The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY. JANUARY IS, 1856.
sENATE.

"
compliance with the third section of the q 4th
June, 1855 directing him TO report at the session
plan and estimates for reducing the expenses Of the col
lection OF the revenue.
The Secretary with his letter sends ga bill reorgan-
izing the collection districts of the United States and
designating the ports OF entry and delivery of the same
and regulating the appointment and compensation OF Off
GERS of customs, accompanied with estimate of the
amount that will be required under the provisions ex-
hbting aproposed reduction OF four hundred thou
sand dollars. There present ZIG ports of entry
which it is proposed 10 reduce to seventy five and to dis
continue altogether twenty Of the eghtysx ports
delivery.
1t is also intimated that if the collection Of revenue
was alone 10 be considered all the interior ports of de
livery might be abolished, and st further reduction
of expense be effected but ii is not recommended as il
would be attended with Inconvenience the commercial
interests OF those localities where large business is
transacted The bill reduces the number OF officers and
employees the salaries, general rule remaining
changed, ON the principle that the labor would be in
creased by the reduction OF numbers il would be unjust
to reduce the compensation except ia very few instances
where the business of the Office would seem Justify ID
in few cases the salaries increased in view of the
lna,equacy OF the present compensation. The bill is
based upon the most reliable formation the department
could obtain and il must be left To future experience to
correct such may be committed
The Secretary also shows the number of vessels
gagged IN the revenue service and the expense of main
tanning them and asks for what purpose is this service
kept up II the object Is TO aid custom house officers
the collection of the by enabling them board
and examine vessels entering their ports il be dis
pensed with and oth,r arrangements less expensive and
effective should be substituted aud suggests the
employment of steam-tugs at the larger ports which
would involve much less expenditure and be useful
while at the other ports the present arrangements
sufficient for all necessary purposes
He submits TO the consideration of Congress whether
the two other objects contemplated by the keeping up OF
the revenue cutter service 1.-THE prevention of smuggling
and relief to distressed vessels COAST could not
be better accomplished 10y the naval service The most
serious objection that TO his mind is TO the dis
position to be made of the officers of the service
many of whom have long been connected with it, fur
nishing repeated proofs of ability and fulness and
it would seem harsh judgment to discharge them n
tremendously. That while to incorporate them in the
navy would he attended with nsurnountable objections
yet they might be attached to the jurisdiction Of the
Navy Department and continued until their present
missions terminated by death, resignation, removal
and the power should be given to transfer to assimi
lated rank in the navy those who might by mertorous
conduct Prove themselves worthy of IT, That portion of
the expense of collecting the easstd under the
head of contingent expenses, he says must be left in
great under the control of the department and
that every effort will be made to reduce il to the lowest
point
Also, from the Secretary of the Navy, statement
made in compliance with resolution of the Senate Of the
It'll instant calling for list OF all vessels belonging to-
employed in connexon with the navy of the United
States with the OF the officers, their compensa
tons, SC, and requesting his opinion whether the
Der Of such officers their compensation that OF any
class of them be reduced without injury to the pub
lie service which read and referred to the Commit
tee Naval Alinirs
The Secretary furnishes the required list and says in
relation to the latter portion
would state my opinion that there could not be- without
jury the pubc service reduction in the number Of the
glasses excepting captains and commanders In these two classes
til are than be present employed.
Tue number OF etenan small TO meet the requirements
the service and have already referred IN the late ANIMAL report
department the deficiency the number surgeons
and ursers and recommend an increase neecssh There are
more officers OF the remaining classes than are NECESSARY Tor the
The present copcnsaton Of naval oGosrs Is certainly small
enough my opinion be made consistently
With the interest Of the public service y
Also from the same correcting the report of the Off
GERS appointed by him make the examination Of the
iron coal and timber of the Deep River country in the
State Of North Carolina, required by resolution of the
Senate which read and ordered to lie tle table
hc Secretary says, in his letter communicating the
report that there already extensive establishments,
in very complete condition. for the manufacture and
pair of IA urine stelm engines at Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and Norfolk that erected at great
expense that sufficient for the present wants of
small navy and hence, in view of the present condition
Of the treasury he does not deem it expedent to establish
another in North Carolina
MEMORIALS, &C.
The following memorials and petitions were presented
and appropriately referred
BY Mr. CLINGMAN From J. L. G. Davis, behalf
of owners of the schooner Rudderow, wrecked the
coast of Florida while conveying government stores ask
ing indemnity for loss of said vessel
BY Mr. SEWARD From Asa Sprague and Others, of
the Site of New York. asking that persons enhtled to
pensions under the act of April 1916, may be allowed
the same from the date of that act
BY Mr. IVERsON; From certain Cherokee Indians and
their descendants asking to be allowed the benefits OF
certain treaties made between the United States and the
Cherokee nation of Indians.
REPORTS Committee
Mr. SEBASTIAN, from the Committee on Indian At
den with the consent of any Indian tribe, TO cxpend
their money annuites for educational agricultural pur
poses and other objects that will contribute to their
prosperity and Advancement, reported back the same
without amendment and asked its present considerations
which was agreed to and the bill was passed
Mr. GREEN, from the Committee Territories, to
WHICH was referred the bill for the relief of the city of
Omaha in the territory of Nebraska, reported it back
with the recommendation that it do not pass.
Mr. MALLORY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs
to which referred the RESOLUTION nquiing into the
expedency of providing for the construction of supply
of steam engines suitable for the propulsion of vessels
of-war &C. submitted an adverse report the same
which was ordered to be printed
Mr. FOSTER from the Committee on Pensions to
which was referred the Joint resolution giving construe
ton to the entitled An act to extend act entitled
An act to continue hall pay TO certain widows and
orphans I" approved February 3, 1853, and June 3,
1855 reported 1t back without amendment and recon-
mended its passage.
REVOLUTIONS
On motion by Mr.. SEWARD,
1soIeed the be requested In
his opinion IL he NOT with public
duisn