Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

venemently and bitterly opposed to all the
principles and views upon which the present
mead OF tho Treasury Department discharges
the trust devolved on him, say, In effect, that
nn management Of his branch of the Govern.
msnt, developed in his report, reflects high
credit upon his judgment, energy, skill, and
determination to do justice to his charge.
When that journal makes such virtual admis.
sions, it is really to be taken for granted that
Mr.. Gutbrie's annual showing embraces no
weak points whatever.
On the first July, 1863 according to this re.
port, there was in the treasury q balance of
81 $4,000. In the fiscal year ending sO.h
June last, the receipts from lands and Gus.
toms were $73,650, 900. Out Of this total of
$ss,5s2,oOO, $24, 1886 900 have been expended
In redeeming portion of the publ, debt
2o,09S,000 Of the aforementioned item being
for tho purchase Of the principal of that debt;
and on the LIST Of last July he had left in the
Governments Golfers $50, 137 900.
MI. Secretary Guthrie is of opinion that
the lands and customs revenue for the fiscal
year to end on the Both of June next will be
much less than that during the last year-that
Is, but $S4, 02l 900; and that in the current
fiscal year the total of the Governments ex.
pensss will be $64, s45 900, without the expen,
diture Of any more in retiring United States
stocks, which policy he urges with great force
upon Congress- He also estimates that, for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1856, (e1clu-
sive Of the cost of retiring Government stocks,)
tho Government will cost the good people of
the United States $50 ,069, 900, while their
lands and customs revenue In that year will
be $s2, 100000.
He again urgently presents to Congress the
necessity for prompt and thorough revision
of the rates Of duties on imports, recommend
ing but four scales, viz free list, twenty.
Eve per centum list, forty per centum list
and a list at one hundred per centum. We
fear, however, that Congress will hardly lis
ten to his sensible suggestions on this particu-
lar head, the Tariff question being at this time
in pretty much the same situation before their
honors as the Internal improvement question.
There are any number of local interests to be
furthered in framing any new Tariff bill,
which, aggregated, bid fair to prove stronger
than any plan based on the general interest of
the country only. On all sides, it seem. to Us
honorable members have crotchets and hob
bies Of their own in connection with any gen.
ersl alteration of the existing system of duties
on imports. The Secretary's recommendation
In this connection, if carried out, however, will
effect the following ends: First, they will, it
strikes US, lay the foundation for an eventual
close approximation to free trade They will
increase and inspirit commerce, by 50 simpli-
flying our system of imports as to bring it, in
all its parts, within the comprehension of tn Q
dullest intellect engaged in commerce. They
will, also, greatly decrease the number of Gus
tom-house employees needed. No consumma-
tons arc moro devoutly to be prayed for than
these two last mentioned, as all will admit,
whatever may be the complexion Of their
politics.
There Is no graver cause Of alarm under our
Government than that growing out of the i'm
mense increase in the number of Government
employees which the expansion of our country
in all its industrial attributes has brought
about within the last twenty-f five years. One
Of its most glaring effects has been the intro.
duction on the political stage Of hundreds of
thousands of smallbeer politicians-ofice-
seeksrs-who dabble in public affairs Of which
for the most part they are really profoundly
ignorant. If our Government is to prove a
failure, we shall probably have to thank the
corrupting influence of the demagogueism of
this particular class Of patriots who have
already made politics trade as it were, to be
followed only for what may be made by it.
All thoughtful and disinteressed persons doubt.
less agree with us that any reform likely to
decrease considerably the number of EN-.
ployses requisite in carrying on the Govern.
ment Of tho United States ia to be hailed with
JOY and gratitude. In view of this fact, We
anticipate wide spread popularity indeed, for
Secretary Guthries views Of the propriety of
50 classifying the rates of duties on imports,
IS greatly to simplify and lessen the cost of
their collection
River and Harbor improvements by the
General Government.-The result of the &C.
ton OF the House, yesterday, on the veto mes
sage, or rather on the vetoed river and harbor
bill of the last session, embraces satisfac
tory proof that nothing will become law
at this session, to tho end of improving
interior harbors and rivers. To pass the bill
over the veto required twe-thirds vote. In
stead Of receiving that, its friends found them
selves in meagre majority, indeed, of some
fifteen less than they polled on the original
passage Of the bill Now, We are very sure
that no river and harbor improvement bill can
pass the House, which may not be log rolled.
That Is, that fails to embrace many items de.
sigssd particularly to satisfy local interests
put into 1t in order to secure for it the votes of
members representing particular localities
The President has more than once proclaimed
that he cannot sanction any such bill his