The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-03

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For myself, acquiesce in no such proposition will
not thus surrender the rights and duties OF this body and
convert IT into chamber Tor egisering the DEGREES
oil the House But what right has the honorable senator
TO declare that the House will reject every amendment,
and with such certainty 10 leave us no alternative be-
tween the surrender of duty and the loss OF the bill
No, sir; no man has the right 10 urge this ground OF
on, or rather of naclon, upon The American Senate
Let us amend the bill wherever we may think requires
amendment, and then let leave TO the House the dis
charge OF It's own duty, upon lis own responsibility
But, sir, are amendments necessary nave already
said that has denied this. believe u unVef
sally admitted and, admitted or not snail proceed
briefly to demonstrate II. .
In the first place, | think the amount appropriated IS
much too argefar larger than was ever before assigned
10 similar objects year and alter making all just
allowance for the length OF time winch mas elapsed
since the last appropriation was made, believe me sum
in this bill far exceeds what is necessary and that the
cannot be udciousy expended within the season,
and in the right place, if all the objects were clearly
constitutional and necessary The state OF Inc treasury
and the great demands already authorized and The still
greater anticipated should warn us to keep our ex-
pendltures within reasonable limits as possible Many
OF the members are apprehendng an empty exchsquer.
and think within day two heard report read from
the Secretary OF the Treasury in which he told us that
there is already alarming falling of in the receipts OF
did hear the document distinctly but the chairman Of
the Committee Finance (Mr HUNTER) who discharges
honorably for HIMSELF and ably for the public the
| responsible functions which devolve upon him, tell
| us if | am right in this impression
Mr. HUNTER The senator from Michigan asks me
if the Secretary OF the Treasury did not State in com
receipts from customs beginning to decline. The
senator is right in his understanding Of that letter. The
Secretary did state and founded upon it, parts
ommendaton Tor authority to issue five millions in stock
| or treasury notes.
Mr.. CAss SO, sir, il seems that, do the best we can,
in danger of having expenses exceed our in
come-a situation in which this country should be
placed but in time of war. Members hardly wish either
10 increase the debt TO levy additional taxes and the
only remedy is TO curall I'll! our ou'goings and our in
| comDgs balance each other.
Bat, sir, there grave objections to this BILL viola
ting as i does the established practice Of the govern
example in our legislative annals II will be observed
that the practical application Of the question of approp
necessity and its probable cost after its constutionality
is settled. II 1t does not within the established
category as to constitutional power, and is national
IN its Importance and if it cannot be accomplished with
out sacrifice OF the true principles OF action without
an expense dsProporonae to its value it ought TO be
examination is indispensable by experienced and
trustworthy officer, and the receipt OF his report with
proper plans, surveys, and estimates showing The nature
oil the work contemplated the excavation dredging, piers,
wing dams. whatever else is proI osed together with
an estimate OF the various items detail and the poba
BILE eventual OF the work. and exhibiting such topo
graphical information the officer may be able pro-
cure. Upon this system have proceeded, both in the
legislative and executive departments Of the government
nor do believe that single instance be found up
on The statute book where has been made
without these preliminary operations So far as know
and have had are OF experience in This wok-his is
the st attempt 10 sweep away all the means OF niorma
first effort to induce Congress commence a system OF
appropriation without the slightest knowledge OF the tue
character OF the work any plan OF op.
erations and without any estimates the
ecura, OF the expense into which the government must
be led before The Improvement is completed Sir.
prepared for such state of tbings Ii are, am
the public not; and hal receive the condem
nation due 10 the reckless If not the unjust steward we
persist IN such course This system, if carried out
from this day. viii enable any member OF Congress
TO procure the insertion OF any appropriation he peases
without shadow OF responsibility. and The same prvi-
10 exercise 1t is easy 10 see what kind of operations
as well legislative as typographical, all this will lead TO
and it does not explain how this bill has been passed
with its enormous load, IL must be because menta
vision is shut in Egyptian darkness.
do not pretend, that even the most accurate sur
veys and the most carefully prepared estimates can fix
with accuracy the annual eventual cost OF work
From the very of the elements which necessarily
enter into the calculation and from the accidents OF water
ton towards the object Stll with all these accidents
the plan highly useful, indispensable indeed to discreet
legislation, well 10 faithful administration and
besides the department is responsible Tor any gross er
ros, and Its character is committed the result But
make loose appropriation without inquiry and who is
responsible Years after the department and the bureau,
when you become alarmed at the conseq of your
own course, may say-ay, and would say-We know
nothing OF the origin OF this work We have only been
obeying the will OF Congress- who did ask
/ upon the subject. The fault is not ours.
1t is obvious sir, that system thus prone TO abuse,
instead OF being relaxed should be surrounded with still
stronger barriers The greatest danger lies in the temp
aion TO barter work for another, by which
is not their respective claims TO real Improvement which
decide their introduction into bill, but the mutual sup
port they give each other upon the question OF It's pass
age One obvious remedy for this state OF things would
be TO consider every object separately. and in bill by
itself Such understand TO be the requisilion OF the
New York constitution in similar and such was
the proposition OF a senator from that State made when
he was the chairman of our Committee on Commerce,
and retired 10 private life. Another check would
be by including new and old works in separate bills and
also by grouping together the objects proposed for
the various great sections OF couny-for the Atlantic
coast for instance the Mississippi valley the great lakes
and the Pacific coastand providing for them in different
bills. am confident must adopt some such plan; and
the very first time the subject up, this modification,
in another OF these forms, shall receive my cordial
support Without 1t shall vote, if al all, with grea,
uciance. This will open the way for cautious and dis
Greet legislation, and wish the administration would
send us the next estimates with some such classification.
slight analysis OF this bill will show how lamentably
deficient il is in all practical checks, and how utterly II
sets at naught the established policy of the govern
ment
1.-THE following abstract was prepared before the dis
Senate 1t not read, however; but'it is introduced
here furnishing necessary information j
| The regular estimates oil the department upon which
we now acting were submitted in December, ls49.
Not having been acted they were referred TO in the
report Of December $780, as then presenting the views
OF the department, with only two exceptions-one at
Milwaukee, and the other al Raclne-both OF which, in
consequence OF severe Storm require as the local engi
neer said, "some addition to the estimates"
The thu, asked for in the annual report Of the de-
/ partment is Sl,So,Wo
The amount included in the bill before the Sen.
/ IA a, a,cess bevond tho DANA nds nj he