Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
. SENATE.


ton of the bill abolishing internal revenue
assessors.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill for the re-
duction of officers and the expenses of the
internal revenue by abolishing internal rev.
enue assessors, and explained it, stating
that If it passed 1t would save between two
and two and half million dollars annually.
Mr.. Sumner asked whether the Commit
tee on Finance had considered the prOpfiety
of reducing the number of collectors OF In
terIal revenue. He had been assured BY
persons familiar with the subject, that the
number of collectors might be greatly re-
duced without injury to the service.
Mr.. Sherman said that In some large cities
it might he practicable to reduce the num-
Der of collectors, but 1t would not be in re-
gions less thickly populated; besides, q re-
duction of the number of collectors would
not greatly reduce the expense, as they
were paid chiefly by fees depending on the
amount of business done.
Mr.. Trumbull said that as he understood
the act of last June on this subject, 1t pro-
vided for greater reduction of internal rev.
enue officers than the pending bill would
make. That law authorized q reduction
of the whole number of assessors and col
lectors to one hundred and sixty, while this
bill, although abolishing assessors, would
allow the retention Of collectors to the num-
Der of about two hundred and ninety. He
did not say he would not vote for this bill,
because he was in favor of any bill design
ed to reduce the cost of the Internal Reve-
nue. Department; but in view Of how little
had been accomplished under the previous
law, he had not much confidence that this
one would effect the object.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, said that when
Gen. Grant came into power there were
$500 assistant assessors, but now there
were only about 1900. There had been
reduction under the law passed three years
ago of about 1900 assistant assessors, be-
sides about 80 collectors. The law of June
last was passed, providing for the reduction
of the number to 80, and now Senator
Trumbull complained that no action had
been taken under the law, ignoring the
facS that the time had not yet
arrived when the law was to go into effect.
But in the meantime the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue had devised scheme by
which the force could be very much more
reduced than by the law Of June last. That
law reduced the number of Collectors aud
Assessors to so, leaving it with the Asses
sor to retain the present number Of Assls-
tant Assessors; but this Bill would reduce
the number of Collectors to one for each
collection district, while providing that no
Collector shall receive more pay than S4,-
500 and as their deputies are to be paid out
of their own pockets, the number OF depu-
ties makes no difference to the United
States.
Mr.. Trumbull in reply to Mr.. Morrilps
statement that the time for the law Of June
last to go into effect had not yet arrived,
read the following proviso:
That by the law prior to the 1st day of
Jan. 1873, it shall be The duty of the Presi-
dent, and be is hereby authorized and di-
rected to reduce the Internal Revenue dis
tricts In the United States to 80 in humber.
He (Mr. Trumbull) repeated that the
number of officers of Internal Revenue al
| lowed to be retained under this bill was
greater than the number allowed by the
| laws already enacted but unexecuted. The
plea that deputy collectors would cost the
| United States nothing, because each collec-
tor would pay his own deputy collectors
out of his 81, 800 year, was preposte r
| Gus.
Mr.. Casserly said that the administra-
| ton, whether from want Of power or will,
| had failed to carry ont the reforms in the
| Internal Revenue Department, for which
Congress had provided. He believed If the
| President understood the subject more
| thoroughly be would be more prompt to
act on his own judgment in enforcing the
| law; but 1t was his misfortune to be sur
rounded by men interested in keeping the
truth from him, anAwho, being themselves
pressed at home by q clamorous army OF
ofice-holding leeches, are unable TO do their
duty to the President.
Mr.. Sherman said there was not the least
occasion for the Senator from California
| (Casserly) or any one TO arTsign the Presi.
dent in connection with this subject, or to
intimate that he had in some way cOntriV-
ed to put off the execution of the laws Of
June last until after the election. Every
body knew that in matters of this kind the
President did not act. merely upon his OWL
Judgment. No doubt by the first of Janu.
airy he would have performed the duty i'm
posed upon him by this law; but be would
do it after due consideration with the Off
GERS of the department. There was no oc-
casion for the intimation that the Presi
dents course was in some way connecsed
with politics.
Afer further discussion the Financs
Committees amendments were agreed t;
and the bill passed.
The bill for the relief of the sufferers
the Boston fire, was called up by Mr.. viii
son. Mr.. Sperry of Michigan, criticised
the bill, but said he would vote for it,
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, opposed the bill
As matter of relief it was humbug, and
as a matter of policy extremely vicious
Mr.. Sumner said he hoped the bill woulC
be passed as it came from the House. Tht
bill was opposed as setting bad precedent
but the precedent would be only applicable
in similar case, and when such cas-
should occur he should insist upon its ap
plication.
Mr.. Carpenter opposed the bill as he hat
opposed the Chicago relief bill, on til
ground that it was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Logan favored the bill. He denie
that it was a humbug, and said that til
passage of the Chicago relief bill was on
OF the strongest inducements to the promI
rebuilding of Chicago.
Without any action on the bill the Senat
at O'Clock p. NJ. went into Executive Sc:
sion, and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE
In the House to-day the Senate bill au
thorizing the National Bank of Lyon:
: Michigan, to change its location and nam
was passed.
Mr.. Dawes, from the Committee o
Ways and Means, reported the bill author
izing the Secretary of the Treasury to i:
sue coupon bonds in exchange for register
ed bonds, the expense of the change to b
!, paid by the owners. After discussion tn
bill passed. Yeas 1856; nays %. Mr.. Dave
explained that while the Secretary had au
thority to change coupon bonds into regis
tered bonds, be had not correlative author
ty to change registered boads into coupoI
bonds, and consequently the latter class
bonds, on account OF their facility of trans
fer, commanded higher price in Europ
than registered bonds. This bill woul
place The two classes on an equality b
making them interchangeable. The onl
effect of the bill was to remove the presen
obstacles to negotiability Unregistered bond;
Mr. Burchard, OF Illinois, remarked ths
the objections which were supposed to ez
ist to exchange registered bonds int
: coupons bonds were proved by eXperienc
| tn have no wajoht Tho Sanretarv of tn