The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-10

the period when such duties will be realized is entirely
uncertain being left by law to the option OF the import
during three years The present revulson has caused
very large portion Of the dutiable merchandise imported
since 1t commenced to be warehoused without payment of
duty. TO what extent this practice viii be pursued during
the present fiscal year too much matter OF conjecture
at present to risk the public service and the public credit
upon the probability of immediate change in this
spec II may he safely estimated that, in the Of
the present fiscal year. large portion of the merchandise
now in warehouse will be withdrawn, and duties paid
thereon but, in the time adequate means for
meeting lawful demands the treasury should be pro-
vided.
Such provision should be made at the earliest practie-
bic period failure of sufficient in the treasury
may at early day The exigency being regard
ed temporary the mode of providing for il should be
of Temporary character Ii is, therefore, recommended
that authority be given to this department by law to is
treasury notes for not to exceed twenty
millions of dollars, payable within limited time, and
carrying specified rate of interest whenever the inn
mediate demands of the public service may call for
greater amount OF than shall happen TO be in the
treasury subject to the teasurers drafts in payment of
warrants
The fact that such temporary exgency may arise from
circumstances beyond the foresight control of this de-
partment makes adequate provision to meet it
indispensable to the public security.
Previous to the passage of the act of March 3, 1Sl9
which requires all money receivable from customs and
other to be paid into the treasury without abate
ment dmnution the whole expenses of collecting the
revenue from customs betrayed from the moneys col
lected and the balance only paid into the treasury
The expenses of collecting the customs in California and
Oregon excepted from the operation OF that act by the
third section of the act Of September 2s 1885, and the
mode of defayng the expenses of collection which
listed previous to the of March g. lS49 has been
sequently continued at the custom houses the Pacific
coast up to the present time.
The joint resolution approved 18th February, 1850,
snakes permanent appropriation for the expenses OF col
lectng the customs Of million two hundred and
twenty five thousand dollars for each half year. together
with such may be received for storage &C. until
Congress shall act upon the subject During the first
four years OF the operation of the act of Sd March lS49
the expenses did not equal the amount of this appropa
ton, and considerable balance had accumulated which
has enabled this department to deay the expenses of the
last four years which have considerably exceeded the
amount appropriated, as is shown by statement
marked a.
This accumulation having become entirely exhausted
this department will not be able longer to deray the
penses Of collecting the customs unless Congress shall
now act upon the subject
In order that this important branch Of the public
vice may be conducted with prompttude and efficiency,
recommend that Congress shall at its present session
legislae upon this subject to operate from the 1st of
January, 1858, which will put end to the permanent
appropriation under the joint resolution from that date
For the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1857, the
expenses of collecting the customs considerably exceeded
three millions of dollars exclusive Of those Of the ports
the Pacific coast, which amounted to nearly half a
million, shown by statement marked s. For the half
of the current fiscal year. extending from st January to
30h june 1853 at least million six hundred thou
sand dollars will be required to defray these expenses in
| propriated for that period
The which originally led to the exception of
the custom houses the Pacific coast from the opera
ton of the general law of 1S49 longer exist in the
force formerly but the system cannot be sud
denly changed without much Inconvenience. ! pro-
pose that, during the remainder of the current fiscal
year. these expenses be betrayed heretofore out Of
the accrlpg revenue but from the commencement Of
the fiscal year the lst July, 1858, that provision be
made by law that the whole receipts from customs and
all other sources the Pacific coast be paid into the
treasury under the act of 1S49 and the expenses of col
lection be betrayed out of appropriations for that pur
pose. To meet the expenses of collecting the customs
throughout the entire United States during the fiscal
year ending 30th June. 1859, will probably require
| "a, 900 900.
The statement before referred shows the progressive
increase of these expenses from year to year. since the
passage Of the act of l849 1t also shows correspond
ing increase in the amount OF merchandise imported and
duties paid. But the latter not sufficient to explain
large addition to the expenses Of collection,
y the number Of officers required to collect the
smaller the larger amounts Other causes have large
y contributed TO swell these expenses When the public
revenue happens to be abundant, many projects lis
tened to and adopted by Congress without careful regard
to the burdens they may permanently Impose The
building new not needed for the enforce
ment OF the laws the multiplication of ports Of
entry and ports of delivery for local and temporary
venece at points not required for the collection of the
revenue and the erection of expensive buildings for
officers of the customs and other public officers
of this class The original outlay for these projects is
usually provided for by special appropriations and
their amount is the principal object that attracts
attention But, under the existing SYSTEM every of
these appropriations of necessity imposes additional
and permanent charge upon the expense for collecting
the customs New revenue cutters must be equipped,
kept in repair provided with officers and men, and main
tanned in state Of efficiency at large annual charge
upon the expenses for collecting the customs that they
may be in constant readiness to relieve vessels in Distress
perform some other duty equally remote from their ap
proprate and legitimate functions of enforcing the laws
New ports Of entry Of delivery created by law at points
remote from the ordinary channels of direct foreign
mercc must be provided with officers paid by annual saa
rics other cmoluments expenses of collecting the
customs New buildings must be furnished, warmed,
lighted and kept in state of repair and cleanliness
der the direction of suitable officers with proper compcn-
ston All charges Of such character betrayed
out of the appropriation for the expenses of collecting
| the customs While the public has recently
rapidly diminished these charges daily increasing in
amount.
The public debt on the lst July 1857, was 500 OGO
3s6 90 Since that time there has been paid the
s3y yoe5, 232 39eaving the public debt at this time
S25 154 ST. Since the Sd March last there has been
paid of the public debt s4 87S377 So. The details
shown by the statements marked 9, Z, and 8. The de-
partment continued The purchase Of stock long the
law and proper regard for the public interest would
Justify The object redeem far possible our
outstanding debt which had number of years to run,
whilst the payment of the large from the treasury
required for this purpose afong relief to the
mercal and other interests Of the country which
then struggling to ward off the rcvulsion which finally
came upon them At that time il was not seriously ap.
pretended that the revuson would greatly affect the
trade and business of the country; but looking even to
the most unavorable result that could happen It
thought that the treasury Vi compelled 10 resort loan
10 meet any temporary deficiency that might occur