Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-13

n
the for nj least two thirds Q! The annual revenu
from that source-suy $50 00U 000and c the hand
of them largo amounts unit! the settlement Of the
The prompt rendition and settlement OF these &C
being deemed of vital mPor lance to the CORRECTNESS
of the the safety Of the revenue it though
that n change should be effected II possible Upon inqulr
and investigations i. considered that these
could be rendered monthly and settled within The succeed
ing month"; regulation that elect issued, requn
nil collectors render monthly accounts from and after h
st of July, 1853, which accompine this report Inc &c
counts for the munths oil July, August and September wer
rendered and settled under this requoE and Tor tie mont
Of September OIL except those OF The acIc coast ana som
small districts lhr Atlantic rendered ard settled win
in the month of October The fact was thus nsce'alne
that is entirely practicable have the accounts all so
dcred and settled within The month"; except those on the ia
ciGc coast which will require bout TWO weeks longer
There other reforms as 10 the manner OF keeping IN
books the statistical information 10 be derived from IN
custom houses and the registering of n this depane
that nay introduced with advantage the public service
but which time and care lc required 10 bring about and en-
force properly.
Attention was also given those branches of the depart
cnl where the accounts Of discussing agents and others
owing money having claims against the government
are adjusted and settled II found that The official corps
vas dsoreanizcd and some OF the bureaus very much GU
Of ordc and greatly in arrear with the business coniet
10 them.
The table w, which accompanies This report exhibits The
aggregate OF rendered and unsettled in each Of
ice in month of March, 1853 and the amount Of them
shlch outstanding the books OF the Solicitor Of The
i Treasury. This liable shows that there accounts un
settled the aggregate OF Sl32 f04 o. and that there
I,d been settled aggregate of 0500 54 So leaving
lance of Sl02O2 SAG SO still outstanding; of these
II
Treasury most vi the accounts having been stated by III,
auditors For the purpose Of closing these large balances
,te accompany letter sent 10 the First and Second
omprocrs of the Treasury and the Commissioner o Gus
hons. The settlements will be enforced as pIaC
bile. In 1872 after tho duties becarne payable in cash
duty bonds remaining unpaid to The debit Of the several
kccois passed 10 the debit Of their successors,
nued TO cucumber their accounts ind embarass settle
hate On the 9Th Of September last, the Commissioner oil
:loms directed credit the collectors with
l:e bonus and open for them tho books oil
treasury These bonds constitute additional outsand
n the books of the Solicitor. All elaine due The
cd States after failure refusal 10 pay put in sui
n he district where The parties OF them reside and
efpt post office snits 60 upon the books Of the Solicitor
ID Inc Treasury and collected under his direction.
f:se uncolcccd claims, including duty bonds the books
ole Solicitor have accumulated from the commencement
government and amount TO the large
dFl, A7,5l6 &c. No commission compensation is al
b1e 10 District Attorneys for their collection, and
I'D given 10 The Secretary upon the subject Olsen
c4 the accounts Of these accommodating balances. II is
htcd 10 Congress, that authority might be given to al
% compensation for the collection oil these debts, and IL
und Tor them when The parties ute unable To pay in
a:d there is fraud and To have the lost balances
ii redI al appropriate account.
lqVIs also ascerancd that di5busEg officers had
tdered their accounts within the three months required
At b H. whilst many Of the in The Third Auditors
G$ lad been in the Office unsettled for oEc two. three
n tu and years, and the work greatly
hhtcn most OF the Offices. 1t was determined to rcnrn
d lie dotlIon of these offices practicable The
frat ec be elected the prompt transaction CT The
l. cWa business, and the employment of large force
n could spared TO bring up the arreargcs.
=. Tf bird Auditors ohce under the newly appointed Al
IF dor}F Burt charged with the settlement OF portion OF
10 h ACCENTS Of the War Department. greatly in
sequred to ascertain the state OF lis business, and
/, the best possible condition by The meeting OF Con.
cr.Ssa au make report up thai tmG His 'po; 10 The
!, 3lh d october, 1853, Is herewith submitted and EXHIBITS
n in which ne found his Office and that which II
ha reac ed iha, day 1t is due 10 M Burt TO sate that
~ behdes labor performed exhibited in his report more
cCrect ncrrs OF accounting md settling have been In
rucec that he is entitled The credit of the reform he
ha mad The condition of that office, as appears By an
| adj 10 ia Time ms II.
clped md The office has brought up its arrca'gcs and
ID apab of promptly acting upon all The business conhded
~ 10 H. ,
- The business conded TO the Second AMI Third Auditors
20 advanagcously distributed Than il now
believed 10 the more prompt despatch VI lhelr az
Tie A E-Uposon detailing such partition accompanies
h epoI and ia recommended 10 the consideration ot Con-
grts. Congress- in constituting and carryin out the
r rnsuy Department. adopted the principle OF having all
=, accounts with ard against the Government! stated with
eprt OF scis by auditor and re.eSamlnaton oy enc
~ of no Conp,roIers the Commissioner OF Customs
- T principle has departed from in flowing the Com
mone Of Pensions issue Ger lhcates OF allowance 10
a pesion oeents and pension to be paid without The al
oance having been revised The proposed arrangement
civ, the Third Auditor the settlement OF all army ac
coats and to the Second Auditor oil pension acc0uats ana
a brgshe allowances of pensions by the Commissioner under
70 hconiro of the Second Auditor and Second Compton!
