The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-21
SECRETARY GuTHRIR's REPORT.

s s
We copy the. following remarks upon the Sc.
ueetasy Of the Treasury. from the Galena JEFF
7ersO~ian. They appeared ia that journal with
out credit and we transfer them as We find
.shem. promising that they are not without in
terest. ESQ
us ;rst and most Important feature is the pro-
posal IL contains to add certain number Of
articles now dutabie 70 the free list OF customs.
Aaa general thing the selection has been judi
c1oueIy made. No one can object to the free
adnission st barks used for medicines or tan
ming, wood, fax aud linseed, furs, indigo, lin
ems oil, hide1 snd skins, salt, spices, and
eearscr qualities Of wool. These articles ought
q have been oa the free list long ago. The
revenues now produced il not worth preserving,
though the duty Imposed upon them operates
y heavy tax on the public. Raw silk is emf
nently worthy II ! place in the category. for
Ne produce none, Or 90 little . not to merit :
place aaaona our raw produce; while, on the
other haud, We have mills and artisans enough
10 work cacoons into every quality ofsilk There
is,no reason why we should not manufacture a
least half the silk we use. On this point, Free
traders and pfotectionisis viii be alike agreed
We presume that the printer did the editor Of the
zribwas injustice when they made him say, yes
tesday morning, that be wished the duty on raw
elk increased; ~ will there be any material con-
troveIsy with respect to books and engravings.
knowledge should be a. free a. light. On The
other hand, we are ct loss to conceive the
motive whieh suggested the proposal 70 remove
the duty from copper and zink. Il thorough
y free trade tariff we're proposed, we should
~ lemus 10 il; bat while the principle Of pro-
. lection to home industry still Operates, we can
hardly conciliate the admission Of these metals
free while iron Is to be protected. At this mo-
meat vast sumo Of money are being invested in
the opening Of copper and zinc mines; If any
interests require protection in their infancy Il 10
these. Watches, also, which must still be con.
sidefed objects Of luxury, can afford to pay
duty. Wines, which now produce nearly .
million year Of revenue, are proposed to be
admitted free. We think this Is mistake.
First, because we should like 70 see the culture
Of the vine attempted in those portions of the
country 10 which it is congenial; ssd secondly,
because the impast Of wines, being not only
objects Of luxury but very questionable benefits
in any shape, ought to be encouraged by privi-
le.es. We take il for granted that, as intem-
perance Is not extremely rare in all wine grow
ing countries, the culture OF vines here would
not o, eEaie against abe cause Of temperance.
Drunkenness feeds on foreign liquors; shut them
nut. either by . heavy specific duty, or as
last resort, BY an ad rGl@yem duty of 100 per
cent. and half the work Of the Maine-law will
BE- achieved.
1t would require more space than we can af-
fod, 10 do full justice to this important item Of
the report. Let N pass on, at present, 10 its
other feasages. O1r. Guthrie has discontinued
the secret inspectors of the Custom House
This 10 q step in the right direction, evincing
manly courage ON the part of the Secretary,
and an honest desire for reform.--lt has been
long enough the practice to appoint newspaper
editors and other political friends, styled, for
forms sake, secret inspectorships Such men
q Mr.. Briggs and others have long enjoyed
these comfortable pensions, and we should NOT
wonder if Isaiah Rynders turned ont to be Sc
crrt inspector Of the Post Ofice. The abolition
Of this sysse0 af corruption speaks well for Mr..
Ga:hrie.-The same remarks apply t. his re.
fusal TO confirm The recent appointments Of
supcrnumary officers of the revenue service.
q Mr.. Guthrie provisions for the safe keeping
Of the public moneys are worthy Of all praise.
A notable improvement in this branch, intro.
duced BY him is the rule obging all collectofs,
disbusking agenise &c, render their accounts
monthly instead Of quarterly: and ordering that
these sccouats shall be settled within the month
aiaer they ~ rendered, instead Of standing
open for three, six and nine months, as former
II. This system viii save the country great
deal Of money. The reforms about to be intro
duced into the system Of bookkeeping and
registry in The Treasury department are also
calculated to render his branch Of the public
service more efficient. Crrdit likewise due
to him for the improvements he has established
in the Auditor department, especially in that
Office 10 which the War departments accounts
are referred. Finally, for we must necessarily
be brief At present, it 10 creditable to Mr. Gu
ttyie that he has drawn the attention Of Congress
10 the necessity Of taking measures Cor the
msinaainance II the public Filth towards the
Texan Stockholders g
On the whnlc, tie report ID ensinentiy salts
factssy, and will do the Secretary and he.coun-s
" credit.