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

ten Of steam passenger vessels or leave hem as now to
the ship-owners
In my former report the attention Of Congress was
called 70 the Inconvenience arising from two sets Of local
inspectors under the act Of 1888 and the other
der the act of 1882 and the propey Of having but
set under the same superintendence The regulations
which the supervising inspectors authorized make
should also have the approval of the Department. and its
supervision in enforcing them.
The proprey OF providing for supervising inspectors
on the Pacific coast also stated and is again
meIded The attention of Congress Is also called TO the
penalty for collision under the of 1885, which only
applies to the destruction Of life the vessel the officer
commands and does not embrace the killing done the
other vessel
There be no express provision in any act Of
Congress that the records and papers OF the several col
ectors Of customs shall be public property and left in the
Offices for the use Of their successors any provision
making II felony to make false in the collectors
books return false accounts TO the Treasury.
1t has been customary in many Of the districts for the
outgoing collector 10 carry away the books and papers,
purchased out Of the emolumen Of the collector, under
the regulations Of the Treasury. They have been de-
cared by Treasury circular the property of the United
States and directed to be preserved and handed to
the successor.
The fact that these books carried away was
of suspicion the integrity of the collectors and in
four ports, to wit 0swego, Cleveland, Toledo and Mil
waukee, where other strong circumstances strengthened
the suspicion Investigations instituted with copies
Of the returns made to the Treasury and the books and
receipts of the importers in the United States and those
in Canada examined.
The accounts Of the late collector Oswego
certaned to have suppressed duties actually collected by
him TO $4,000; the collector at Cleveland 10
amount almost of Sll5 0o0 the collector at Toledo to
amount Of about $4,000; and the collector at Mil
waukee to 000 These the first frauds Of this
description that have been brought to light They
presented the consideration of Congress for
such additional legislation may be deemed necessary
In the revision Of the revenue laws prepared ut this
Department under resolution of the Senate aud now
before that body clauses have been inserted for the pur
pose of providing the proper remedy. There has been
revision Of the laws since the enactment Of
1882 The necessity Of revision is respectfully urged
upon the consideration of Congress
In addition to the tables and reports herein before
cuary mentioned, various statements of exports and
Imports statement Of the persons employed in the seye-
raj collection districts and complete set of the crcu
lars issued by this Department since the date of y for
mer report, also accompany this.
The important interests confded to this Department
require that the clerical force should be only capable
but trustworthy in all respects l find there has been
great improvement in that force In most the best
of those found in the Office retained and under
the system of classification, when vacancies occurred
rule established to promote for capacity and ef
cheney from the lower to the higher classes whilst the
required examinations have secured capable clerks
for the first class
The rules of the Office strictly enforced aud there
exists commendable industry capacity efficiency, and it
is believed, integrity In the corps employed. The De-
partnlent is being brought into good condition.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES GUTHRIE,
Secretary Of the Treasury.