The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-21

ed and so generally distributed, and with 10 much
advantage to the parties interested as that BY the
marine hospital fund under its present regulations.
While the benefit of this fund is extended to almost
all the collection districts of the United States hos
pitfalls are completed and in full operation at Chelsea
Ocracoke. North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Chisa-
go, Illinois Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Louisville
and Paducah Kentucky; Natchez, mississippi New
Orleans. Louisiana; Mobile Alabama; and Key
West. Florida: Appropriations have been made and
buildings authorized to be erected at Napoleon.
Arkansas; st. Louis, Missouri San Francisco, Cali
fornia; Evansville, Indiana; Portland, Maine; and
Estimates of appropriations for the completion of
the buildings at st. Louis. and for the fencing and
heating the buildings and work necessary for their
protection at Chicago in Illinois, Cleveland in Ohio
Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, Louisville, in Kentucky,
Paducah, Napoleon, and Natchez, have been sub
mtted.
These estimates are based upon careful calcula-
ton of the amount and quantity OF work to be DONE
and are deemed indispensaby necessary for the
buildings and grounds referred to.
contract has been made for the buildings at San
Francisco, and those at Napoleon and ST. Louis are
nearly completed; that at ST. Louis has been delayed
awaiting further appropriation -
site has been purchased at Evansville, b'H the
balance Of the appropriation Is not sufficient TO erect
q suitable building. and an additional appropriation
of 500 900 is respectfully submitted.
site has been selected for hospital at Portland.
Maine, but the department has not yet taken fna!
action the report Of the commissioners appointed
to select it,
The following statements connected with the sub
ject accompany the present report, viz. :
Statement 4 exhibits the whole amount received
from the monthly contributions Of seamen under the
act of 10th July, 1898, up to LIST July, 1862.
Statement U, exhibiting the amount appropriated
by Congress for the purchase of SITES erection Of
rne hospitals furniture, DC, designating the respect
i've points and the amount OF appropriations for each
place.
Statement v, exhibiting the present state of the
hospital fund.- arising from the monthly contributions
of the seamen, and the appropriations by Congress
for their relief
The Suraeme Court in the case of Lawrence vs.
Caswels decided that no return of duties could be
claimed by the parties who had not, at the time of
making the entry, entered written protest declaring
specially the grounds on which they objected to pay
the duties and the department has felt itself bound
by that decision, and has since declined to refund
any duties alleged to he illegally assessed except in
cases where such written protest was made at the
time, or where it evidently arose from clerical
cases where even the same parties, having in certain
entries made regular prcc..Ast have received back
the duties enormously assessed agreea"y 10 legal
decisions whilst in other cases, precisely similar III
every respect, but where the fOrmality of protest
was not observed, no return can be made under the
above decision Of the Supreme Court. l would re-
commend these cases to the favorable action of Con-
gress, by investing in the Treasury Department the
power to return duties in all cases which may be
similar to those on which the Supreme Court may
have made decisions in favor of the claimants even
if no protest has been made at the time by the par
ties.
The attention of Congress was called at the last
session to the necessity of aw-and one framed
for the purpose but not acted Onto check the null
tpcity OF suits against the collectors of the customs
for duties alleged to be improperly collected, by
obliging the same parties to consolidate all their
suits of similar kind in action and also where
one party has already entered suit that others
involving the same principle should be instituted
the Treasury Department agreeing, upon notice from
other claimants, that the decision Of the suit which
may have been already entered should govern in the
settlement Of others As now is the same parties,
veXatously, and with the view tOincrease their COSTS
will enter separate and numerous suits, all precisely
similar in the facts and circumstances.
1t is also essential that in all suits against colIec-
tors there should be the right of appeal to the Su
preme Court without regard to the amount, there
numerous decisions made in the lower courts in
yolvng important principles which would probably
be reversed, was an appeal granted, but which the
amount involved does not admit of an appeal under
existing laws
Congress at its last session having appropriated.
the Of ten thousand dollarsfor locating surf boats
on the coast OF the United States the department
called upon the Superintendent of the Coast Survey
for report showing the point swhere they could be
most advantageOusly employed for the purpose OF
saving life and property from shipwreck. This re-
port has lately been received giving twelve points
the coast OF Maine and Massachusetts as suitable To-
cations; and orders will Immediately issue for the
supplying the with the requisite boats and their
appurtenances; and as soon other suitable loca-
IOnS along COAST are IufnlSned t1lS department.
from the Office ofthe Coast Survey, measures will be
Immediately taken for furnishing them likewise.
Numerous reports have been made to the depart
ment OF the great saving Of life and property on our
coast by means of these boats and would respect
fully suggest that further appropriation Of ten
thousand dollars be made for this laudable object,
and that power be granted this department to ex-
pend from time to time such portions of it as may be
required to keep the boats and fixtures in repairs for
immediate use, and compensate persons for taking
care OF them.
The subject of the fisheries being one Of high i'm
portance, and having recently attracted great and
general attention, transmit herewith highly inter-
estng and valuable report prepared for this depart
ment by Lorenzo Sabine, Esq, embracing :
]. A report on the fisheries in the American seas
Of France, Spain, and Portugal.
2. report on the fisheries of Newfoundland N,va
Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, Mayde
lene Islands, Bay Of Chaleurs, Labrador, and New
Brunswick.
3. Report on the fisheries of the United Staes.
4. Review of the controversy between tie United
States and Great Britain to the intent and mean
ing of the first article Of the convention olslS.
The following statements accompany the present
A. Statement Of duties revenues aid public ex-
penditures, during the fiscal year snding June 80,
1852 agreeaby to warrants issued exclusive OF trust
funds and treasury notes funded.
Il. Statement OF duties revenues, and public ex-
pendltires for the first quarter OF the fiscal year,
from July to September 30 1862, asrceably to war
rants issued, exclusive of rust funds and treasury
nOteS IlnucQ
G. Statement of advances from the treasury on ac-
count of the expenses of each custom house in the
United States during the year ending On the 30th
June, 1852
d. Statement Of the number Of persons employed
in each district Of the United States for the colec-
ton of customs, during the fiscal year ending June
30, 1862, with their occupation and compensation,
per act of Sd March, 1S49.
f. Statement Of the public debt on the LIST January,
1853.
+. Statement of the redemption of treasury notes
during the fiscal year ending 30th june 1852.
G. Statement exhibiting the total value Of imports,
and the imports consumed in the United States, ex-
elusive of specie during each fiscal year from 1921 to
1852; showing, also, the value Of the domestic and
foreign exports exclusive Of SPECIE and the tonnage
employed during the same periods.
II. Statement exhibiting the value of imports an
nuay from 1921 to 1862, designating separately the
amount of specie, free and dutiable goods, respect