The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-07

port showing the loss of sixyhree steam vessels from the
list January 1854 to june of the year with the
thereof
This table exhibits ten by collision seventeen by fire.
five from ice twenty-five from snags and states nineteen
of them lost from inatenon and negligence thirty
one from accident from being unseaworthy and only
two from unavoidable This exhibit proves that
much remains be done under the steamboat act TO
capable and efficient officers vessels for the pres
ervaton of life These apd the recent losses upon the
properly raise the question whether the law should
provide greater security in the construction OF steam
senger vessels leave Them now, to the shpowners
In my former report the attention OF Congress called
the inconvenience arising from two sets of local inspect
or under the Of 1888 and the other under the act
of 1852 and the propey of having but set under the
same supernendence The regulations which the super
vsng inspectors authorized make should also have
the approval of the department. and its supervision in en-
forcing them.
The proprety of providing for supervising inspectors
the Pacific also stated, and is again recon-
mended The attention of Congress is also called to the
penalty for collision under the act of 1885, which only APP
plies the destruction of life the vessel the officer
commands and does embrace the killing done the
other vessel
There seems to be no express provision in any of
Congress that the records and papers of the several col
offices for the Of their successors any provision
making it felony make false entries in the collectors
books return false accounts to the treasury.
1t has been customary in many OF the districts for the
outgoing collector carry away the books and papers
the preence that they private property because pur
chased of the emoluments Of the collector under the
of the treasury They have been declared by
treasury circular the property OF the United States ana
directed be and handed to the
The fact that these books carried away cause
Of suspicion to the integrity OF the collectors and in
four portsto wit Oswego, Cleveland, Toledo and Mil
waukie-where other strong circumstances strengthened
the suspicion Investigations instituted with copies OF
the returns made to the treasury and the books and re-
ceips of the importers in the United States and those in
Canada examined.
The accounts of the late collector at Oswego
tanned have suppressed duties actually collected by him
$75000 the collector at Cleveland to an amount
almost S150O0 the collector at Toledo to an amount
of about $4,000 and the collector at Milwaukee to over
900 These are the first frauds of this description that
have ever been brought light They presented
the consideration Of Congress for such additional leis
lation as may be deemed necessary.
In the revision of the laws prepared at this de-
partmen under resolution of the Senate and before
that body have been inserted for the purpose
providing the proper remedy There has been revision
of the laws since the enactment of 1889 The
cessy of revision is respectfully urged upon the consd
Grafton Of Congress-
In addition to the tables and reports herein before par
tcuary mentioned various statements OF exports and inn
ports statement OF the persons employed in the several
collection districts and complete set of the circulars is
sued by this department since the date of former report
also accompany this.
The important interests confded to this department
qure that the clerical force should be not only capable
but trustworthy in all respects find there has been great
Improvement in that force In most cases the best of those
found in the Office retained and under the system of
classification when vacancies occurred rule estab-
shed promote for capacity and efficiency from the lower
the higher classes whilst the required examinations
have secured more capable clerks for the first class
The rules of the office strictly enforced and there
list commendable industry, capacity efficiency and it is
believed integrity in the corps employed The department
is being brought into good condition.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES GUTHRIE,
Secretary of the Treasury.