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


tional legislation as the circumstances seem 10
| require.
The condition Of the mint at Philadelphia, as
10 safety as depository and security from fire
was examined by Captain Bowman, under the d.
rectons Of this department. His report mo. 43)
accompanies this, and states the necessity OF Civ
| ing the same greater security as mint and de-
posilory, and Of its being made fre-proof; and
estimates are submitted for the alterations and
also for improving the vaults Of the Treasury
building al Washington. In Captain Bowman's
general report il is stated that the appropriation
for the repairs OF the branch mint at New Orleans
Is not sufficient 10 make il thoroughly fre-proof
and secure as mint and depository. and esti-
mates are submitted for that purpore. The atten-
ton OF Congress is called TO the condition of the
mint at Philadelphia and the branch mint at New
Orleans, and Of the vaults in the treasury, and
such appropriations recommended as will make
them hre-proof and perfectly safe. The propriety
OF an annual appropriation, for keeping in repair
the vaults and safes for the assistant treasurers
and repositories is submitted
The table, 43, which accompanies this report,
exhibits fity-iour places, including the marine
hospitals, where relief is afforded TO sick and dis
abied seamen, under the direction Of this depart
ment, with the average cost per day Of each
patient at the several places. II appears the aver
age cost - fair and reasonable at most of the
places, but at others il greatly exceeds what il
| should be. Every effort has been made to bring
the cost within fair and reasonable limits, but the
greatest discrepancies are found in those places
where there are but few patients 10 accommodate,
and where il has been found impossible to reduce
the Item constituting the largest average in the
expense, such as compensation Of surgeons, &c.
The report of the supervising inspectors of
steamboats,, under the act of 3Oth August, 1852,
No. "A, accompanies this report, as also a letter
from Mr.. William M. Gouge, charged by this de-
partment with the duty of attending the meetings
The department also procured Professor Booth,
meter and refner at the mint in Philadelphia, 10
experiment upon fusibe alloys, in connection with
Evans safety valves, and otherwise, with view
OF testing the same, and in order TO have reliable
alloys should il be determined 10 continue their
use. His report, No. AS, also accompanies this,
and gives valuable information upon the subject.
The attention of Congress is called 10 the sug-
gestlons In the report OF the supervisors, the letter
of Mr.. Gouge, and the report of Professor Booth.
The department has been furnished with the table,
40, which accompanies this report, showing the
loss OF slxtythree steam vessels from the LIST of
January, 1854, 10 June of the same year. with the
causes thereof. This table exhibits ten by col
lison, seventeen by fire, five from ice, twenty
three from snags, and states nineteen Of them
We're lost from inattention aud negligence, thirty
one from accident, one from being unseaworihy,
and only TWO from unavoidable causes This
exhibit proves that much remains 10 be done,
under the steamboat act, to secure capable and
efficient officers on steam vessels for the preser-
walton Of life. These, and the recent losses upon
the ocean, properly raise the question whether the
law should provide greater security in the con-
struction of steam-passenger vessels, or leave
them, as now, to the ship-owpers.
In my former report the attention of Congress
was called 10 the Inconvenience arising from two
sets OF local inspectors under the act Of 1888,
and The other under the act Of 1852, and the pro-
priety Of having but one set under the same SUI
perintendence. The regulations which the super.
vising inspectors are authorized 10 make should
also have the approval of the department, and its
supervision in enforcing them.
The propriety of providing for supervising in
spectors ON The Pacific coast was also stated, and
Is again recommended. The attention of Con-
gress is also called 10 the penalty for collision I'M
der the ACT of 1885, which only applies TO the de-
struction of life on the vessel the officer COM
mands, and does not embrace the killing done on
the other vessel
act Of Congress-, that the records and papers oil
the several collectors of customs shall be public
property, andleft in the Offices for the use Of their
successors; nor any provision making il felony
10 make false entries in the collectors books, or
return false accounts 10 the treasury. Il has been
customary in many of the districts for the outgo-
ing collector 10 carry away the books and papers
on the pretence that they were private properly
because purchased out Of the emoluments Of the
collector, under the regulations Of the treasury.
Ihey have been declared, by q treasury circular
the property Of the United States, and directed 10
be preserved and handed over TO the successor.
The fact that these were carried away was cause
OF suspicion as TO the integrity Of the collectors
and In four ports, 10 wit: Oswego, Cleveland, To-
ledo, and Milwaukee, where other strong circum
stances strengthened the suspicion, Investigations
were Instituted al the ports with copies Of the
returns made 10 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 at Oswego were ascertained 10 have
suppressed duties, actually collected by him, TO
over $4,000; the collector al Cleveland to an
amount almost Of Sis 900; the collector at Tole-
do 10 an amount OF about 5000 and the collector
at Milwaukee TO over $4,000. These are the first
frauds OF this description that have ever been
brought 10 light. They are now presented 10 the
consideration Of Congress, for such additional
legislation as may be deemed necessary. In the
revision OF the revenue laws prepared az this de.
partmeni, under resolution Of the Senate, and
now before that body, clauses have been inserted
for the purpose Of providing the proper remedy
There has been. no revision Of the revenue laws
since the enactment Of 1859. The necessity OF
revision is respectfully urged upon the considers.
ton Of Congress.
In addition TO the tables and reports herein he
lore particularly mentioned, various statements
OF exports and imports, statement of the persons
employed in the several collection districts, and
complete set Of the circulars issued by this De
pariInent since the date ofmy former report, also
accompany this. ' -
The important interests con6ded 10 this Depart.
ment require that the clerical force should be NOT
only capable, but Trustworthy in all respects.
md there has been great improvement in that
orce. In most cases, the best Of those found in
ONCE were retained, aud, under the system Of
classification, when vacancies occurred, rule
was established 70 promote for capacity and eff
cheney, from the lover othe higher casses whilst
the required examinations have secured more ca |
pabe clerks for the first class. The rules Of the
Office are strictly enforced, and there exists com
mendable industry, capacity, efficiency and, il il
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 |