The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-09
In CONGRESS OF TIE u. STATES.
TUESDAY, MARCH Z. 1854.
[IN cosTIsuATIos


SENATE.
REMISSION or DUTIES RAILROAD IRON.
| MIR. DAWSON. Mr. President, the committee TO
whom was referred the memorial of the West Felciana
Railroad Company, and the Geofgs Railroad and Bank
ing Company, have instructed me 10 report bill for
their reei and hope the Senate vail be kind enough
TO consider i al this time Il has passed this body three
or four times already and make the request be-
cause shall have 10 leave this CITY 10 day two, and
perhaps shall be gone for Two three weeks, and
should be very glad 10 have II passed before leave
The motion being agreed 10. the bill Is 256) Tor the
lief Of the West Feiiciana Railroad and Georgia Railroad
and Banking Companies Was read first and second
umss BY unanimous consent and considered as in COM
mitiee OF the whole Il authorizes The Secretary OF the
Treasury to refund to The West Felciana Railroad Com
pany the amount paid by them IN judgments obtained
against said company by suits instituted duty bonds
given by the company or e importation Of certain bars
Of railroad iron imported at New Orleans In the month
OF July. 1886, ard New York ia the month of
the year, provided that il shall appear the salts
faction OF the Secretary Of the Treasury that the said
railroad bars have been and permanently lad
down upon The railroad of tbs aforesaid company,
eept such part thereof may be proved 10 the sastac
ton Of said Secretary have been lost by the sinking OF
the sieamb Choctaw, IN attempt 10 transport the
same from New Orleans 10 Bayou Sara II also author
ICES bin TO refund 10 the Georgia Railroad and Banking
Company the duties collected certain railroad iron i'm
ported BY said company, provided that the company shall
prove 10 the satisfaction Of the Secretary OF the Treasury
that The rails imported actually laid down at
about the time with those Of he Red River Rail-
road Company and other companies, upon which rails
Congress has already remiiled the duties.
MI BAYARB. Mr. President il seems 10 me that
one amendment ought TO be made 10 that bill. never
heard OF il until the moment al which ], was Just read
but notice that there is portion oil IT which provides
that upon much Of the iron was lost BY the sink
ing OF steamboat the duty shall not be charged.
Now, sir, do not see upon what principle the govern
men TO be made the against losses either by
individuals by railroad companies, in consequence OF
lhe destruction OF their goods. think that part oil the
bill should be amended, and therefore move to strike
Out the words such part thereof may be proved
10 tie satisfaction oil SAID Secretary 10 have been lost by
the sinking Of the steamboat Choctaw, In attempt
iranspor, the IRON New Orleans to Bayou Sara
Either the parties dad insure this iron. they did not in
IL; and il they did not insure H. il was their
neglect, and they have night make the government
upon their risks.
Mr. DAWSON. / did no, hear The honorable senator
distinctly and do not know precisely what is to which
be objects-
Mr. BAYARD. Hy objection TO iha, clause OF the bill
which moved TO strike out, was that it exemps from
duties that portion Of the goods which lost
ssqueEee OF The non insurance ol the company-hat Is,
if iheIe any actual loss all and cannot the
principle upon which The government oil the United
States where goods haye been imported al any ime
TO act insurers 10 suspend the collection OF their
dunes IN consequence OF want OF insurance.
Mr. DAWSON. | will slate that the object OF the
committee TO remit the duties this iron, whether
1t was lost OF not The iron was imported at time
when railroad iron came in free. If II was laid down
within certain time but If II lost. that affords
additional argument why Congress should LET them OF,
and grant fenission OF the duties upon the which
was lost while going up The river.
Mr. BAfARD. III the honorable senator from Georgia
can satisfy me that the government entitled TO
&uiles ihis al The when lost,
withdraw my amendment
Mr. DAWSON. That i the only point in the case,
and that ~ what the Secstafy As 10 investigate This
bill has been reported By lhe Committee on Finance al
three iour different times and has passed hs body be-
tore | believe Il ia all right
NT. BAfARD | cannot see how there is any dis-
this subject admit that II Tie iron its Importation
subject to duty this ball Is all proper, and my
amendment ought to be Withdrawn; bat IL the IRON
subject duty The proprieiy Of retaining
that portion OF the bill II III. clause left TO the dis
ereon OF the Secretary OF the Treasury TO determine the
fact, would be another matter but do not so read H.
Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, think can explain
this matter the satisfaction OF my friend from Della
a single moment Jse comes up my
Stale and understand u, the facts ihese Under
former ACT OF Congress, railroad companies were al
lowed import iron free 0i duty, provided il laid
down upon The road within given Tune This company
sd not undertake TO pay the duty al ioe port OF New Or
leans, because they calculated 10 lay the iron down
within the Time prescribed by law, which they would
have done but for the fact Of lis being lost upon the pass
age from New Orleans TO Bayou sara The loss OF this
iron upon the steamer Chocsw made u necessary iof
them import second oi Of non, which they have
lad down bat they could not putt upon the road within
the time prescribed by law Ihey executed bonds to The
government for the duties the second LOT OF iron
the time having elapsed the collector at New Orleans
insisted upon The pay neat os these bonds and the com
duties, appealed to Congress have them refunded
That the whole Gaze But for the loss OF the hrs,
iron, would have been put upon the road within the
time prescribed by law, and would OF course
cover The dates er The company expected TO have
70 pay The duuss and OF they dad not wish to get
an insurance TOR any larger amount than was necessary
as they would have 10 pay.
Ar. BAfARD After the explanation OF The facts oi
the which has been given By the honorabis senator
from Mississippi should eheerfs abandon the amend
ment which have proposed, i hrs statement did not
be Inconsistent with the facts stated in the
ball There could have been recovery OF duties upon
the fret IL n entitled 10 come IN duty free.
MIR BROWN. II the honorable senator will permit
ne. will say that II entitled 10 come in duty
free unless laid down upon The road within gwen
Time but this IRON could not thus be laid down because
IL was lost
Mr. BAYARD This bin provides for the exemption
from duty OF the IRON that Ios bul the iron which
was lost 10 the iron that in when there vas no
duty according TO the allegation The subwquen, i'm
poriaon Of iron not lost and !, was The subsequent
importation OF that subject 10 duty under the
lstine laws having been laid down within the lime
prescribed by law, and therefore duties imposed
upon This bill applies the roa that Iosi and
il that iron which lost subject duty gov
eminent could have recovered any duties H. and
the provision 10 useless But II subject TO dnsy
the me Of ts importation, and loa, after the duties
bad been imposed ". The ground OF exception takes
by the honorable senator from Messsppi falls because
the government ought not to be the loser The parties
osehs TO have insured asnsi oss. us in any other
case