New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-08

Aufff and
action as 70 all allowances and settlements m me Depart
Uron examination the Sixth Auditers O's charged
lin settling the accounts Of ponasses AM conrsctors
g. .,,yino the mall was folnl g. be greatly IN asreaF
The accounts Of postmasiers for small balances were
found have remained un,etied ior seyesa - eha
oece az 10 render doubtful whether the annual exhibit
r.oured by law could be made in time for tn meeting 81
C.neress Tie newly appointed Auditor, w r. Phillips
b, efficient arrangement and perseverng acton has re,
Stored order the Office and system to the business ani
placed it in condition TO adja,t and promptly see an
condition In which he found the Office, aud that In which
he as placed H. and entities him TO credit for the manner
mwhicb be has managed It's duties. ri. -,
Fi0h AUDITOR the First and Second Comptroers,
the Commissioner Of Customs. the Register Of the Treas
ury the Solicitor Of the Treasury, aul the Treasurer OF
the United States herewith submitted. These Offices
except those Of the First aud Fifth Auditors were not 80
much in as the Third and SIKH Auditors offices
hut greater prmIfude and dispatch have taken place ia
most Of them and is believed that better rules Of action
have been introduced The arrearsges can be brought
up and the regular dispatch Of the current work secured
The clerks In all the divisions classified under the
act Ct Congress Ofs session for that purpose the exam
nations having been made required by the act Inc
proper arraDgemsnt Of business in the different Offices re
cures that It shall be classified AID allotted to certain
number OF clerks and competent clerk placed ia charSe
Of each class and made responsible for M Pon, dplch
and thai correct rules Of action hall prevail IN dschagng
the duties The head clerks Of these classes should nave
better saaries than those uader them Inc tnrd ana
fourth claes 30 not fdrni.h the requisite number OF Clerks
Cor this purpose ia some Of the Offices and the salary the
frat csfs u sufficient compensation for any clerk nt
TO be employed in the department The net Of Congress
reapirinc clerks be classified and examined before ap
ponmeDt TO indicate an inentonoI procuring more
competent clerks and that the tenure OF Office should be
more permanent Many THE clerks have families and
large number do not receive sufficient compensation for
their suTpOt end the cost of living has greatly in
creased The attention Of Congress called to this subject
with the recommendation that this class OF meftorio1s OF
scers shall be better compensated
There Is no limitation to the presentation Of claims
against the United States before TIE accounting Offices
and claims disaowed in whole or in part are presented
sgsin and again upon the same, but slightly varied
statement Of facts There are precedents in the depart
ment allowing these reexamaaons and large sums have
been paid upon claims previously presented addlcatei
upon and dsallowed There other aud, II 10 believed
better In the department against these
inations holding the prior examination and disaowance
of the claim whole in part conclusive until Congress
directs the denomination. The rule estabshet by the
latter has been adopted and Examination
H. allowed except upon the principle OF new trial at law
or a hearing review In equity, when the application
il made sufficient grounds and within reasonable time
The attention of Congress is respectfully called to this
An abstract of the Coast Survey operations under the
OF Professor Bache also accompanies the
report II will be that the work has made good pro
gress during the past year The furnished appear
to have been carefully and economically used by the Sa
perniendent, and TO have produced ample results The
operations in the field or afoa and in the Office have ex
tended to all the States and Territories of vast
coast the Atlantic the Gulf OF Mexico, and the Pacific
On the Atlantic the triaDgulaton reaches with interval
oftweDty two miller, from the mouth of the kennebec
river Maine. to Boyne Sound, North Carolina. II il
commenced in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,
and extends from Mobile nearly TO New Orleans
and from the head of Galveston Bay to MaagOrda Bay,
in Texas. The other operations follow it closely. by
geographic reconnaissance of western coast has been
made ION San Diego to FIazers River and preliminary
surveys of most of the barbors with charts of Them have
been published in progress IL is believed that the
history Of such surveys does not present parallel to the
promptness with which the execution and publication OF
the work that important coast has been made keeping
pace with the development of itself without
parallel One hundred and forty three maps and charts
tsv dv hoe issued from he
including sketches of examinations of dangers the coast
where the regular have not yet reached the local
tiles The report of the Superintendent for the year
lie accompanied with fifty five maps and sketches showing
the progress of the work and giving information important
TO navigation and commerce. The necessity of publishing
the numerous observations accumulated in this work. and
upon which the results founded, is respectfully urged
upon Congress Besides the usual sketches, map or
dered by Congress- showing by color the progress ohe
different paris of the work is ready for transmission Tho
present period of prosperity should be used to furnish all
reasonable for the completion of this great work
of science and utility and in order to facilitate its final
completion il is recommended that the estimate presented
by the Superintendent be granted The department has
derived important assistance from the Coast Survey in the
surveys relating light houses and in the location of surf
boats In the distribution of the reports papers, &c the
Superintendent and his assistant should be vested with the
frankiDg privilege.
accompanies this report exhibiting its operations for the
past year That Board is charged with the duty of pro
vidng and distributing supplies of all kinds to the differ
ent light houses and light vessels of making examinations
and Instructions of submitting estimates Of cost Of repairs
of the different towers, buildings, walls and light
ses and Of raising cleaning, painting numbering and
duties have been discharged with promptitude and eff
cheney, and II is believed with economy. II will be
that there in operation 347 light houses % in
the of construction, and a authorized, but
yet commenced There "A light vessels in opera
ton, and five in the Of construction The estimate
for this service for the fiscal year ending June 80 1884
ee9o03 Az and for the year ending juno &c. 1885, it
is t9O6l6l -. These light houses and lghtvessel
tending our Atlantic and Pacific coasts and lakes
add greatly to the security of commerce. which as il
augments, calls for additional light houses and light
sells our extended coasts and consequently for increased
expenditure These light houses and light vessels should
be sufficiently to afford the benefit of light
wherever the safety of vessels requires but lights
should not be multiplied to mislead navgaors aud
should always be Of the best and most reliable character
for their positions The science and practical knowledge
Of the Light House Board aided by that of the Coast Sur
yey. it is believed will guard the department against
takes in the location of the lights the best and
most permanent light houses with the proper lights and
confne the expenditure the eaobecs sought to be OBJ
tanned with the necessary economy.
The abstract accompanying this report shows twenty
three Custom Houses belonging to the Government and
now in use also fifteen for which appropriations have
been made by Congress and proceedings taken toward
their construction This abstract exhibits the condition of
the title and Jurisdiction to each far acquired; the
progress made under the appropriations the amount
thereof with estimates Of the that viii be required to
complete those under contract and the required
proceed with the Others The appropriations not su
cent 10 complete these buildings of the materials and in
the style suitable to such structures and therefore adj
tional estimates have been submitted.
The construction Of these buildings is con6ded to the
Department and almost everything but the amount of the
appropriation left the discretion of the Secretary No
system had been devised for the due performance of this
duty had the management Of the business been con
ded 10 any particular branch Of the Department An ar
chiec had been employed in the Department at salary
Of $4,000 per annum, with travelling expenses allowed
when absent inspecting the works, He was paid out
OF the several appropriations according TO the time given
t,Aa