Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-12-18

ing such new safeguards as are within the pow
er OF legislation to promote these ends; and
have little TO add TO the recommendations sub
submitted in the accompanying PAPERS
By law, the terms of service of our most i'm
portant collecting and discussing officers in the
civil departments are limited to four years, and
when reappointed, their bonds are required to be
renewed.
The safety of the public is much increased by
this feature of the law, and there can be no doubt
that its application TO all officers entrusted with
the collection or disbursement of the public mon
ey, whatever may be the tenure Of their offices,
would be equally beneficial. therefore recon-
mend, in addition to such of the suggestions pres
ented by the heads of Departments as you may
think useful, general provision, that all officers
OF the army or Navy, or in the Civil department.,
entrusted with the receipt or payment Of public
money, and whose term Of service Is either UNI
limited or for longer time than four years, be
required TO give bonds with good and sufficient
sureties, at the expiration Of such period
A change in the period of terminating the fis-
cal year, from the first of October to the first of
April, has been frequently recommended, and ap-
pears 10 be desirable.
The distressing casualties in steamboats,, which
have so frequently happened during the year,
seem TO evince the necessity of attempting 10 pre-
vent them, by means of severe provisions con-
nected with their custom-house papels. This
subject was submitted TO the attention of con-
gross by the secretary of the treasury in his last
annual report. and will be again the present sess-
ion, with additional details 1t will doubtless re-
ceive that early and careful consideration which
its pressing Importance appears to require.
Your attention has heretofore been frequently
called to the affairs of the District of Columbia,
and should not again ask 1t, did not their entire
dependence on Congress give them a constant
claim npon its notice. Separated by the Con-
stituton from the rest Of the Union, limited in
extent, and aided by no Legislature of its own,
it would seem 10 be spot where wise and uni
form system of local government might have been
easily adopted. This District, however, unloru-
naely, has been left 10 linger behind the rest OF
the Union; its codes, OWL and criminal, are not
only very defective, but full of obsolete or ncon-
venent provisions; being formed of portions OF
two States, discrepancies in the laws prevail in
different parts Of the territory, small as it Isl and
although it was selected as the seat of the Gener-
al Government, the site of its public edifices, the
depository of its archives, and the residence OF
officers entrusted with large amounts Of public
property and the management of public business,
yet it has never been subjected TO, or received,
that special and comprehensive legislation which
these circumstances peculiarly demand / am
well aware of the various subjects of greater
magnitude and immediate interest that press them
selves on the consideration of Congress; but
believe there is not one that appeals more direct
ly to its justice than liberal, and generous,
attention to the interests Of the District Of Co.
lumbia, and thorough and careful revision Of
its local government.
MARTIN VAN buren,.
WARRINGTON, Dec. S, 1887.