The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-06-09
distributed as follows
Total
sS12l GO

Total ss,72l GO
This enormous amount stands charged on
the books of the custom.h house in the short
space of three months, Of which SAG IL
were debi,ed TO the collectyr's and store
Keepers offices, in which there were EN-
ployed 70 clerks; making an average oil
1915 10 per annum for stationary for each |
person attached TO these Offices. There !
were, during this quarter, one hundred and
thirty six reams Of iooscaP and letter paper
ordered and supplied for the use OF the Gus
tom house, which forms part OF the ag |
gregate sum as above stated. II Is evident
that so large an amour! OF stationary could
no, have been required for any legitimate
purpose connected with the business OF the
several departments Of the custom house, to
be used 10 the short period OF three months,
and therefore the greater portion OF the ar
ticles purchased must have passed INTO the
hands of Mr.. Curtis, who succeeded TO the
Office of collector about the close OF that
quarter, or have been frauduently abstract
ed from the custom house, OF which no evI.
dence was given to the commissioners; but
in the accounts and vouchers rendered by
~a-- G.-.;s IN the sacnnd quarter OF the
same year, being the first quarter alter he
became collector, there is charged, for dis
bursements in the purchase OF stationary
ordered and received by him for the col
lector's Office alone, 81, 1853 IS; for The sp.
praiser's, Sis so; for the storekeeper's,
5000 81; for inspectors, S24 so; for the
store 10 Washington street, $50 So; max.
ing in the whole, the grand total of Sl0,.
942 80 for stationary alone, during one.hali
Of the year lS4i.
Az examination Of the tables referred to,
aud made part Of this report, will suffi
cienty demonstrate the causes which have
led 20 the enormous expenditures for books,
stationary, and printing but It may be use.
ful to present a summary OF the most re.
markable items charged to the custom
house in the bills rendered by the several
individuals who bad the benefit Of supplying
these articles. The single item OF steel
pens aud quilts, Of the latter OF which but
few were ordered, and therefore scarcely
worth mentioning, amounted. during the
three years of Mr.. Hoyt's administration Of
the custom house, to the SUN OF S6,255 10.
The price Of these pens, charged 10 the
bills rendered and paid by MIR. Hoyt rang.
ed from the minimum Of 50 per gross to the
maximum Of S22 per gross, the larger pro-
portion being Of the lover class, which are
10 general use for clerks, both mercantile
and official. The dispositions Of DlviG
Felt, E. J. Emo, and JOSIAH Hayden whc
are large dealers in the article Of steel pens
are referred 10, to show the standard price
per gross of the descriptions used al tbs
cuaon house. ii purchased in boxes
which is The most convenient mode of sup
plying clerks, (the cards being entirely use
less il will be seen that the first class 0
"GllIot's" magnum bonum peas, or pens o
equal quality, could be supplied, in the
New York market at 8 80 per gross or
the card, or ono half that sum in boxes
and what is denominalod the " commercial
pen, al 81 per gross on the card, or 81
so ID boxes. Taking the average Of these
prices, and considering that nineteen TWEEN
tiesbs Of the pens supplied 10 the custom
house are Of the latter class, It will appeal
that, at these rates, the sum appropriated
by Mr.. Hoyt while he remained ia offic'
would have supplied The enormous quaint
y. of 432 ,237 pens, making an average 0
e l44 ,079 per annum, TO be distributed anon.
Hbou. 100 clerk who are constantly employ
ed ia writing, and few other subordinate of
icers of the customs who occasionally havt
TO make reports to some one Of the depart
ments Of the custom house. This wouls
amount TO about fifteen hundred pens fo
each constant writer per annum.
p Mr. Emo, agent Of large manufacturer
81 pens 10 Massachusetts,, lesifes that ht
alhbiied al the desk Of the collector, Mr.
hSt, TO the cashier, bond and entry clerks
SPECIMENS OF the class Of pens which we're
pa'd fS by Mr.. Hoyt at he minimum Of So
per gros, and made an offer to furnish lae
custom n,gse with any quantity of this ar.
ticle "hichlmighi be wanted at the mode
rate rates absye mentioned, to wit: 81 SO
per gross 10 Aoxes, and 81 per gross or
cards, TO whIchNhe collector "gaye an Of
hand answer, dechsng the offer 50 decided
ly as TO prevent anSyepetitloB of the Offer
Such conduct on ,heNqart Of this high off
Ger of the Government. can be accounted
Cor only on principles am motives incoasls
tea, with the faithful discharge Of the i'm
poriani duties with which he@as nlrus;ed