The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-04
Reduction In the Revenue Service.

The Albany State Register, MIR. Filmore's organ.
makes great complaint because certain officers of the
revenue service have been dismissed by the President
and ii demands 10 know from us The authority under
which the dismissals were made We might, IN reply,
plead the example of the whg administration, which made
a similar reduction in June, 1919 but we feel 10th TO de-
lend the present administration by bringing forward an
unjust precedent.
Formerly the custom house ofcers-ncludng the rev.
enue maTne-were paid from the proceeds Of the
toms, and the net amount, after such payments, was
placed in the treasury. Blu, the wise recommends.
lion Of MIR. Walker, that system was changed by
of Congress- which required that the gross amount Of
customs should be deposited in the treasury and the
officers be paid by specific appropriations passing
both houses Of Congress The Taylor cabinet in june
lsi9 made large reduction in the revenue service, al
leging in Justification the limited appropriation OF the
30lh Congress. although IT afterwards falsihed its
plea by denying that the specific appropriation took effect
during the fiscal year when the reduction had been made
Nay. after making the reduction. as We have
toned the late administration proceeded quietly TO increase
the revenue service TO point which the law does not
sanction. The law allows captain and not more than
three euenan,s to each revenue cutter When the pres
administration took charge OF the there
but lttes in commission, and six in the
OF construction, and one revenue boat commanded by =
lieutenant SO that there could legally be but sixteen
captains, seventeen first euteaans, sixteen second lieu
tenants and sixteen third lieutnan,s. The imtion Of
the law being as we have stated The late administration
left to the present legacy of hOsnyfo officers of each
grade-iha is, twentyour catiins, twenly-four first,
twenty four second, and twenty our third lie aenauts,
being more than the law permitted. Toe present
administration al once proceeded t. reduce the mum.
Der, so as to square with the requirement, OF the
law. The Albany Register complains Ct thai. aid de-
mands TO know the authority under whci the Pfes lent
proceeded in making the reduction. 1t speaks of the
revenue officers naval oicers" and afrms that the
Executive had no authority 10 remove them than
to remove General Scott any other officer Of The army
or navy How ridiculous The revenue officers are
appointed by the President without consulting the Sea-
ale for their commissions not even submitted to,
and Of course not confirmed by, the Senate He has as
much right dismiss them he has to dismiss country
posmas,ers, collectors OF the customs, marshas;
aud former administrations have freely exercise the
right They are not army officers and they not navy
ofcers-they are nothing less than custom
house officers, subject TO removal, with without
cause, at The will and pleasure Of the President The
late admnsu alton. in obedience to its general exuava-
CANT habit, quarered eight captains and tweny-four
euenants on the government, in defiance OF the plain
and upmisiskable requirements OF the law General
Perces administration having the power TO reduce,
made the necessary reduction called for by the law
That is ALL
Does the Albany Register, Mr.. Flmore's organ, dc.
sire further information on this subject II it doss.
lei il call on us again. and will respond most cheer.
fully