The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-21


praion and the removal of the existing restriction
az to the amount of expenditure. Contracts have
been made for the erection Of the custom house
buildings at San Francisco, in California, and
Pittsburgh, IN Pennsylvania; and the buildings
will be prosecuted to completion with the utmost
possible despatch. The restrictions imposed upon
the Department by limited appropriations in the
various acts authorizing the erection of custom
houses and post offices forbid in many the erection
OF hre-proof buildings or the adoption of plane
embracing style or material comparable with
many of the local public or private buildings IN
the same places. -
Within these limited appropriations in many
eases accommodations must be provided for the
custom. house, post office. United States courts,
9nces Tor United States marshal, and clerk of the
onited states courts. The great value of the pa.
pers which must necessarily collect within the build
ings embracing the above-me toned Offices, de-
~! uano ina. every precaution should be taken on
the part OF the Government TO prevent their de-
structon by fire. Some of the APPROPRIATIONS al the
control the Department have been reduced by the
purchase OF the necessary site, originally SO
limited as to render it doubtful if the contemplated
buildings with proper accommodations can be
! erected without additional appropriation being
naac Special communications in relation TO
come of these will be made to Congress as soon as
specific information can be obtained.
The contract for the extension and reorganiza-
ton of the Baltimore custom house building has
been concluded, in conformity with the act of the
last session.
The great distance and consequent difficulty and
ed any definite progress being made in the erection
of the proposed building at Astoria.
The operations of the Department arising out of
the provisions made for sick and disable seamep.
are becoming daily more onerous and extended.
In consequence of the rapid expansion of our
commerce, both foreign and domestic, the funds
arising from the monthly contributions of twenty
cents from he parties for whose benefit this truly
beneicent system has been established, are INSULT
cient for their relief without the addition OF direct
appropriations by Congress.
The previous appropriations from the treasury
for the relief of sick seamen have amounted to
$969 069 "a, besides 1925, 1919 20 for the purchase
of sites, the erection of hospital buildings, foTn
ture repairs, sc.
The Department recommends continuance of
the appropriations for the relief of sick seamen
and boatmen, to the needful extent for supply
ing the deficiency in the amount received from
the hospital fund; but it is not at present prepared
to advise the erection of more marine hospitals
The experience of the Department induces me TO
believe that it is in every way preferable TO make
arrangement for the care OF sick seamen with
local hospitals of higir standing, which are under
the immediate and vigilant supervision OF citizens
of the highest responsibility, at the respective
places Such arrangements exist at New York,
Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and at some other points,
at fixed weekly rate for each seaman, the cost OF
which ia greatly less than ii would be IN public
hospital, and where the and attention which
the patients receive fully equal to what they
could possibly obtain in Government institution,
and their medical treatment is also upder the di-
rection OF the most eminent professional talents
and experience. In all places where similar
rangement can be made, ] am of opinion il should
be preferred, rather than ct other marine hos
pitfalls in addition to those already authorized, as
believe both the comfort of the sick, and economy
of expenditure, would be promoted by the adop-
ton of the former plan. r arf rlE
Under the system which has been SO long and
steadily pursued by the Government as regards
this useful, but generally i1nprovident class OF
men; there ia probably no instance where much
relief is grahted and SO generally distributed and
with 30 much advantage 30 the parties interested,
that by the marine hospital fund under its pre-
sc mt reg uiations. Era
While the benefit of this fund ia extended to al
most all the collection districts of the United States
hospitals are completed and in full operation at
Chelsea, near Boston, Massachusetts,; Norfolk, Vir-
gnia; Ocracoke, North Carolina; Cleveland, 0hio5
Chca go, Illinois; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Louis
vile and Paducah, Kentucky; Natchez, Missis-
eippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama
and Key West, Florida. Appropriations have been
made and Buildings authorized 10 be erected at
Napoleon, Arkansas; St. Louis, Missouri; San
Francisco, California; Evansville, Indiana; Port
land, Maine; and Vicksburg, Mississippi
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, Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, Louisville,
in Kentucky, Paducah, Napoleon, and Natchez,
have been submitted.
These estimates are based upon a careful calcu-
lation of the amount and quantity OF work to be
done, and are deemed indispensabIy necessary for
the buildings and grounds referred to. y
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, but the
balance of the appropriation is not sufficient to
erect suitable building, and an additional appro-
rriation of $40, 600 is respectfully submitted.
site has been selected for hospital at Port
land Maine. but the Department has not yet taken
pointed TO select it. .--rs~sryz
The following statements connected with the
subject accompany the present report, viz:
Statement t exhibits the whole amount re-
ceiyed from the monthly contributions of seameu
under the act of 10th July, l79s, up to lst July,
1852.
Statement U, exhibiting the amount appro-
prated by Congress for the purchase of Sits,
lion of marine hospitals, furniture, &c, designat
ing the respective points and the amount appro-
pratons for each place. .t Hsf.EEF
Statement v, exhibiting the present safe of
the hospital fund arising from the monthly con-
tributions of the seamen. and the appropriations
by Congress for their relief. bl - gt
The Supreme Court, in the case of Lawrence
Caswells, decided that return of duties
could be claimed by parties who bad not at the
time OF making the entry entered written pro
test declaring specially the grounds on which
they objected to pay the duties, and the Depart
ment has felt itself bound by that decision, and
has since declined to refund any duties alleged to
be illegally assessed, except in cases where such
written protest made at the time, or where it
evidently arose from clerical error THIS course
involves great ha rdship in many cases where even
the same parties having in certain entries made
a regular protest, have received back the duties
enormously assessed. agreeably to legal decisions
whilst in other cases, precisely similar in every
respect, but where the iormality of protest was
not observe no return be made under the
above decision OF the Supreme Court. would re-
commend these to the favorable action of
Congress, by investing in the Treasury Depart
ment the power to return duties in I'll 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 parties.
The attention OF Congress was called al the last
session to the necessity of a law-and one was
framed for the purpose but not acted onto check
the multiplicity OF suits against the collectors of
the customs for duties alleged to be improperly
collected, by obliying the same parties 10 conso-
date all their suits of similar kind in one actions
and also where one party had already entered suit
that no others involving the same principle should
be Instituted, on the Treasury Department agree.
ing, upon notice from other claimants that the de-
cislon of the suit which may have been already
entered, should govern in the settlement of the
others. As it now ID, the anne parties vexatious-
ly and with the view to increase their costs, will
enter separate and numerous suits, all precisely
similar In the facts and circumstances. ssf-f