The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-16

Thos. p. Sperm, Commissioner Of claims
ON O.ages, sper day
and Secretary at do
Lucius Lyon, (late " B. Senator from
Michigan) to disinbute
half breed Chippewa
money, 8 do
and Secretary at do
Nathaniel West, Commissioner 70 inyes-
tigate claims on the
Miamis, do
and Secretary at s do
And some dozen or Is others at VARIOUS points on igL
duty at pay of - 50 TO IS per day.
| need not mention the various sub agents and en-.
ployees who are more or less connected with the dis
,rbu.ion of Indian annuities nor advert to the i'm.
mense population and fraud which have been carried
on in that branch Of service Nor need mention the
numerous contractors for Indian supplies, having in
tercoursc with the Department, and less sub
ject to its influence. could mention houses, probs
bly,, that have made large sums of money in the sup
plying Of the Indians and late Indian Commission
whose suddenly acquired wealth has put him a, the
head Of bank in the South
The Pension Office consists ofa Commissioner and
Is clerks and messenger with salaries in the aggre
gate of abou. go, 900. Thsre also 40 pension
agents scattered the Union who receive stated
compensation but get their pay out Of the old soldiers
and out of the interest of the large of money
which lay in their hands for long
The Typographical Bureau, with its IS to 40
agents. with pay Of l-2 to per cent on disburse.
ments or salaries Of % to IS per day. or 200 per an.
mum for experimenting and disbursing, for improve
mens, with their contractors and laboren under them
The Engineer Department with 4 principal agents
and clerks, and salaries Of upwards $4,000 and
some Of them per centage besides
Then there are the cerkship Of the Commanding
Generals Oficc-of the Adjutant Gencras--of the
Quartermasers Department, some Of the business Of
which would asonish the country-of the Commissary
General of Subsiaencc--of the Purchasing Depart
ment--of the Ordnance Office, &C., numbering nearly
400 with salaries Of 50 70 3l26 par month Wash.
ington, and having NUMEROUS dependencies and con,
nccons with the suffers armores and other agencies
throughout the United States.
The printing patronage Of the War Department, is
from 1900 to 5000 dollars per annum.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
This Department handles more money than any
other, and the number Of its appointments is second
only to the Post Office Department Its machinery is
cumbrous and confused. II includes under its head
the comprolers, auditors the customs the lighthouses
lightships revenue cutter service, registers and
ceivers surveyors, and the mnts. The Blue Book
gives but portion Of the of those who enjoy
its patronage, and yet the list fills g. pages In
some entire States and at large number Of ports
pecially, the expenditures for collecting
ceeds the revenue collected This Is decisive agans,
the economy and good sense and even patriotism Of
those who control it. The Blue Book docs not show
this fact But other official documents especially COM
muncated to Congress do have included some in
stances in the details below.
This Department employs at Washington about $50
persons including the district collector and bestows
upon them an annual pay of upwards of $4ll 900
The printing patronage Of the Department is about
SO 900 per annum, besides items such az see in the
last appropriation BILL viz $ls4l7 for parchments and
printing &C. for the Land Office, which refer to asa
| specimen.
There arc employed in the States exclusive Of the
District of Columbia, upwards of 5000 principal Off
GERS and agents under this head exclusive ofthe reve
nue. agencies Of the Post Office, and the numerous e1
| tras and laboren.
| To give superficial idea Of the extent of the pa
tronagc Of this Department, will present schedule
merely Of the principal officers in the several States
without including postmasers judges, attorneys, mar
shalls special agents the legion ofsubornacs whose
votes at the polls perhaps more effective because
more numerous than those of their employers.
The subject Of lighthouses is but partially touched
The appropriation for that service this year is nearly
| half million Of dollars
10 collectors Of the customs, and l07 inspectors,
puapcrs weiChers clerks &c with an apprepate sa-
larry Of $s003S 81
| % lighthouse keepers, aggregate salary ll,l2o
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
collector and % inferior officers with aggregate
salary of $4,000
MASSACHUSETTS,
IL collectors and 224 other officers including in
spectors measurers clerks SC. with aggregate saa-
ny Of $l37 $50 49, and the collector of Boston (salay
g. 4O0 untes in his Office the experimenting Of light
houses and political lecturer General
SO light house keepers, aggregate salary $l3,925
| keeper Of light ship, 700
RHODE ISLAND.
3 collectors. and SO other officers with aggregate
salary 500, 765 CT
| Q lighthouse keepers, aggregate salary $500
VERMONT.
collector and 20 'ubOrdinatc'' aggregate sala-
nv, $3.50 81
lighthouse keeper salary, $50
CONNECTICUT.
4 collectors and 30 subordinate officers aggregate
salary, S0O,015 10
lOlight-houss Keepers aggregate salary. $500
light-ship keeper, salary, 500
NEW YORK.
10 collectors "a deputy collectors, and 524 other