Va tn restoring uniform action rs 10 ell allowances ana SET
:, | lie enls in The department
>, pom examination The Sixth AUDITORS office, charged
vii Ting the OF pOstnas,ers and contractors
n orarying The mall found 10 be greatly in affea'
OF postmasers for small balances we're found
10 We remained unsettled Tor several years anu sGch was
~ Of bushes Of the office AZ I" rem
der doubtful whether tho annual exhibits required oy law
y b. made in time for tho meeting oil Congress Inc
y new appointed Auditor w. F. Phillips, by efficient dr
anen and pcrsevcng action has restored order TO Tho
off and system The business and placed in condition
10 aust and promptly settle all accounts his report mere
>, viii submitted exhibits The condition in which he l0ind
- the Gee and that in which he has placed H. and caltes
hin credit for the manner in which he has managed lis
J., duL
dior tho First and Second Conproers the Commission
- or oi;us,1ns the Register Of the Treasury the Solicitor OF
the !susn,y ,nd the TreasDrer OF the uned States
herclh submitted These Offices except those oil the FRS!
and Ih Auditors. much in arrcar "a the ihd
- and :x Auditors Offices but greater PtonlPl'uac ana
despair have taken place in most oil them, anu IS pc
- ieyCahat rules Of action have been introduced Inc
il arreages be brought up, aud The regular despatch oil
:. the clteni work secured.
Theerk in oil the divisions cIs:fi undo; the act
OF Conress OF last session for thai purpose The examinations
q havingeen made required by The act! The proper ar
rangcnnt of business the different offices requires that
II ehaoe classified and allotted 10 certain number OF
clerks nd Competent clerk placed in charge ct each Glass;
and mae responsible for its prompt despatch ana maj cor
rect rns OF action shall prevail in dIscharginG Inc
The he'd clerks of these classes should have better salaries
than thee und her, The third and fourth classes do NOT
furnish requisite number OF clerks Tor !hs purpose IN so
OF the cces aad the salary Of the first class Is not hu
6cieut penson for any clerk fl 10 be employed IN Tue
deparlunt. Tae Of Congress requiring clerks 10 e
cassi6s and examined before appointment seems 10 'nu
cate an ntenliCa of procuring more competent CLERKS anu
that the tenure Office should be more permanent nhnS
of the cks hay. families ard large number Do not re-
su-,cleAt compensation LOT lheH s"iP'.
+ cost of wing la: greatly increased the attention Of Cnh
gress is allied his subject! with The accommodation a'
this class of neriorous officers shall be better compensa
ted. ,.-ou.:,,,
Thcresno limitation the prescn a.icn n claims against
the njKd Star bell the accounting clces aha ca'n
% tsalowd In waoe or in part, are presented AGAIN n'1
II again upon the SINE or but slightly varied statements Vi
facts There preceden!a in the department. S;,pwa
, the reexannar0ns and large Gums nave been pau pon
claims peviously presented adndca'ed upon and da'-
lowed There ar other and II Is btlieVeo peter pIeII
teus in the department against these re hoa
" Ing the prior examination and disuowhhce OF lhs e'a ~
wnue or In part Conclusive until Congress directs me re-
examination Th rule established by Tie latter ptGceucnts
has brcn adopted md denomination ia aowea eScr'
upon The prncplc new ivia! At law era re ea!lag or IT,
e view in equity wcn application ia made on ~
u Concrcs. is respect fully called 10 this subject
An abstract he Coast Surrey operations nnc ,s
superin,endence oil Pofesso. Barhc also Accompanies '
repor, It will be :ecn that Inc work mas n'aae g"o pro-
grsss during Tie past year. The means iu1nsss
Rny been carefully and economically used ny Inc se
r. tendent and to have produced ample results me opT'u
- lions in the field ,Ja ard in the Once nave 49,
AN the States and Territories Of vast sea coast on s
- Atlantic the Gulf 4 Mexico, and Inc racine. p 90 iI
Ianlic the trianguIaon reaches with an Interval o - @
from the mouth Of he Krnnebsc liver, mainc, 10 boy
IN