The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-16
The Reorganization OF the Public Depart.

While some portion OF the Executive business OF
this government has been, for the last four years,
shamefully mlsconducted, the management Of
other departments of it is entitled to almost I'M
qualified approval. The Post Office Department,
and nearly everything under the immediate con-
troll of the President himself, appeared to be con-
Quoted solely for the purpose of rewardng syco
phantic politicians, and deranging the public in
terests; while, the other hand, the Secretary of
the State and the Secretary of the Treasury have
actually sustained the whole burthen of the govern
ment their shoulders, and have exhibited the
most consammate craftsmanship, energy and skill
an the conduct of their respective departments
For wisdom, manliness, and dignity, the official
papers which have issued from Mr.. Buchanan's
pen have never been exceled by those of any OF his
predecessors while, for ornate diction, and terse
ness and vigor of style, doubt if they have been
equalled. The balderdash with which most OF
Mr.. Polk g messages TEEN, is in no wise attribute
BILE to the Sc creary of State, notwithstanding that
all the solid arguments embodied In the Presidents
war messages TO Congress, are to be found in Mr.
Buchanan's despatch to Mr.. Slidell, of Novem
ber 1916.
The report of the Secretary Of the Treasury, of
asst December, as well as his various other fiscal
papers, and his management OF his department,
have elevated that department to an eminence to
which il never before attained. He has produced
these results by his energy, skill and persever-
ance and by physical and mental exertions al
most incredible. lie has been known, for weeks
at a time never to leave the department, even 10
see his family. and to have remained several sue
cessive nights without sleep--the activity of his
mind actually preventing repose.
The accumulation of husiness con naoted With
the war rendered such exertions absolutely neces.
sary but II is VAN to expect that those labors can
be sustained for any length of time. The stream
of business through the departments is cboked up
by an accumulation Of extraneous matter Each
department with the exception of that of the Navy
and the Post Office Is loaded with business which
does not properly belong to II, and which it cannot
transact promptly or properly, without wholly ne
glecting that which is within Its peculiar province
For instance, what connection have Indian af
fairs with the War Department or the Land Office
or Coast Survey with the Treasury or the Patent
Office with the State Department How little So
ever this incongruity might have been felt in the
fancy of the COVE rnmept has ached such point
now that it cannot be suffered to last any longer
The heads of the three departments we have
named, have more than enough to claim their
whole time and attention in the immediate and
proper business of their office. When Mr.. Walker
retIres next March, the Treasury Department must,
of necessity, fall to pieces, unless, in the mean
time, il be IN some way relieved OF the weight
that crushes 1t.
We would, then, have Congress pass laws at its
next session, recognizing the whole the Execu-
tive government. We would have new depart
ment instituted, to be called the Home Department.
the head of which we would have member of
the abInet, end to rank after the Secretary of
State. This officer should have control of the
territories, the Patent Office, and the land surveys,
10 be transferred from the Department Of State
the land Office, mint coast surveys, and light
houses, from the Treasury Department and the
Indian bureau, from the DEPARTMENT. of War. The
revenue bureau should also be transferred from the
Treasury TO the Navy Department, to which it
more properly belongs.
The consular and diplomatic bureaus, in the
State Department, should also be reconstructed on
a more efficient and liberal system. The salaries
Of our diplomatic agents abroad should be increased,
and consulates should be made saarled Offices, as
recommended by Mr. Buchanan two sessions ago.
Our present consular system is the very worst that
could be suffered to exist These officers should
be allowed liberal salary, not less than two thou
sand dollars, and, at the same time, they should
be prohibited from engaging in mercantile busi'
ness, as is the almost invarIable pratlce at
present.
OF all the inconvenience which we have men,
toned, there is none, perhaps, the remedy OF
which Is OF 30 exigent necessity as the Pension
Office. Congress has, under the present system,
fully hall its time occupied every session with the
consideration of private claims for pensions and
other appropriations OF like nature. These
claims are scarcely ever decided on their merits;
but are hurried over, (and that of cesslty) some
rejected, some allowed, often without cause, aud
from the mere caprice of the moment. Tols is a
monsttous grievance, and the members OF both
houses are every year loud in their complaints
The oriy remedy iur this evil would BE- the ap-