Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-23

few Of which receive the mails less than
once week, and a large portion OF them
daily. Contractors and post masters in
general are represented as attending to
their duties with most commendable zeal
and fidelity. ST ls..8is
revenue ofthe Department, with
in the year ending on the thirteenth
June last, was four millions one hun
dred and thirty-seven thousand and fif-
ty-six dollars and fifty nine cents, and
the liabilities accruing within the same
time were three millions three hundred
and eighty thousand eight hundred and
forty-seven dollars and seventy-five
cents. The increase Of the revenue
over that Of the preceding year was
seven hundred and eight thousand one
hundred and sixty-six dollars and forty
one cents. o,cT-T r r
! lay before Congress copies of re-
ports submitted in pursuance Of call
made by me upon the heads Of Depart
ments, for such suggestions as their ex-
peridAce might enable them to make, as
to what further legislative provisions
may be advantageously adopted to Sc
cure the faithful application Of pub
lie monies to the objects for which they
are appropriated; to prevent their mis-
application or embezzlement by those
entrusted with the expenditure Of them /;
and generally to increase the security Of
the Government against losses in their
disbursement. 1t is needless to dilate
on the Importance of providing such
new safeguards as are within the pow
er Of legislation to promote these ends !;
and have little to add to the recon-
mendations submitted in the accompa-
nying papers. a
So BY law, the terms Of service of our
most important collecting and disbursing
officers IN the civil department are limi-
led to four years, and when reappoin-
ted, their bonds required to be renewed.
The safety of the public is much increa-
sed by this feature the law, and there
can be no doubt that lis application to
all officers entrusted with the collection
or disbursement Of the public money,
whatever may be the tenor of their Off
ces would be equally beneficial. |
therefore, Recommend, in addition to such
of the suggestions presented by the
heads Of Departments, as you may think
useful, general provision, that all offi-
GERS Of the Army or Navy, or the Ci-
vii Department, entrusted with the re-
ceipt or payment of public monies, and
whose term of service is either unlimi-
ted or for longer term than four years,
be required to give bonds, with good
sufficient securities, at the expiration ol
such period. IR2
A change in the period of termina.
ting the fiscal year, from the first Of
October to the first Of April has been
frequently recommended, and appears
to be desirable. . sa7- 0 n.~
The distressing casualties in steam.
boats which have so frequently hap
pened during the past year, seem tc
evince the necessity Of attempting te
prevent them, by the means of severe
provisions connected with their custom
house papers. This subject was sub.
mitted to Congress by the Secretary
of the Treasury in his last annual report
and will again be noticed at the present
session. with additional details. 1t will
doubtless receive that early and careful
consideration which its pressing i'm
portance seems to require. rr al
Your attention has heretofore been
frequently called to the affairs of the
District Of Columbia, and should not
again ask it, did not their entire depen-
dence on Congress give them a constant
claim upon its notice. Separated by the
constitution from the rest ofthe union, linn
tied in extent, and aided by no Legisia.
ture OF its own, it would seem to be a
spot where wise and uniform govern
q ment might be easily adopted. This
District however, unfortunately, has
been left to linger behind the rest of the
\ Union; its codes civil and criminal, are
very defective, but full Of obsolete or in
convenient provisions, being formedi o.
portions Of two States, discrepancies in
the laws prevail in different parts o.
!, the territory, small as it is; and al
though it was selected as the seat Of the
General Government, the site of its pub
lie edeAicies, the depository Of its ar
chieves, and the residence Of officers en-.
4 trusted with large amounts of public
property, and the arrangement Of pub
lie business, yet it has never been sub
ject 10, or received, thai special and com.
prehensive legislation which these Gil
cumstances peculiarly demand. an
well aware Of the various subjects Q