Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16

year. who should examine all letters contracts ard warrants
prepared for the signature of the Secretary and perform such
other duties, requiring the signature Of the Secretary
might conveniently be devOyed upon him by The depart
ment To maintain the unity and efficiency Of the system,
he should be appointed by the Secretary and subject his
direction. He would able and efficient clerk with
salary Of not less than 81, 700 per annum.
The office of Comptroller Of the Treasury should be divided
and that great and augmenng portion OF his duties relating
the receipts from customs, and the accounts of collectors and
other officers Of the connected herewith should be
devoved upon the head of bureau be called the Com
missioner of Customs whose duties would be various and i'm
portant.
The First Comptroller should retain all the other duties
performed by him. and especially his decision upon claims and
accounts which would occupy the whole time of the head Of
the bureau Combined under the First Compol-
Ter the duties appeanng both receipts and expenditures
the public money, accounts and claims the Office overbur-
dened with business which cannot promptly and properly be
performed by any individual however able and aboous
The duties performed by the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs most numerous and important and must be vastly
increased with the great number of tribes scattered
Oregon New Mexico, and California, and with the interest
ing progress of many tribes in Christianity knowledge and
civilization. These duties do necessarily appean war;
but peace and domestic relations with those tribes
placed the constitution under the charge Of this Government
This most important bureau, them should be detached from
the War Department, with which it has necessary
nexion. .#t
The duties Of the Patent Office, great and important as
they are necessarily with the progress of
light and knowledge, the development of the wonderful in
venve genius OF counymen and the researches OF
many enlightened minds in this country into machinery, the
physical sciences and the Of Nature This bureau
has necessary proper connexon with the State Depart
ment, and ought to be separated from it.
The Pension Office should also be detached from the War
Department, nasmuch military orders given pen
soners such by the Secretary Of War; by the Navy
Department. much less the widows and heirs who receive
these bounties from the Government.
There is another reason why the Pension Office well
the Indian Bureau should be detached from the War Depart
nj 1uuda fha
y to whom the Land Office would be enthusiastically
der system Of revolutionary and military bounes and
land warrants well under treaties and reservations with
Indian tribes many questions arise IN relation to public
lands and private land claims connecting themselves frequent
y and intimately with general land system, and with de-
cons upon land titles made by the Commissioner Of the Ge
neral Land Office, and therefore all those bureaus whose du
ties intimately connected with the public lands, well
with private land claims ought to be placed under the
pevsion of the Department. conflict of decision and
jurisdiction may and does in fact take place.
Having then detached the Patent Office from the Depart
ment Of State the Land Office from the Treasury, well
its supervisory duties in connexon with accounts Of marshas
and clerks Of the courts including their connexion with the
having detached also from the War Department the
Indian Bureau and the Pension Office the supervisory
authority regards them ALL exercised respectively by
the Secretary Of State the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Secretary of War; should be entrusted to the head of
department. to be called the Secretary of the Interior nasmuch
his duties would be connected with those branches of the
public service devoved upon this Government by the express
The duties of this department. thus organized would
be great and important fully equal to those appeaning to
the head of any other department except the Treasury, under
system at present organized The whole increased
pense OF this reorganization would exceed twenty thou
sand dollars per annum, whereas the Government, in
increased accountability and efficiency Of the service and
the people, in the more prompt discharge Of their business
with the several departments and bureaus and the
immense saving of time and expense the gain would be
indeed the advantages vastly exceeding the small additional
expense.
From the great and continued multiplication Of the business
of the Treasury Department organized, with the rapid
increase of maritime frontiers area, commerce.
revenue, and population there great danger that
future PERIOD the Treasury Department may be broken down
by the weight its abos and consequences disastrous
to the public interest.
Organized proposed the duties Of the Treasury
Department would still be great and arduous.
Connected with this subject, recommend the completion
at early day. Of the treasury building, fire.
proof rooms to all bureaus free from rent well to
accommodate and include in this edce the State Department
with its invaluable archives
The Department has purchased for the appropriated by
Congress both the bridges within this District the East
branch OF the Potomac which free Of toll,
designed by the wise and liberal legislation Of Congress and
in concentrating this result, valuable aid rendered to
by the Mayor Of this city.
The various recommendations Of this my last financial
report respectfully submitted to the enlightened consde
be such would best promote the interest Of the Amr
people, For them and for my country and her glorious
conederacy Of sovereign and united States invoke the
nued blessings Of Heaven. May the Union be harmonious
progressive and perpetual May her course be Of honor
peace, and gloy-of equity, justice, and good faith May
each successive administration, in all time to come, in faith
fully dschagng the arduous duties Of its exalted trust receive
the support and appreciation Of the people Guided by
cous rectude, may they be commended and sustained in
every effort to promote the public good and their errors
which the lot Of humanity be regarded with indulgence
and overruled by bengnan Providence for the advance
Of the happiness and welfare Of beloved country
r. j. WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury