The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-12


tually expended IT, because, il he had, there would
have been necessity for sending this bill here What
complained OF was that the Executive had incurred La
btes, without authority OF law, without any appropr-
alton being made, and calling upon US 10 pay them.
That was what said. not that he had actually taken
money. do not pretend that he has taken the money.
OF course do not mean that the money expended.
II il was why should we have this bill before US, and
why call upon US 10 make appropriation nowi /
said this that last year, when the executive departments
sent in their estimates Tor the year, and asked for GER
amount of money. upon thorough investigation and
discussion of these estimates in Congress- the amount
asked for refused TO the extent OF this deficiency bill,
now sent to- us by the Executive, and the Executive
went on and incurred expenses, and have now sent
bill here asking TO sanction what they have done,
and what say s has been done without the authority
Mr. PEARCE. The bill was so far discussed as this.
that do not believe il spoken OF for twenty minutes
in this house by anybody. do not think the Committee
on Finance had time togive II a decent examination.
think only came to the last day OF the session,
Mr.. BORLAND. spoke OF the action OF the House OF
Representatives, where those appropriation bills orgl-
nae and where they passed upon before they
TO us for our concurrence. say these estimates were
thoroughly discussed in the House OF Representatives
and that these very that the Executive asks
our hands were there refused after thorough
that they were srken out Of the bill before they came
to us.
Mr. PEARCE There it was discussed, and there the
chairman of the Committee Military Affairs, an hon
orable gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. BURTl not
friend OF this administration, told the House Of Repre-
seniaves that they would stint the public service ii they
did give the appropriation asked for He told them
that he had examined every iem and that they had been
reduced TO the very lowest possible amount that the
military service could not be carried adequately they
struck in the dark at these appropriations He said he
had examined most mnutely every item in that bill, and
that il they did not the appropriations asked for the
military service must suffer- do not know in what par
ucuar the administration has made any of money.
has contracted any debts which it had not any authority
TO contract They have authority TO contract debts with
out an appropriation IN certain cases. The act OF 1920
gives that power (as the senator from Virginia stately
for the Quartermasters department; and II 10 in that de-
partment that these deficiencies have accrued There
they have the authority TO make contracts whether Con-
gress has appropriated money not There is express
authority given for that purpose by the act of 1870.
Now, let US look al what The expenditures of this ad
minstraon have been during the last fiscal year, ending
the 30h june 1851 They have been 000 and that
seems to be very large amount and there not at
hand easy explanation, the senator might well com
plain that 1t was very large But we ought TO deduct
IRON this amount great variety OF lems-lens which
are extraordinary, which occasional which DO not
belong 10 the current service OF the year, which grow out
of special Legislative acton which are rendered neces
sary by recent treaties. Now, sir, the first item which
would deduct from this OF $is, 900 900, Is which
has not hefetofoeno at least until the time of this ad
minstraon-been carried into the annual expenditures
Of the government. mean mat has not been exhibited
in the accounts OF The annual expenditures. Gentlemen
OF The Senate know very we'll that prior 10 the year S49
the collected by the Secretary of the Treas
ury who paid the expenses OF collection out Of The gross
receipts from cussomshat the gross receipts Were not
brought into the treasury, bat only the net receipts In
1919, when this administration into power, it
thought advisable, and inclined to think myself,
TX sulnCieDl sum Tor coecuon should allowed,
i would be very proper thing 10 bring the whole OF The
gross revenue into the treasury and 70 allow the Secre-
'aIy OF the Treasury certain sum for the expense OF
collections
The SUN allowed to the Secretary during the year 1851
Tor this purpose s2l50oOo II must be recolected
That during former admnisrations-thst OF Mr. Polk for
example, with which the senator would contrast this
no such charge ever appeared upon the books OF the
treasury the money having been taken out OF the gross
receipts, and only the net receipts accounted for.
There is anoher circumstance in connexon with this,
which
disposed 10 squander money the gentleman 10
think 1t is This: The sum allowed for The collection OF
the revenue during the year ending June 30 1880
as have stated, S2a50,000 Now, the actual expense
OF collecting the from customs during that year
was s2o5i 900 The ssefelaIy had not expended the
S400000 and think IL is Just 10 mention this as evnc
ing disposition the part OF the head OF that depart
nen not to waste the public unds but to use them with
a ludciuns and elective economy.
There was also appropriated during the year ending
June 3d. 1851 Tor the fourth nsamen OF the indemnity
due to Mexico, the of SO 10000 This paid
at actual cost of 50 2i2 A0o the difference being
casioned by the premium which was obtained on the
transaction This fair subject Of deduction, because
IL is unusual and extraordinary expense incurred under
treaty forming no part OF the expenditures OF Mr. Folks
era, with which the senator proposes to contrast IT,
There was also appropriated, TO indemnify American
citizens for their claims against Mexico in pursuance OF
the treaty OF Guadalupe Hdago s., $50 900. OF which
there actually paid during that year S2,3l6,59f
Most OF the balance has BEEN or viii be, paid during the
present fiscal year.
Then there has also been paid for the redemption OF
the principal OF the public debt and cancelled treasury
notes, S52l 264-an unusual expenditure, not properly
chargeable TO the current service OF the year.
Then the interest the public debt contracted by pre-
cedng administrations has been paid to the amount OF
5000. 72l great part Of which debt occasioned
BY The expenses OF the Mexican Then there have
been auearages paid 10 the volunteers in the Mexican
war. Many OF these expenditures, which charged TO
the present administration are found to grow out OF the
transactions oil prior ADMINISTRATIONS az, for example,
during the year 1851 arpsrsges paid TO the voun
teefs in the with Mexico 10 The amount Of o2 $50
Then there excess OF duties refunded dunk the
year 1851. An immense amount enormously paid Tor du
refunded in pursuance OF the decisions OF the Su
preme Court OF the United States reversing the
lion given the tariff OF Sad BY Mr. Walker the late
Secretary OF the Treasury Senator'S know very well
that that officer issued variety OF circulars, in which he
gave constructions TO different provisions OF the act
OF 1916. Some OF these circulars have since been de-
clared by the Supreme Court TO be illegal They very
term when Mr.. Walker Secretary Of the Treasury
but they increased the expenditures during the time that
Dir. Corwn has been Secretary for he has been called
upon under these decisions OF the Supreme Court pay
the OF VI ,40gS74, collected in virtue OF these
treasury circulars, and this paid during the last
fiscal year These are believe, for duties on goods
ported 70 Mexico from the Texan frontier
Mr. HUNTER am afraid the senator will find that
some OF them have been paid contrary 10 law, without
protest. on bfandies and sugars.
Mr.. PEARCE, When the evidence is given OF that,
II will be lime enough to believe it. The senator will
excuse il do not take bis conjecture for evidence.
MIR HUNTER do not stale This a fact but il is
at least possible.
MIR PEARCE. | do not know whether that would
be any error than that Of previous Secretary in
collecing--I will not exacting--irum merchants