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CHAPTER VII.

Treasury Report for 1832.-Appropriations for Pensions.-for support of Government.-for Naval Service.-for Fortifications.-for Military Service.-for Indian Department.-for District of Columbia.-for Internal Improvement.-LightHouse Bill lost.

THE annual report of the secretary of the treasury on the state of the finances, was transmitted to congress on the 5th day of December, 1832.

The balance in the traasury on the 1st of January, 1832, was stated at $4,502,914 45. The actual receipts, during the first three quarters of 1832, were estimated as follows:

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Leaving in the treasury, on the 1st of January, 1833, including the Danish indemnity, $1,644,107 93. Of this, however, $1,400,000 were unavailable funds, consisting of the notes 23,918,659 51 of broken banks.

21,730,717 99
1,620,130 18
490,000 00
87,811 34

Estimated receipts during
the fourth quarter, inclu-
ding Danish indemnity, 7,834,000 00

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The receipts for 1833 were estimated at 24,000,000.

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debt, are estimated at, 17,638,577 35, viz:

Civil, foreign intercourse, and miscellaneous, Military service, including fortifications, ordnance,

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Indian affairs, pensions, arming the militia, and internal improvements, Revolutionary pensions under the act of 7th of June, 1832, including arrearages from the 4th of March, 1831, in cases in which payment has not been made,

Naval service,
Interest on the public debt,

The estimates for the public service, having been referred to the committees, the bills provi3,045,361 70 ding for the wants of the several departments, were reported by the committee of ways and means, and that providing for 6,878,790 09 the pension list, was taken up in the house on the 3d of January, and, having received the sanction of both houses, became a law.

4,000,000

3,377,429 38 336,996 18

During the year 1833, however, the moneys received from Denmark, for the payment of the indemnities due to American citizens, under the convention, will be payable, estimated at 694,000 00. Which, added to the expenditures, make the aggregate charge upon the treasury for the year, exclusive of the reimbursement of the public debt, 18,322,577 35. The public debt, on the 2d of January, 1832, amounted to $24,322,235 18. The amount disbursed on that account, during 1832, was, for payment of principal, 17,302,410 82. Interest 777,646 64. Leaving only 7,001,698 83 of public debt, existing on the 1st January, 1833,

As the bank shares belonging to the United States, with the premium, amounted to more than that sum, the secretary regarded the stock as substantially extinguished, ar d congress was congratulated upon that event. The secretary then went on to recommend a reduction of the duties to the revenue standard.

By this act $624,685, were appropriated to the revolutionary pensioners, in addition to an unexpended balance of $360,540: $98,732, to the invalid pensioners, in addition to an unexpended balance of $201,942, and $5500 to widows and orphans.

A bill making appropriations in part for the support of the government for 1833, and for certain expenditures in 1832, was brought forward in the house on the 17th of December. By this bill, it was proposed to allow for the pay of congress, and its officers, $342,268, and for stationery, and contingent expenses, $25,600, for the senate, and $100,000, for the house.

An amendment was proposed in the house by Mr. Foster, so as to prevent the expenditure of any part of the contingent fund for any printing, except such as was connected with the ordinary proceedings of congress, and executed under contract of the the public printer.

This amendment was carried, ayes 101, nays 70, and the bill was sanctioned by the senate, and became a law.

The general appropriation bill for 1833, was not taken up in the committee of the whole house, until the 1st of March.

At this late period of the session, it was not possible to go into an examination of the public expenditures.

The committee on public lands had been directed to investigate the affairs of the land office, and Mr. Wickliffe, when this bill was taken up, stated that the committee had not been able, for want of time, to complete the investigation of the concerns of the land office, but from the progress which had been made, he was fully convinced that the commissioner had made an improper application of the funds placed in his hands.

Mr. Verplanck proposed an item to cover certain arrearages which had improperly accrued in that office. He said he did it with great reluctance, and merely because the government must of course pay debts contracted by its authority. But the expenditure had the decided disapprobation of the committee of ways and means.

This amendment was adopted, but one proposed by Mr. Verplanck allowing $34,000, for extra clerk hire in the post office department, was promptly negatived, as was an amendment proposed by Mr. Washington, granting $250,000, to enable the city of Washington to pay up up its subscription to the stock of the Washington and Ohio canal.

An amendment was also

made, providing for the appointment of a commissioner of pensions, with a salary of $2500, and the privilege of franking.

The bill was then reported to the house, and the next day was taken up in the house, and the amendments were agreed to.

The amendment providing for the appointment of a commissioner of pensions with privilege of franking, was amended, on motion of Mr. E. Everett, extending the franking privilege of members of Congress.

Mr. Verplanck moved an additional appropriation of $34,000, for clerks in the post office department.

Mr. E. Whittlesey opposed this amendment.

Mr. Conner supported itand read a letter from Mr. M'Lean, late postmaster General, on the subject.

Mr. Wickliffe opposed the amendment at length, which was further supported by Messrs. Connor and R. M. Johnson, and adopted.

Mr. Bell moved to amend the bill, by inserting a clause granting Stephen Pleasanton $5,000 for certain extra services performed by him.

Mr. Hubbard moved the previous question on the bill as previously amended-which was sustained, and the bill was passed and sent to the senate for concurrence.

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In that body, the bill was amended by making appropriations for custom-houses Baltimore and Newburyport; ordering the instalments to be received from France, under the

treaty to be invested either in stock of the United States, or of the bank of the United States, or to be loaned to the United States bank upon interest; and allowing to the revenue officers the same income as before the tariff of 1832.

These amendments were concurred in by the house, and the bill became a law. By this act, the following appropriations were made.

For the expenses of the executive depart-
ment, including vice-president's sa-
lary, and of the territorial govern-
ments,
$793,500 72
survey of the public
lands,
diplomatic intercourse,

Expenses of the judiciary,

of light houses,

180,500

256,282 35

335,400

beacons, &c. .

231,850

survey of the

coast,

20,000

to execute the
Chickasaw trea-
ty,

50,000

Miscellaneous expenses,

pared to support the amendment, until after a formal inquiry.

Mr. Dearborn hoped the amendment would not prevail. He would not presume that the secretary of the navy had abused the power intrusted to him, without full inquiry.

Mr. Hoffman said, that he was satisfied that the number of naval officers was too great, but he thought the house could not exercise a power in limiting the number in any other mode, than by limiting the pay, and emoluments of the officers.

Mr. Adams thought the subject ought not to be introduced in examining this bill, which was to provide for the service of the current year.

He was unwilling to do any thing which might look like a censure of the secretary of the 561,192 74 navy, without giving him an opportunity of being heard; and he hoped that the amendment would not prevail.

The bill making the appropriations for the naval service, was taken up on the 9th of February, in committee. After various unimportant amendments were made without opposition, Mr. Wickliffe moved an amendment, prohibiting the increase of midshipmen without the authority of law. He said that of late, the power of ap. pointment by the secretary, had been abused.

Four hundred and fifty midshipmen were now on the navy list, and within the two last years a great number of appointments had been made.

Mr. Anderson was not pre

The amendment, after some further discussion, was lost, ayes 59, nays 62. It was again pressed in the house, and was again rejected, ayes 88, nays 102. The bill was then passed, and having received a verbal amendment in the senate, became a law.

By that act, there were appropriated,

For pay, subsistence and
provisions,

$1,905,000

506,750

medicines and hospitals, 35,000

repairs of vessels,

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