Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-06

troler. The attention of Congress is also called
TO tho report OF tho Sixth Auditor, as 70 the ne
cessiiy o. additional room for the accommodation
OF the clerks of his Office, and the safety Of the
accommodating papers and records with a recon.
mendaiion that Congress make provision for The
same. VA
Il would facilitate the business, and render less
complicated the accounts of the department,
snouio all the accounts the Interior Department
DO gwen 10 the Second Auditor, and all the ac-
counts OF the War Department be given to the
Ihlrd Auditor, as recommended in my former re-
port.
The attention of Congress is called to the fact
tnat tne commissioner of-ihe General Land Office
and bis clerks still occupy portion of the Trea-
sury building, and that the First and Fifth Audi
tors and their clerks, and part of the clerks of the
inira Auditor, have TO be accommodated in rented
buildings, apart from the Treasury building also,
tnal inc clerical force in the building cannot be
accommodated in suitable connection. Under
the expectation that the Land Office will be re-
moved IN the course Of next spring, an estimate
has been submitted for the expense of affording
addltional light and ventilation TO the Treasury
ouhdng, SO that the rooms viii be more conve-
nicnt ana comfortable, and the necessary appro-
priation for that purpose is recommended.
no system OF monthly accounts from the col
iectors Of customs, and the settlement thereof,
within the succeeding month, at the Treasury,
mas been adhered TO and fully carried out. with
lew exceptions upon the Pacific and the ac-
counts are being rendered and settled with great
dispatch. The benefits growing out of this sys-
TEN 10 the public, and the officers Of the revenue
Is more manifest the longer it is enforced. The
department has caused the collectors Office in all
the ports 10 be examined within the year, with
but few exceptions, by agents Of the department,
IN order to ascertain how their books and accounts
were kept, and by personal inspection how the
ofhcial corps discharged their duties. These ex.
aminations have enabled this department 10 Ger
rect errors and omissions, and to see that the
official corps devote themselves, in person, 10 the
duties confded to them, and have resulted in se-
curing greater vigilance, and more faithful an.
plcation of the revenue laws.
The report OF the Register of the Treasury NO
26) also accompanies this. II exhibits a greatly
improved condition Of his Office. The annual re-
port on commerce and navigation is in advance
of any former one, and will be in print for the use
of Congress at the commencement of its labors.
The business OF the Office has been promptly and
well done.
The Solicitor Of the Treasury has caused TO be
made out schedule mo. 27) Of all the lots and
lands purchased under execution and DEGREES for
the United States, or otherwise taken for debts
due TO the United States, and which have hereto.
fore been Sold and, also, a schedule of all such
lands as are now held by the United States. They
are submitted, in order that Congress may have
IN view the sales heretofore made, and devise
soma suitable mode for the future sale OF the pro-
perry on hand, and such as may hereafter be ac-
quired; Also for closing or crediting on The books
be, discharged in whole or in part by the purchase
OF real estate because, after accounts have been
| stated at the treasury, leaving balance due TO
the United States, they are passed 10 the Regis
ter, and appear on his books, and then 10 the So
hcitor, and appear on his books, and are then sent
70 the proper district attorney for suit. When the
debt is collected and paid into the treasury, in
whole or in part, the amount paid Is entered on
the books Of the Auditor, where the account was
first stated, and then on the books OF the Compt-
and han he h<,,l - L. ID
but where lands or any other thing is purchased
under execution for the debt in whole or in part,
no entry thereof is made on the books ofihe Aud
itor, Comptroller, and Register, until resale is
made and the money is paid into the treasury !;
and when the United States fail, in whole or In
part in the courts, no entry is made on the books
OF the Auditor, Comptroller, and Register Thus,
the books OF treasury exhibit balances due the
United States after the same are discharged This
might be remedied by treasury reg uaton, caus-
ing the proper entries 10 be made on the books of
the Auditor, Comptroller, and Register and open
ing in each Office an account Of the lands, &c
purchased for the United States on each debt and
for the discrepancies between the treasury stale
ments Of Indebtedness and tho judgment in the
particular but IL had better be regulated bv
Congress. This correction Of the books would be
| work taking considerable time and labor as il
would require TO overhaul the books from the
commencement Of the government. Yet no Jus.
statement Of the condition OF the balances on the
books Of the treasury can be made until il is
done.
The report Of the Solicitor OF the Treasury mo.
2S) also accompanies this report and exhibits the
operations Of that Office, and the attention TO the
trial Of suits, and the collection of money upon
judgments in favor OF the United States, with sug-
gestons as TO the propriety Of amending the law
so as to authorize commission 10 district attor-
neys for the collection of old Judgments and the
| proprety Of authorizing the Department 10 make
compromises and settlements. The attention Of
Congress Is called TO the subject, with recon-
mendation that the Department be authorized 10
allow district attorneys and others, employed for
that purpose, commission not exceeding ten per
cent. on the amount collected.
The report ofthe Treasurer ofihe United States
| mo. 29D also accompanies this. The business IN
satisfactorily performed. The money, both ofthe
United States and the disbursing agents of the
government, deposited, has been safely kept One
additional clerk for the Treasurers Office is recon.
mended, for the reason stated by the Treasurer in
his report.
Under the 18th section ofthe independent treas.
ury law, i was ihopght advisable 70 have the off,
ces ofthe assistant tfeasurers and the depostaries
OF the United States, examined by an agent of the
Department, and Mr.. William M Gouge was an
pointed 10 examine all Of them, except that of San
Francisco, California. His letter Of appointment,
No. 30, accompanies this report, as also his gem
eral report upon the condition and operation of
the Offices used as depostaries Of the public
money, and by the disbursing agents Of the gov.
eminent, exhibiting highly satisfactory condition
Of said Offices, the keeping the books and The pub
lie money, and the duties Of the respective Off
GERS. He will be required to examine the southern
Offices moi heretofore examined by him. The as
sistant treasurer's Office at San Francisco has
been examined by ]. Ross Browne, another agent
Of The Department, and that once found in food
condition, and the business promptly and sa,islao.
torily performed.
The table, 81, which accompanies this report
exhibits the imports and exports Of coin from the
Goth day Of September, 1891, TO the Both dav Of
June, 1854; and the table, %, which accompanies
this report, exhibits the coinage at the United
States mint from the year 1872 10 the 3Qth day Of
September, 1884, and the liable, 49, which also
accompanies this report, exhibit the coinage of the
United States mint and branches, from our own
mines, from the year 1904 to the both day Of Sep
TENDER, 1854.
Under the act OF 1881 Ihere mas been sl0,l52i70
Of silver coined at the mint in Philadelphia ana
branch mint at New Orleans, and circulated AT
Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago.
Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Norfolk
Charleston. Savannah, New Orleans, ST. Louis,
JeHersonville. Cincinnati, San Francisco: and
Phtsbprg, and furnished 10 citizens at various
other places. This has tended to keep sound
c. Al. l.. IL