Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-02
The Treasury pepartme emit.


Gen. PIERCE came into power on the heels |
Of an administration stained with the odlum
of Galphinism and Gardnerism, and charged
with neglect and delay of the public bust
ness. A government was needed with hon
esty in the high officers, vigor in the conduct
of the departments and firmness in the ad-
ministraton at home and abroad.
These requirements have been satisfied IN
degree far beyond what could have been
reasonably expected. 1t IS true some COM
plants have been made concerning appoint
ments to office; but where the applicants and
the gifts are in the proportion of one hundred
to one it could not be otherwise. Murmurs
have also been heard of inefficency and want
of irmness in the President; but these char
ges for the most part result from the fact that
the heads of departments are left to transact
their own business within their own sphere.
Whether this is the best policy or not we
leave for more experienced men to decide.
One feature of this administration recon-
mends it to all true Democrats, viz: its acces-
sibility without respect to persons. Any one
having business with the government can see
the President or Secretaries without the forms,
obstacles and delays that have heretofore i'm
peded and annoyed him, and can have his
business promptly, fairly, and impartially
done.
The Treasury Department, under Mr..
GUTHRIE, is said to be in excellent order
The hours of attendance are from eight in the
morning until three in the afternoon, and the
Secretary sets the example of the attendance
he enjoins, being always in the Office before
and after the times fixed-the first to come
and the last to 90. He has given the most
careful attention to the removal of the intern
perate, the idle aud incompetent, and the APP
pointment of the best men for the public in
tereSt, and not to crafty senators, politicians,
and party cliques. The work of the office is
now done zealously and well, and contrasts
favorably with the late administration where
the accounts in the Third Auditors Office,
embracing millions of army disbursements
were five years in arrear.
The whole list of officers known as "Se-
cret Inspectors paid large salaries from the
treasury for unknown services, were dismissed
at one fell swoop, and not man has since
been appointed.
The supenumeraries attached to the Reve-
nue. Cutters have also been dismissed. This
was a favorite branch of patronage establish
ed for the benefit of loafng young men who
had the fortune Cor rather the mislortuno) to
have political connections; and many of them
knew no more of seamanship and navigation
than the English naval officers appointed from
tho aristocracy in the days of CHARLES III.
Mr.. GUTHRIE has carried the depository
system into active operation, being in fact the
first full execution of the Independent Trea-
sury act passed in 1916. Heretofore the dis
bursting officers kept their moneys in the
hands of banks and brokers and ran the risk
of loss and delay. SIMON DRAPER and Sell
DEN WIrHERs & Co., for example, had be-
tween them some two million and half of
public money; which Mr. GUTHRIE, by ur.
gent and repeated applications got from them
some thirty days before they failed. In
transferring money from one point of the
Union to another, the practice had been to
give draft on time equivalent, as alledged,
to the cost of transfer. Instead of these trans
fer jobs with brokers and bankers, the Trea-
sury now makes money on its drafts, no
draft being issued until the amount and pre-
MUM are actually paid in.
Another important improvement is in the
accounts of the collectors of customs. These
were formerly rendered and adjusted in from
six to nine months. Now they are rendered
monthly and are adjusted in the month sue
ceeding that for which they are rendered.
Short settlements make long friends; and
there has not been a default under Mr..
GUTHRIE's administration.