The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-09

established in New York, 10 be placed In the custom
house there should there be for it, and il not Civ
ng the Secretary of tbs Treasury authority to lease
otherwise obtain suitable building for the same in
vesixalion made and II ascertained that thef
was for the assay Office in the house
and that the building did no. afford sufficient space for tn
business OF the custom house. even after removing h
assistant rcasurer's office.
Many buildings were offered. and some OF them exam
ined aud the buildings belonging 10 the Bank Of Com
merce and the Bank OF the Stale OF New York. and ad
joining the custom house, found well calculated fo
The assistant treasnrers office, and also TO furnish su
cient accommodation for the surveyor and his clerks,
portion Of the collectors clerks, with the officers OF h'
assay oilcc There was Sufficient vacant space tht
part Of the lot next Pine street for the necessary build
ngs ior the work OF assaying. melting, and refining.
negotiation was entered into for the lease Of The bank
buildings, with the privilege oil purchasing should Con
gress make the necessary appropriation The proparly
was rented for the of fifteen years rent OF $685.
1oo per m a aaaam win Inc privilege should the approma
O00. with interest from date of the lease, the payments
made for rent 10 be deducted from the amount. TIE
leases and contracts accompany this report The
bank buildings have been altered 10 suit the assistant
easurers Office. and TO make for the clerks OF the
house, and for the superintendent OF the assay
Office and his clerks. The construction Of the assay
building has been commenced, and in the course
OF cempleon and all the necessary implements, &c. for
the assay Office and Tor melting and refining, ordered
10 be prepared by the ls 0 February next with the hope
and expectation 10 get il into operation BY The ist Of
March,
The custom house al New York being insufficient ior
the increased business at that port and the bank build
ings adjoining being found ample for all the purposes
OF an assay office and in fact for mint should Congress
wish At any time to have coming done there the arrange
ment for the purchase made with knowledge that
the price agreed 10 be given was high ; but it
thongh under the circumstances, TO be worth 10 the
United States the agreed to be given The purchase
as provided Tor IN the leases, is recommended Con-
gress
Immediately upon taking charge Of the department in
formation was received BY me that certain additional d
under OF m
ten cent below the appraised value had been ordered
by my predecessor for distribution between the collector
naval officer and surveyor OF the port Of New York and
that the amount had been withdrawn or withheld by the
collector from the treasury and deposited with banking
OF tsas, company N ha. ey ny predecessor having
upon examination, that the twenty per cent! additional
duty was public revenue to which the collector &c, OF
the different ports had righfu claim. The order Of
distribution was therefore revoked and the money direct
ed to be replaced in the treasury That being done, and
those officers still asserting claim, MIR Maxwell, COL
ecor Of the port Of New York upon leaving Office, took
oat OF the customs received the moety OF twenty pei
cent additional duties during his term, and made spe
cia deposit oil il with G c. Bronson. his successor He
directed TO pay the money into the treasury; but be-
fore this was done at the instance Of the naval officer
&c the sum attached by order OF the Judge of the
United States circuit court for that district, and has been
paid into court TO await ID decision upon the d.
recons have been given TO prepare the case for trial IN
the circuit court and for the Supreme Court should the
decision OF the court below be adverse TO the rights of the
The act Of Congress approved the 81 OF March, 1871
limits the salaries OF the collector, naval officer, and
yeyor OF New York and some other ports Ii
sldered that from whatever could the amour!
they were entitled 10 receive exceed the at which
Congress had thus limited their compensation. Yet.
inas ac i nal been decided that certain
OF ibe revenue laws, one moe.y OF which bad been d.
rected to be divided equally between those Off
GERS, should be vded The department had acQui-
esced IN the decision Thus the compensation OF those
ofhcers was swetd beyond the point fixed BY said
Those fines and penalties, at the custom house at New
Va for f.nE ut.n.
to the Of $40 755 "a and the moicy thereof was d.
vided between the collector, naval Officer aud surveyor
Of that port gvnglo each Sa292 SO over and above their
The one moety of the twenty per cent additional du-
ties which those officers aso claim during the official
term OF Mr.. Maxwell amounts the cum Of S65 .769 so
and should the decision OF the question be in their iavor
there be question that the compensation ol those
officers will be more than intended by Congress and
than just compensation for their services II the
New York cuslon-house officers are entitled 10 moie,y
OF this twenty cent additional duty, The like officers
at other ports will also be so entitled When claims
asserted against the collector OF port for which aag
may be rendered and execution levied upon his p
property, the desire arises 10 hold The until
the question is decided BY the courts, under the belief
that The Secretary cannon, under existing laws pay the
udxmen, without an act OF Congress The attention OF
Congress is called 10 these questions, in order that the
proper remedy may be applied.
Instructions accom- ranying this report were the
several collection districts, with the view OF securing eff
and reliable subordinate o6icefs and TO ascertain
whether any and wha, officers heretofore employed ought
to be dispensed with The collection districts have in
part been visited by agents OF the department. with in
structions TO the OF keeping the books
and accounts and TO hal the various
employees discharge the duties condsd TO them. and also
whether there has been surplus deficiency OF force
employed, and to make report to this department 10
OF the distrcs part oil the Official corps employed
has been dispensed WITH and others been thought
best with view to tho prompt discharge OF the duties TO
allow additional oficers 10 some the compensa-
ton has beea increased, and in others il has been
duced II is intended to have all the other collection dis
iricts visited and examined ia like manner.
Many applications have been made for asyoinirnens
inspectors OF The cusioms Upon examination
ound that il had grown into practice for the de-
parmen at its dscteton, 10 appoint seet inspectors OF
the customs at different rates. OF compensation, and that
laerly the number Of such appointments had greatly
creased. statement OF those thus employed since the
20tn September ls50 with the rate OF compen saon al
lowed, accompanies this report II couii not be
tanned that any advantage 10 the revenue had resulted
from the employment Of this class OF officers, and their
employ discontinued.
/ Al examination also made into the revenue cutter
service with view to ASCERTAIN the character OF the
aDd it's efficiency II found that large number
OF additional officers had inst been appointed. aud after
allowing captain and three lieutenans each vessel.
there still twenty officers than the
vice required or The law allowed The matter sub
mred to The PresIden and the supernumerary officers
dismissed. list Of the oficers thus dismsssd and OF
those now SERVICE with list oil the cutters
and their stations. accompanies this report
Besides the S2.2i3,000 which found al the com.
mencemen Of my Official duties have been ad vanced
10 agents for the purchase OF the public debt was a..
csrianed that the further sum of 0475.000 the
for The department to different places OF deposit together
with the OF 81 226952 ~ unaccounted for, and de-
signed 10 pay interest. &c.
lhe withdrawal OF this large sum Of S4,ot4,9s2 a.