The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-11-24

ees, almost from the organization of the
government, is but the legitimate fruit Of
such loose system ofaccounting. e''
MIR. Walker made an an etfart in Is45 to
remedy the evil, but could not overcome the
difficulties thrown in his way. Mr.. Guthrie
has, however, succeeded in this grand re-
form, and these accounts are now rendered
monthly, and settled in the month succeed
ding. Every officers connectad with tho
treasury feels that there is an eye in the de-
psrtment which watches every movement,
and that Asre is no sympathy vi,a6le in il for
fraud latehes, or defaaications.e The happy
connequence is that Mr.. Guthrie has no de-
In all our large ports we have naval Off
GERS as well as collectors. The former is
legal check upon the accounts Of the lat
ter. But in the small ports we have only
collectors The danger of fraud in these
ports is, therefore, quite evident. Neverthe-
less, from the beginning of the government
the treasury has received without question
ing the returns of these officers, unless there
was fraud or error on the face Of them,-
Mr.. Guthrie determined, to look outside for
the test of these accounts, and in 50 doing
discovered Q line Of frauds of great magni-
tude never before suspected. and if suspected
never before exploded, and checked. The
Seretary's vigilance in detecting this des-
cription Of frauds is alone toorth millions to
the people; for it will warn collectors that
they can be detected and, exposed in this
class of frauds as well as others, and deter
them from their ,perpetratiop. .sgs gf
~-us* .a* 4.*te *tlea" 80. 9}i
The abolition Of secret inspectors Of GUS
toms was one d, the first steps taken by the
present Secretary, He disposed Of the whole
regiment at one fell swoop. and not one has
since been appointed. These officers did
literally nothing except to travel through the
country as political propdgandists, to herald
the virtues q of and sound the praises Of
those who had appointed them, and thus
pfostituted their official authority for person.
al advancement. .s,,
The revenue cutter service had become
broken down and rendered inefficient BY the
appointment of idle loafing young, proteges
of politicians, as officers in the service, and
supernumery officers were. holding COM
missions and drawing pay absolutely against
law. The pruning knife was freely used
here also, and the whole system reconstruct
ed TO meet the demands Of the public inter a;
ests.s aai I1b g. v,sA 5, es /
The mechanics will remember with espe.
cial satisfaction the Accession Of Mr.. Guth.
rie. He has rescued their legitimate busi-
ness from the hands of politicians andjob-
bers, and restored it to them. The system
Heretofore pursued Of having contracs in
politicians, to be underlet by them at a pro-
fit, has 30 far as the treasury is concerned
been broken up To meet this system, ant
stop this line Of abuses, Mfr. Guthrie, in biz
first advertisement for building proposals
and in every subsequent one. has given. no.
tice that he would award contracts, to, none
but practical builders. es aia.saj 81
We have already ext ended this article
to an unusual length. But as the subject
is one in which the masses have the high.
est practical interests, we shall recur to il
again to speak, Of the many other reforms
introduced by the present head Of the Treas
ury Department, ...5..,s. 81,
/ The surprising administrative ability dis
played by the Secretary and Assistant Sc
cretary, in Encouragement Of this depart
ment, has fixed the regard and appreciation
of the right-minded people of this country
upon an administration Of which these re-
forms constitute the crowning Distinction
Our opinion is based upon, as we gather
these facts mostly from reports made to
Congress; and it is to be noted that they
have never been questioned by the oPposi
Etion.. We submit, then, that since theor
ganization OF lie government, the people''
PURSE has never been SO well guafded ant
protected. Facts are live-oak 1evefsg ant
iii is hard to resist them. The masses are
honest, and hate fraud and political stock
jobbing; they will applnud unbending integ
rity and financial ability.-[N. Y. Era.
l. ss.,,irS - b