The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-09
Dfaorga nIzation or the Treasury Depart
rnent

page
reorganization or the Treasury Depart
ment.
According TO all accounts, the Treasury depart
ment of the United States, throughout all its rami-
fcations, and extending TO the most distant custom
houses was never IN such a lamentabe state of
disoreanizaton as It now presents, and which 1t
has been gradually reaching during the last nine
morths. THIS disorganiZaton and confusion pre-
vail in various custom houses, but in more marked
and SPECIAL manner in the revenue department
of this metropolis, under the management of Mr.
Maxwell Even the organ of the government at
Washington admits this confusion in the several
custom houses, to the fullest extent. million of
dollars has, it is supposed, been lost to the public
treasury during the first year or eighteen months
Of the present administration. The merchants,
likewise, have been made liable to every imposi-
ton and every embarrassment that incompetence,
ignorance and folly could inflict on them Indeed,
TO so great an extent has this mismanagement IN
the treasury department and in the various custom
houses been accumuatng, during a few months
past, that the subject has been brought before Goa
gress, and is now daily discussed, in all its length
and breadth, In the House of Representatives, but
without any prospect Of reaching probable or
practicable termination.
The public will be very anxious TO know-the
great independent public prncipally-by what
me ans and from what causes this deporable con-
fusion and Encouragement have been introduced
INTO the Treasury department Of the government.
We shall endeavor to give some Information aud
20 throw some light on the subject
Ii is very well known that when the present Sc
eretary OF the Treasury, Mr.. Meredith, came lnto
power, with the rest ct MS colleagues in the cab.
net, there gen. raj belief that bat f. changes
would take place in the PsrsonHd of that or the
other departments, except such as would be econo-
nical in the expenditures, and thereby diminish
the utgoings Of the treasury This belief, how
ever, only LASTED for d short time. Two months
had scarcely elapsed, when, under the auspices of
a very unexpected spirit at Washington aud else
where, system OF changes, removals, and pro-
rcriptons took place, throughout the whole OF the
treasury department, going to such length, in
fact, as to 10y the foundation OF all the su6sequen,
d difficulties, aud enutng II TO be looked upon as
the principal cause Of all the arrangements and all
the trouble now experienced IN that department
throughout the country. II Is very true that the
Secretary OF the Treasury, and his satellites at
Washington and in other places, allege that the
sum fixed on by the last Congress as being con-
sidered sufficient for the collection of the revenue
department, and of the removals that have been
recently made, together with the prospect OF not
beng able to pay those that remain. This dis
coveIy, however, Is only a recent invention. The
amount appropriated by the last Congress to defray
the collection OF the revenue, was as well known
a year ago as il Is now and the Secretary Of
The Treasury, il he had been competent for the
poet which he fills, and was willing to COM
mis- xtfhh 0afh 0f off have al
his employees and his business to the amount
authorized by Congress to pay them. Among
men &C business, men Of intelligence, and men
who undertsnd these matters, there Is only one
opinion in relation to this SUBJECT and that is, that
the whole business Of the New York Custom
House, and of the different custom houses In con-
nection with the Treasury department throughout
the country, might, under an economical system
and with competent persons, be managed within
the amount authorized by law, and without any
of Hose extreme and ridiculous and foolish mea-
recently undertaken by the Secretary and his
various collectors.
What, then, msy be considered the real cause
Of the difficulties in the Treasury department, and
the reoessiiy of dismissing so many personsl II
very easy to the origin Of those difficulties
As soon as the Secretary Of the Treasury had
mstursd his arrangements at Washington, his new
coll, ctors here and elsewhere proceeded to remove
all the best, most competent and efficient officers
and appoint in their places quantity Of folly, inn
beclity and ignorance, which brought about the
present arrangement in the public business Of his
department. Nor is this oil. The last adminstra- /
non was not without its faults The last collector
with al his business merits had also his errors.
II il very well known among the Knowing ones
here and in Washington, that the last admnisira-
iion. under Secretary Walker and Collector Law
renee, pensloned a number Of lazy; idle, lndolent
fellows ca the Custom House, whose labors were
usslsss. and whose Offices were mere sinecures.
Among them, We have heard the names OF various
Persens connected with the press Of thus city, Of
whom NJ NJ Noah was the head. When Mr.
maxwell came ibto Office, instead OF cutting of |
those sinscurcs, We have the bes, reason for /
believing that he continued many of them ia 4
Office. aud psid Ihem their salaries without their
performing any service add not only did he do
that, but he added TO the number and picked ~
q gfea, many Wig loafers and atiaehts of the viii,
press, and placed them side by side with the
stbsrs. Tbs Encouragement ~ ar Maxwell.
IA addition to he removals OF competent men, has
created two.thlrds, IL four fourths Of the dill.
eulties which have occurred IN the Custom House
m New York and we have the best reason Coz
believing that the same cause produced similar
difficulties elsewhere. Mr. Marvel. too. was not
o merchant and a man Of business. lie was a
lawyers Tombs lawyer, Of the worst dcscnp
zion, long before he came into public life, and for
twenty years previously he had been on, Of the