New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
y1JtIp CONGRESS--Isr SESSION

prCJuAR REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
s.rrRp.ys SESSION or THE HoUsE-MG WOOD
DELIVERS SPEECH SEVERELY CRIrIcIsrNG
rux OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. BECK. KELLEY.
AND BURCHARD ALSO ADDRESS THE HOUSE,.
HOUSE. WASHINGTON. March 7. 1874.
The House met for debate on the Tax bills,
Mr. Wilson er 1owa) in the chair as Speaker pro tenn
ARRAaSMENr OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND TUE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY BY Mr. WOOD.
Mr. WOOD (Dem.. n. ", member OF the ways and
Means Committed then addressed the House, replying
20 the recent speech Of Mr. Dawes Qsep, Mass on the
condition OF the Treasury The most important parts OF
his speech are given in the following extracts:
But the Chairman. while properly denOunoing ex-
travagance is deficient in his remedy as the Gov
has been in creating the disease After pre-
remedy He says there are but three ways-frst,
rStre 1S,pS%. Ss5snf He dscsrds the two former Of
these and throws himself entirely upon economy and
retreuohmont as the only mode of extrication from
the difficulty. But that gentleman appears not to
see that all his propositions for economy and re-
present fiscal year and not during it, He very properly
demands economical reform IN the expenditures
procuring anything desired that But the
deoencics in the Treasury are now pressing and mue
date They lack to meet pendures already
provided for by tue appropriation bills Of the last Con
rcss It the present moment that is the life OF me
Government and not what take place next year or
the year after. while in my Judgment the SSlgOOOOo
demanded for the fiscal year ending on the SOh june
1875, least S50O0OOO or S6OOOO 700 much anu
should be reduced to about s5000O0O Yet that is not
now the question which Is 10 supply dehGI eAlst
ing with reference to the demands or tDe treasury
before the commencement of the next fiscal year:
Therefore regret that the gentleman has not
10 MS come practical proposition TO meet the danger OF
bankruptcy now staring us in the face. concur win WIN
hlm that the people % pear 40 f fe Country 70
Nor am in favor of adding one dollar 10 tne per
nanent debt therefore see no mode OF rene1 except
IN the direction OF curtalimeht OF eAPenuios 1y -
proposition is that all Of the balances unexpended OF
only those that are absolutely necessary until
after the expiration OF the fiscal year. or until nras ts
will enable the Government to meet them. IN NY
judgment receipts from imports Will be larger Snsn @
of duiable goods remaining In bonded warehouses;
will be withdrawn before the lst Of June and thus aad
the amount to the resources of the Government; ana
with the reyviDg Spring trade there can Do no reason
why we may noIIantepate much larger income 'pad nav
i oc can ne no doubt as To- the policy OF holding
very large proportion OF tine money hereto
fore appropriated, especially for public works. en-
,on ny to rC% So % without emDassng the treasury
The laws passed during the war. and probably made
tpon the people But what was exousabe then can
have no excuse Our drst duty was to have mod mod
ted or repealed most OF them what mas Deen oone ne
With the exception Of reduction OF 10 per cent In The
tariff and tTihe in the army and navy, nothing nas
enormously increased; and as to return to specie
payments have been tns aSa to MAKE a oSn TsaGmP
the taxation created during the war with but 9
now he in dlshonored position had not @ tae
fatal policy of anticipating the public debt been
the present Administration on the 4h of March 1860
the then Secretary of the Treasury found himself IL
possession Of surplus balance over ana above the pre-
cedng wears receipts and expenditures of $90OOOO o
which IJOOO,OOO had been accumulated within three
been held sacred foundation for the redemption OF
the lega tenders upon which TO begin resump
syston OF a redemption of tho bonded debt no
due. while entirely neglecting the legal tender
debt. passed due, aud insisted upon continuing
tho ruinOus var taxation. for the purpose OF OK
tending this policy He bought tilOOOeOO Oh pon9s @ M It
tuoY Ngni "A XS,322
thus paying bonus out Of the public funds for ths plly
ege dong not only continued injury To the industry
of the country by taxation but also IN di
vertng resources from the liquidation OF demand
notes such legal tenders and by the payment OF
the funded obligations having eighteen years to mature
According to the Treasury satoneHt & Issued & Inc Isl o
tween April, 1869. and sept o. lS!l upon which was
paid premium OF Sosf6sbS2 IL III TINS had hoI oeeh
done there would be nearly &OGOOOO) IN the Treas
ury with which TO meet the present deficiency ana save
the country from the impending necessity OF increasing
the pubc debt or imposing more GXauOh' ~ Is uiheuIt
to nnd words to sufficiently express proper condemna-
ton Of such a suicidal policy. What would be thought
Of merchant who anticipated the payment OF his
obligations having long time to run. while he at the
were payable demand and remained dish0n-
ored l am opposed both to the extension OF the
public debt well the anticipation OF its payment.
Public attention has recently been called 10 the subject
Of mo'etes which are me Oh F tb
regular salaries, compensation or incentive TO them
60 the best of their ability when receiving their appoint
rnents. The regular compensation or the collector
Naval Officer and surveyor Of the Port of New-York,
not including seizures or other peTquistes, may be
fairly stated at $4,000 year each. The duties devoved
upon these officials are mostly performed by sub
ordnatcs leave OF absence for SIX months could be
given to either OF them without any detrmont 10 the
public service. Indeed II Is quito pracucaDe ana con.
stent with the public good to comprehend the duties OF
the three They are eacn allowed one-sxth OF
all seizures fines and penalties derived from goods at
tempted 10 be imported IN disregard OF the duties I'M
posed by While true that this feature OF the
revenue law not OF recent introduction yetlt equally
that has never before ceen carried 70 the extent
TO which has been under this Administration Before
OF Gen. Grant 20 power IN no one year during
the history Of the Government would the aggregate IN
conc TO the Collector OF the Port of NewYOrk exceed
$4,000 10 $4,000 year, including salary and yet the i'm
portarous there betrayed than twothrds of the
Whole expenses OF the Government without any in
ternal revenue Whatever But now, lmpeeo Dy avarce
or partisan interest," scarcely an importer or the City OF
NewYork but is subject TO espionage. suryehance and
oppressioD. The events OF the last Two years IN New
YORK and Boston prove one OF two things that
revenue laws ana the nooe OF tne revenue
radically defective ana shOulu De amended or re-
pealed. or that the Government has placed men to
try The evil is terrible and should be at once erad
Gated fMr. Wood then went on TO illustrate how IN
nOcenty man i liable to be entrappea and ruined
an York" quoting from THE TRIBUNE to
cess as adopted by the professional nformer
Tue Secretary of the Treasury in reply TO resolution OF
amount of money paid from July 1862 to Now So 1s3
m the settlement OF suits Judgments or claims made by
enna AVS al the New-York and Boston Custom houses.
For NewYok he states IL TO be from March 1869, 70
Nov 80 1919 S2OOs54 46 and from July l. 1862 TO March
isGs 81 1866 a. making total of t3,753,52 7s or
this SUN there distributed 70 the tnfOrmers $685.
nov so ISs being period Of four years and niue
,nopths. twSs t9s7 1872 49, while from July l. 1862,
ssO, to nArSs Sons i was PeISa ~ beHs proOi
OF the superior activity OF the present
aIsstor o the Port received s as ri Naval ocer
t241sS o.; Surveyor sS9l2S 6l leaving the remainder
svne the Special Agent of the Treasury department
These sums do not include the interest which these
co%rs' have been furnished by ocsi statement Of
the customs seizure cases IN tne calendar Oh ,nat