upon this bill has been 80 long defer
red that have had an opportunity 10 examine the est-
mates OF the Secretary OF the Treasury. and to come TO
more definite opinion upon the subject The result OF my
to be guarded and limited than II now s II seems
hat If he