The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-06


subject TO his draft or that OF representative but by
warrant Is placed again IN the treasury, and is sppica-
Die TOT the pun pose fer Which il was appropriated.
The notes Of banks chartered by ths States continue
circulate In some sections Of country to the exclu-
sion OF gSia and silver except in government transac-
uons and more particularly w he banks cir ,uate
notes under the denomination Of Ave dollars These
smell notes are mostly circulated by banks Of doubtful
solvency, at distance from the place of redemption
They institute deprecated currency which no one ia
willing to hold and This leads to haety expendtures n
order that the loss may fall Others The evils Of
deprecated currency are atested by the ~
all countries where such currency has been tried and
in none mere certainly than N the States of the Confee
ration The Legislatures Of the several States and the
Congress- Of the Confederation, all issued bills credit
during the revolutionary war; and all felt and acknow
sttuion OF the United States WAS framed by the men
who had felt all the evils thereof; and when provisions
were inserted in that that State should
emit bills o. credit make anything but gold and silver
tender in payment OF debts and the coming Of money
was given to the general government they believed they
had provided for hard money currency and against the
evils Of deprecated one but these provisions we're
Dufed when the courts held that the States had power
to charter banks with authority to issue and circulate
trace their steps, and give broader construction to the
prohibitions c the federal constitution whilst it is hope
charters with authority to issue these small notes;
that the States Will concur in the constitutional
lon In respect to bills Of credit to prohibit
this power to banks. The LEGAL and individual
interest that induced the granting OF bank charters
this privilege would induse the Legislatures of tho
States to refuse to Congress the of prohibiting the
use and circulation of bank notes The thirteen nun
dIed banks now In existence under State Charters
money, in constant competition With the constitu.
ional currency, attest the magnitude Of the evil and
justify the worst apprehensions tor the future. The gra-
dual increase OF banks banking capital and bank
circulation calls for repressise action under appropriate
State legislation When these thirteen hundred banks
shall be increased to some two three four five thou
sand It may be feared their aggregated power will not
beeasiy overcome until suspension Of specie pay
the evil and restoration of the constitutional
cy the States shall continue the charter and multi
pcation OF banks with authority issue snd circulate
to the increasing evil and siso fail to invest Congress-
win the power to prohibit the same Congress
excise upon them ard thus render the authority to
and circulate them valueless.
TIE accounts Of Collectors of the Customs continue
to be rendered st the close Of each month, and
those on the Atlantic settle within the sue
ceeding month, and taose the Pacific coast
oispurseneht and emoiument accounts are rem
deIed quarterly and it is intended to have them set
'ied within the succeed ing quarter The benefits re.
sulng from the prompt rendition and settlement of the
accounts, manifest themselves more and more from the
TEST epeiience accounting is better understood the
accounts in better form this vouchers correctly
taxi n with fewer improper items give less trouble and
take less time in their adjustment. 1t is believed the
disbursement and emoumeLt accounts could be rendered
monthly with advantage to The business ports and
The tnarces OF the country and monthly accounts might
be advansgeously required in all branches of the public
service All officers and dsburspg agents ale requ ed
to keep hook If accounts and record in it all money
and property received and all money and property DIS
buisd and take proper vouchers for the same and dis
bursing chceis OF the army to render monthly state
Tents Of their expenditures. The monthly account
received, the amount cisbursed with the balance on
hand for the succeeding month, and could be Sly
Ieneeed at me emo Of inc month as at the end of the
mail, or otherwise to the proper department aud,
ii The vouchers were taken in duplicate aud one
set accompany the account and the other
tanned with the account book, there could be
no difficulty in supplying lost account or
voucher. Monthly acsounts would be better for the
YER as tp he ad
the close OF the month to coe his cash and property
account for the business Of the ing month"; and
procure his vouchers when the disbursements
a6e and she uld he make any improper disbursements
The proper department would be able at to apply
The correction before the error extended The dis
bursting officers would necessarily become better &C
quaii ted with the business conced to them and In all
respects better discharge the cuties whilst the adjust
nens would lake less OF the time OF the accounting Of
hctrs. The greatest difficulty cred Is with the
accounts Of disbursing officers and agents, who have
failed to render their accounts regularly required by
law and regulations, emo to accompany the accounts
with proper vouchers; and the greatest loss to the
treasury is in the insolvency Of such disbuIsng oiser
sLd agents. The arrearages Of nearly 900 in tn
accounts in the Offices OF the six Auditors attest this
Author should be given to require and enforce month
require less time to settle monthly than to settle
quarterly accounts, give greater safety, and
tct nCny in the disbursements.
