Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-10

i
OF the requirements Of the joint resolution Of Congress-
dated 18th September 1871, win be from the
port Of the Superintendent Of the Lighthouse Establish
ment fH4#N e,.af@e Ht
The Department has not yet succeeded in making de-
finite contract for the erection Of the lighthouses the
Pacific coast which have been authorized by Congress-
and great difficulty exists in accomplishing that object in
consequence Of what's considered the inadequate appro
priaton in the opinion Of those best capable of judging
of the facts and circumstances connected with their
struction in that portion of the Union.
The Department will probably have await the further
action Of Congress- and if additional appropriations
made at early day the whole of the structures could
be commenced in the spring. soon the rainy
has terminated, in which it is believed they be
completed and put into operation previous to the ensuing
winter
In pursuance of the authority given to the Department
by the 9th section Of the act of Sd March, 1851 entitled
An act making appropriations for lighthouses, light
boats buoys &c., board Of officers, constituted di-
rected by the provisions of that act organized soon
after its passage The board is composed of the follow
ing officers, viz: Gen. Totten and Col Kearney of the
Army; Commodore Shubrick and Commander Dupont Of
the Navy Prof Bache Superintendent of the Coast Sur
vey; and Lieut. Jenkins, of the Navy, as secretary.
The attention Of the board has been directed to the OBJ
ecs contemplated by Congress The result of their abors
will be transmitted in separate report at early day.
The completion of the experiment for testing the use
and economy of the calcium has been delayed by the
sickness Of the inventor and other 1t is expect
ed however, that full report thereof will be made at
early day, which, when received, win be transmitted to
Congress.
Sites for the customhouses authorized at Bangor
Ptsburg Louisville Saint Louis, and Mobile have been
selected and purchased and the necessary for
the erection Of suitable buildings in progress The
limited appropriation for the site and building authorized
at Cincinnati will not justify the prosecution of that
work beyond the purchase and location of the SITE
have therefore, submitted additional estimate whchs
required to enable the Department to erect building
adapted To the several purposes specified by Congress-
The restriction placed upon the appropriation for GUS
tomhouse and lot at Bath, Maine has prevented any
pendture for that purpose being made The purchase
of suitable site will absorb large proportion of the
appropriation to forbid the erection of building with
the limited amount remaining at the disposal of the De-
partment. An additional appropriation of $25 600 is
therefore recommended
The requirements of the joint resolution of 18th Sep
tember 1S4l not having yet been complied with in rela
ton to the site for custom house Norfolk selected by
the commissioners appointed for the purpose the COM
mencement of that structure has necessarily been delayed
No information in regard to proper site for the
tomhouse authorized in the Territory of Oregon has yet
been received.
1t is expected that the custom-house at Savannah will
be completed and occupied within few weeks.
The work upon the New Orleans custom-house has pro-
crossed rapidly circumstances would allow that at
Charleston S. c. will be prosecuted with every desire for
its completion at the earliest practicable day.
The intrinsic difficulties in constituting and enforcing
many of the provisions of existing and coec
ton laws and particularly those levyng duties imports
have given rise to multiplicity of suits against the col
lectng officers and often under the practice of ndemn
flying collectors who to have acted in good faith the
United States subjected to heavy bills of costs.
In many instances such suits not really necessary
to procure redress for the party aggreved relief might
be generally obtained through application to the Trea
sury Department.
BY the oath section Of the tariff act of 1912 it is made
the duty of collectors and other officers Of the customs to
execute and carry into effect all instructions of the
Secretary of the Treasury relative to the execution of the
laws and his decision is conclusive and binding
upon them. As proper protection Of the officer well
as to prevent the unnecessary accumulation of COSTS it is
respectfully suggested that provision be made by
law to the institution of suits against collectors for
their acts in executing the and collection laws
until application shall have been made the Depart
ment for relief and denial thereof prescribing Pc
Rod within which such application and decision by the
Department shall be made Such provision would seem
the more expedent inasmuch the Department cannot
IN many exercise the power conferred by law in adj
vance, and appeal from the collectors de-
cson without delaying the business of the importer and
the Government Many of this character arise in
distant sections of the Unon where such delay
would often prove of serious detrment to all concerned
The parties would thus all their legal rights in any
event. and the Department could often prevent the neces
sity and expense of litigation by afording relief
In addition to such provision il is also respectfully sug
gested that regulation should be made by law as to
costs in suits against public officers under the revenue
and collection laws and also to enable the Department to
bring up such for final decision to the Supreme
Court whatever may be the amount in controversy Such
process would settle the law in such cases. and thus
constitute the rule Of administration and prevent much
expensive litigation Suits involving the principles
often upon the docket at the time and the decision
of ought to be sufficient to control the disposition of ALL
Some additional powers TO enable the court in cases in
volvng the construction of law to consolidate suits
against collectors whether instituted by the or diff
ferent parties would all the purposes Of Justice
and prevent the unnecessary multiplication of 1t
also respectfully suggested whether the provisions Of
the act Of the 22d of july 1813 An concerning suits
and costs in courts of the United States might be
extended modified suits against public officers for
acts under the and collection laws make
fixed and specific regulations limiting the allowance
and of costs Under the provisions of existing
laws plaintiffs within the State with the collector
may suit against him in State courts and the
by petition to the circuit court have the
suit removed and entered the docket Of that court
As the defendant in such will doubtless ordinarily
not always avail himself Of this privilege it is suggest
ID whether such suits not properly be required to
brought originally in the Federal courts, which would
be no additional disadvantage the plaintiff and would
prevent the unnecessary accumulation Of costs
IL is desirable that the laws respecting the
navigation and commerce of the United States should
iergo careful revision and arrangement These enact
nents have been accommodating for than half
ury and many Of their provisions complex If not
conflicting Others still unrepeacd though they have
ong been napplicabe to the condition Of commerce
md Of the country repeal of obsolete and useless pro-
sons, and proper arrangement of the residue under
appropriate titles with udicous amendments and addi-
ions, and the whole comprised within single statute or
connected series of statutes to be readily referred to
nd understood would be of great public uti-
" promote n uniform and faithful administration
f the laws, and afford certain protection to the
interests Of the Government and the commercial COM
nunity.
Further legislation in connexion with portions
commerce. is undoubtedly necessary Our coasting laws
However wise and useful in the infancy of the country
onain many provisions still in force, which, in conse
uence of the increased facilities which steam offers for
land