New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-02-13
o,r Ide, of Cs.som- Reform.

The readers Of The Tribune know whether 1t -
favorable or hostile to the correction OF abuses apc
needless expenditure in the Public Servioe' and
whether il makes any difference with as as to our
party being in or ont Of power II wo say more
on the subject when thew bgs ~ it is because
we have then more hope Of seeing something &C.
complisbed. And we have ceased being sanguine
even then
Congress ought instantly 70 nske-ought b have
made weeks ago--temporary provision for the psy
rnert Of the Officers Of the Customs. II greet
shame and wrong to let them 20 unpsid from week
TO week, even including those WHO have been dis
charged from service because Of an act OF Con
gress A temporary supply bill should be passed
and then systematic and caretrl revision OF the
service should be made, and appropriations for til
current ana ensuing fiscal years coiiormably there
to- 1t is not right TO ask or expect the Secretary
Of the Treasury TO take alone the responsibility OF
cutting here and pairing there to save over Hall o
Million Of Dollars, at the same time that the SCR
vice 10 extended to the amount Of at least Qusr-
ter of Million. II the House or its leading Com
mittee wants suggestions or an outline from th'
Secretary, Il has only to say the word. But
the oct should after all be that Of Congress, and
its responsibility should rest the two Houses
If the Naval Oirces, with al their expensive ira
chinery, can be dispensed with let Congress Sc!
the word Il the Revenue Cutters are needless,
or cost more than they come TO- let Congress order
them laid up II the Collectors or any subordinate
are paid too avishy, let Congress revise then sal
arics Let Congress indicate where and how u
will have retrcucbmenis made and not merely or
der the Secretary to do more work with less mo
ney That is reforming too easily and cleaPly. and
while we approve the act OF last Session. and voted
Tor it, did not suppose that was to be the end o.
the matter but presumed that it would be tollowef
up In detail at this Session SO il should, and ",
trust will be.
We doubt the propriety OF limiting by law the
number of persons to be employed in the collection
Of Revenue. At a port like ours, the business may
40 increase as to render tho restriction TO spel
tied number Of officers absolutely suicidal. Bu
the compensation o, each grade of functionarcs
should be fixed by law, and the law should expressly
provide that no officer should draw dollar of pey
without solemny affirming that he had truly earned
that money by faithful service during the time spell
ned. He should also produce the like aitirma
ton of the officer next above him that such the
fact II would be easy in this way to secure abso-
lutely all the service which is paid for, at such
prices as Congress shall deem Just, aud stop tie
pcnsoning Of broben-down politicians on the pub
lie treasury. In short thoro is no difficulty in ma
hing whatever retrenchmeats are desirable ana
necessary, aud Congress ought to do il, IN spite o.
lanentation here or elsewhere Let us have less
defamation and mutual incnlpstiop but an earnes,
inquiry by Members of both parties to see what
retrenchnents Of expense tho service will bear
and how they may be most promptly and bsne IL
eia!ly effected. The Government is deeply in delt
its income threatens to be inadequate, and there
lie talk Of new Loans to be made in the midst ~
profound peace-a kind OF talk which prudent se
wing people insnnctively revolt at Let us have
then thorough reform of the Revenue Service,
and have IL now