The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-12-12

tending to their duties with most commendable
zeal and fidelity.
The revenue of the Department, within the
year ending on the thirtieth June last, was four
millions one hundred and thirty seven thousand
and fifty six dollars and nine cents and IT'S la
bilities accruing within the same time, were
three million three hundred aud eighty thousand
eight hundred and forty seven dollars and seven
ty five cents. The increase of revenue over that
oft preceding year was seven hundred ana
eight thousand one hundred and sixty SIX dollars
and forty one cents.
For MANY interesting details refer you to the
report of the Post Master General, with The ac-
complaining papers. Your particular attention
is invited to the necessity of providing more
safe and convenient building for the accommo-
dation ofthat Department.
Law before Congress copies of reports submitted
in pursuance of a call made by me upon the heads
of Departments, for such suggestionsas their expe-
rience might enable them to make as to what fur
Their legislative provisions may be advantageously
adopted to secure tho faithful application of publick
moneys to the objects to which they are appropri-
ated, to prevent the msapplicatlon or embezzle-
ment by those entrusted with the expenditure of
them and generally to increase the security OF the
Governme INT against losses in their disbursement. 1t
is needless to dilate the importance ofproviding
such safeguards as within tho power of
legislation to promote these ends, and have little
to add to the recommendations submitted in the &C
companying papers.
BY law, tho terms of service of our most mpor-
tan collecting and dsbursng officers in the civil de-
parment limited to four years, and when re-
appointed, their bonds required to be renewed,
The safety of the public is much increased by
this feature of the law, and there can be doubt
that its application to all officers entrusted with the
collection disbursement of the public money,
whatever may be the tenure of their offices, would
be equally beneficial. therefore recommend in
addition to such ofhe suggestions presented by the
heads of Departments as you may think useful, n
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 unlimited or for
longer time than four years, be required to give
bonds, with good and sufficient sureties, at the
praon of every such period.
A change in the period of terminating the fiscal
year, from the first of October to the first of April
has been frequently recommended, and appears to
be desirable.
The distressing casualties in steamboats,, which
have so frequently happened during the year, seem
to ovlnco the necessity Of attempting to prevent
them,@ by means of severe provisions connected
with their custom house papers. The sub ect was
submitted to tho attention of Congress by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury in his last annual report and
will be again at the present session, with addition
al details. 1t will doubtless receive that early and
careful consideration which its pressing import
ancc appears TO require.
Your attention has heretofore been frequently
cnodt the affairs OF the District of Columbia, and
should not again ask it, did not their entire de-
pendcnce on Congress give them constant claim
upon its notice. Separated by the Constitution from
the rest Of the Union, limited in extent and aided
by no Legislature of its own it would seem to be a
spot where a wise and uniform system of govern
mont might have been adopted. This district,
however, unfortunately, has been left to lInger be-
hind the rest ftho Union-Its codes, civil and
criminal not only very defective, but full of OBJ
solcte or nconvenient propositions being formed
Of portions OF two states discrepancies in the laws
prevail in diliernnt parts Of the territory small it
is and although it was selected the seat Of the
General Government, the spot of Its public edfces,
the depository of its archives, and the residence of
officers entrusted with large amounts Of public pro-
pery and the management of public business, yet it
has never been subjected to, received, the espoc
al and comprehensive legislation which these cir
cumstancos peculiarly demand. am we'll aware
of the various subjects Of CRATER magnitude and inn
mediate interest that press themselves on the con-
sideraton OF Congress but believe there is not one
that appeals directly to its justice than lib
eral, and generous, attention TO the interests
of the District Of Columbia, and thorough and
careful revision gifts local government.
NJ. VAN buren,.
Washington, Dec. 9Th, 1887.