, 1872-12-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
FST7Nf FTJT


TIE INTERNAL REVENUE BILL.
WASHINGTON, Dec l2-Mr. SHERMAN called
up the bill for tho reduction Of officers and ex-
ponaes Of the Internal Revenue, by apolshlng
the Internal Revenue Assessors, and explained
it. stating that if passed it would savo between
two and two and a half millions Of dollars annu-
ally.
ducing the number Of Collectors OF 1nternal. Ke-
venue. He had been assured by persons familiar
With the gbss thHt h7 4onf n1on Of o h
Mr. SHERMAN said that in some large cities
it might be practicable to reduce the number of
Collectors, but it would not be in regions less
thicllly populated. Besides, the reduction OF
the number Of Collectors would not greatly re-
duce the expense, IS they we're paid chiefly By
| fees depending upon the amount Of business
Mr. TRUn1BULL said that az he understood
the law Of last June on this subject, it provided
| for q greater reduction OF Internal Revenue
| officers than the pending bill would make. Thnt
law authorized the reduction Of the whole num-
bor Of Assessors and Collectors to one hum
dred and sixty, while this bill, although
| abolshing the Assessors, would allow the
retention OF Collectors to the number Of about
two hundred and ninety. He did not say he would
not vote for this bill, because be VAS in favor Of
| any bill designed to reduce the cost OF the In
| ternal Revenue Department, but in view OF how
little had been done under previous laws, he
had not much confidence TINT this one Tou1o e1-
feet the object.
Mr. MORRILL (Vermont) said that when
General Grant came into power there we're 2,oGo
| Assistant Assessors, but now there were only
about 1.300, There had been reduction under
Assistant Aaaessors Then the law OF June last
WAS passed providing for the reduction OF the
number to eighty. and Senator Trurnbnu COM
planned that no action had been taken under
the law, ignoring the fact TINT the time had not not
vet arrived when the Law waste 60 into effect, but
in the meantime the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue had devised q scheme by which the
force could be very much more reduced than by
tho law of June last. That law reduced the
number Of Collectors and Assessors to eighty,
leaving it with the Assessors to retain the pres
ent number of Assistant Assessors; but this
bill would reduce the number Of Conectors to
one for each collection district, while providing
S4,5o0 and as their deputies aro to be paid out
| Of their own pockets the number Of deputies
; makes no difference to the United States:
Mr.. TRUMBULL, in reply to Mr. Morriuf
last to 60 into effect had not Jet arrived, reaf
. the following provision Of that law: Prior tt
the LIST day Of January, 1873, it shall be the dut.
| OF the President, and he is hereby authorized
J and directed to reduce the Internal Reyenn
ber." He (IrumbulD repeated that the numbe
| Of officers OF Internal Revenue allowed to b.
retained under this bill was greater than tn
number allowed Dy the LAVE AlleAu{ euAcIeu, OA
! une1ecuted. The plea that the deputies Of Col
. lectors would cost the United States nothing
because each Collector would pay his owl
4 deputies out of his 81 500 year was prepos
| ferrous. :,
: from want of power or will, had failed to cart
t ont the reforms in the Internal Revenue Depart
0 nent for which Congress provided. Ho beleve
+ ! If the President Understood the subject NOR
r thoroughly, lie would be moro prompt to act o
1 | hia own itdeuent in enforcing the law, but
t ! was his misfortune to be surrounded by men IN
Q terested in keeping the truth from him, an
: Who, being themselves pressed Mt home by
Gnag 70 do a 1sr d uty to the Presdent ~
Q Mr. SHERMAN said there Was not the leas
0 occaeion for the Senator from California (Cas
r serl7), or any one else to arraign the P1esiden
in connection with this subject, or to intimate TN
. cution OF the law Of June last until after eles
d ton Everybody knew that in matters OF thi
a kind the President did not oct merely upon III
d own Judgment. No doubt BY the 1st Of 5anuar
+ ! him by the 1aw. But he would do it after du
o consideration with the officers Of the Depart
d ment. There was no occasion 1or the mtims
II ton that the Presidents course WAS IN some Wa
n. Aftnr fnrther discussion, the Finance Con
5, 1nittoe' amendments were agreed to, and th
70 bill passed.
= The bill for the relief OF the snfferers by II
ID, Boston ire vas called up by Mr. WILSON,
ID Mr. FERRY Qlich.) criticised the bill, b'
If said he would vote for it.
le Mr. MERRILL Vt.) opposed the bill. As
10 matter Of relief it was humbug, and, as matt
h Of policy, extremely vicious.
" hr. SUMNER said he hoped the bill would
It | nagged "a It came from the House. The bill Fl
or opposed as setting bad precedent, but the pr
"a | cedent would be applicable only IN slpail