1t will be EN- by reference to the circulars Of the de-
psrtment, tnat efforts have been made, and being
made to have the accounts at all the houses ksps
upon the same uniform principles, and the same forms
and routine for the entry of goods at all the p0rts with
tle like advantage Of warehousiDg expectation and
alton The collectors in practice rendered no
account Of the goods in warehouse until they
tered for consumption and the duties paid when the
eelts APPEARED in the me nthy account of duties
ceved They have been required to render accounts of
goods in Warehouse at the close of each month The
Mt No 3d. rendered OF goods in warehouse at the
Atlantic and internal ports on the LIST of July 1855,
hbits goods in warehouse to the amount of $2l
which there cuties unpaid to the amount OF So
so me entered or
that month, with the duties the same; the second
part Of said statement gives the like information for the
have the data to exhibit the monthly operations during
the fiscal year.
The revenue laws consist Of various acts of Congress-
enacted during a period Of early seventy years. with
pfciing and inconsistent provisions sometimes with
and sometimes without repeating clauses. T,ere have
been judicial srucons Of Of these acts and
sl uctons by the department. in form OF crculers Of
most Of them and these circulars conflict. Toe coec.
10 be guided in the discharge Of their duties by
these acts of Congress and these circulars and find from
them systematic rule Of action for all the ari
ling uneer them Under resolution of the Senate, the
cepaI ment caused revision Of these laws to
be pepaI ed ard laid oefoIe the last Congress- 1t
printed by their order but only the chapter relating to
passenger ships passed upon by Congress- Had Con-
gItss corrected and passed the other chapters IL in
tended TO have revised the circulars issued by the de-
Isr,n ent and make them consistent with the act Of
revision. Bad tits been done, the revenue laws would
hsye been better understood by the officers OF the
toms and by the importers, with advantage TO the sys
the favorable consideration OF Congress- with the hope
they will the propiiety Of considering the subject
,it ms as ia their wisdom, may be deemed proper.
The report No. 81 Of Captain A. II. Bowmsn, engi-
in che Of the constr ucon and repair OF buid
under authority OF the Treasury Department gives
il detail all necessary information to psce before Con-
ge-the progress made since my last report and the
notion OF the several works up to the 30h sepem-
ber 1865. The ecrt is beirg made to have all the
dore with the lest and in the best the
sppro III iaius will allow, and fire and thief
proof Iossihe with provision for warming and venti
lstop. Icn beams and grcers, with brick arches tor
the hcors iron sash frames and window blinds for the
dcws, with galvanized iron Ioos constitute part OF
The psns fer these buildings The that at
tended Il Of iron the construction Of fire proof
buld gs has induced its extended application to
bui drg purposes and might justify Congress in recog
nizne iron Of the materials to be used for the
OF hos ptal custom houses &c. when suitably To-
Gated The report is accompanied with list Of the Gus
Il houses pu released and those built and those appro
prated for by Congress; ALSO sim liar list the marine
hospitals and there estimates for constructing the
eustt houses at New Orleans and Charleston, under
construction, by days work.
The report Of William N. Gougs, who, under the au-
hciity OF the department. visited the several marine
ho. ais during the mai much yauaho