Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09


the ports to be examined within the year. with but few
exceptions, by agents of the Department in order
certain how their books and accounts kept and by
personal inspection how the official corps discharged their
duties These examinations have enabled this Depart
and omissions and to see that the
official corps devote themselves in person to the duties
confded to tbem and have resulted in securing greater
vigilance and more faithful application of the
laws.
The report of the Register Of the Treasury NO. 26
also accompanies this. 1t exhibits greatly improved
condition of his Office The annual report on commerce
and navigation is in advance of any former one and will
be in print for the of Congress the
of its abors The business of the Office has been promptly
and we'll done.
The Solicitor of the Treasury has caused to be made
cut schedule No. 27) Of Nl the lots aud lands pur-
chased under execution and DEGREES for the United States
otherwise taken for debts due to the United States
and which have heretofore been sod and also schedule
of all such lands as held by the United States.
They are submitted in order that Congress may have
in view the sales heretofore made aud devise suit
able mode for the future sale of the property hand and
such may hereafter be acquired also, for closing
credng on the books Of the Treasury such debts have
been shall be discharged in whole in part by the
purchase OF rea, estate because after accounts have
been stated at the Treasury leaving balance due to the
United States, they passed to the Register and APP
pear his books and then to the Solicitor and appear
his books and then sent to the proper district
torney for suit
When the debt is collected and paid into the Treasury,
in whole or in part the paid is entered the
books Of the Auditor where the first stated
and then the books of the Comptroller and then
the books of the Register but where lands any other
thing purchased under execution for the debt in whole
part entry thereof is made the books Of the
Auditor, Comptroller, and Register until resale is made
and the money is paid into the Treasury and when the
United States fail in whole in part in the courts no
entry is made the books Of the Auditor Comptroer
and Register Thus the books of the Treasury exhibit
balances due the United States after the dis
charged.
This might be remeded by Treasury regulation caus-
ing the proper entries to be made the books Of the
Auditor, Comptroller and Register and opening in each
office account of the lands &C. purchased for the Uni
ted States each debt and for the discrepancies between
the Treasury statements Of indebtedness and the judy
en in the particular case; but it had better be regu
lated by Congress- Tbis correction of the books would
be work taking considerable time and labor, it would
require to overhaul the books from the of
the Government Yet just statement Of the condition
the balances the books of the Treasury be made
until it is done.
The report Of the Solicitor Of the Treasury No 28)
also accompanies this report and exhibits the operations
Of that Office and the attention given to the trial of suits
and the collection of money upon judgments in favor of
the United States, with suggestions as to the proprety
of amending the law as to authorize commission to
district attorneys for the collection Of old judgments and
the propriety Of authorizing the Department to make
promises and settlements The attention of Congress Is
called to the subject, with Recommendation that the
Department be authorized to ALLOW district attorneys and
others employed for that purpose commission not
ceeding ten per cent. on the amount collected
The report Of the Treasurer of the United States mo
29 also accompanies this The business in the Office Of
the Treasurer has been promptly and satisfactorily per-
formed The money, both of tie United States and the
dsbursing agents OF the Government deposited has been
safely kept. One additional clerk for the Treasurer's
Office is recommended for the reason stated by the Trea
surer in his REPORT.
Under the 11th section of the Independent Treasury
law it thought advisable 70 have the offices Of the
sstant reasurers and the eposiaries of the United
States examined by agent of the Department and Mr.
Gour 10 1Ioffb
except that of San Francisco California His letter Of
appointment (No. 500 accompanies this report also
his general report upon the condition and operation of
the offices used as deposares Of the public money and
by the dsbursng agents of the Government, exhibiting
highly satisfactory condition of said offices, the keeping
the books and the public money and the duties of the
spective officers He viii be required to examine the
Southern Offices, not heretofore examined by him. The
assistant treasurer's Office San Francisco has been
amned by j. Ross Browne another agent of the Depart
ment, and that Office found in coed condition, and the
business promptly and satisfactorily performed.
The table which accompanies exhibits the
imports and exports of coin from the 30h day of Sep
tember 1921 to- the 3Oth day Of June, 1854 and the
table 80, which accompanies this report exhibits the
coinage at the United States mint from the year 1892
the Both day of September 1854 and the table which
also accompanies this report exhibits the coinage Of the
United States mint and branches, from own mines
from the year 1904 to the S0h day of September 1854
Under the act of 1858 there has been S16 ITO of
silver coined at the mint in Philadelphia and branch mint
at New Orleans, and circulated at Philadelphia New
York. Boston, Detroit Chicago Baltimore, Washington,
Richmond Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans,
st Louis Jefersonvle Cincinnati, San Francisco and
Pittsburgh and furnished to citizens at various other
places.
This has tended to keep sound currency for change
in circulation and afforded great convenience the pub
c but the circulation of large amounts Of small bank
notes has contracted the benefits of the silver change in
many places driven it away, or tied it up in the
pockets Of the people The full benefit Of silver coinage
for change be realized while small bank
are encouraged under bank charters and made
by the patronage Of the community.
These tables give some data from which an estimate
may be made of the increasing amount of gold and silver
coin retained in the country. The table 3d. with the
marks annexed, which accompany this report exhibits
estimates made By Secretaries Of the Treasury and others
of the amount of gold and silver coin in the country
different periods and gives the amount the 30th Sep
tember 1854 at 241 600 000 which is believed not
be high estimate. OF this there about SG0,
600 in the banks and $40 600 in the United States
Treasury the rest being in circulation amongst the people
or boarded up.
1t appears from the report the 5anks from thislDe-
parment submitted to Congress the 9th Of May 1854
that in ls50-51 there were $40 banks in the United
there 120S banks with capital of 1901, 756071
being an increase Of $73, 94S 538.
In lS5051 the circulation of the $40 banks was 55-
1921, depostes SIPS 967,712, due to ether banks
1928, and together $3.50 $780, S9l; and in 85354
the circulation of the 1208 banks 204 207 the
deposites $685. and there due to other banks
$50 1922 1872 and together SAB 49, making an in.
of SIP GEO, 222 with specie in their valts in
1S505I of 4S, GIL 048 and in 1863 81 Of $50 l0253
being increase of $40 POS These tables exhibit
bank circulation of 1904 $50 209 against the 241 000
600 of gold and silver in the country.
The Independent Treasury Of the United States,
csivng and paying for the fiscal year 1854 thaa
600 600 in the coin has demand