The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-04
CITY OF WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 1851

charge OF the duties Of their respective Offices aud the
Secretary Of the Treasury with ths approval Of the Pre
cent authorized Regulate aud the amount Of
their bonds from time time whenever the interests Of
the United States deemed 10 require H.
The compensation of collectors for the unclassed dis
trcs and the first aud second Of the classified ID by
fixed salaries ranging from S. 900 per annuu in San
Francisco TO 900 in Charleston, and In the residue
Of the districts they paid by salaries ranging rom
900 per anuum and half Of per cent commission on
the amount Of collections in the third class TO eight
per cent commission, in the eighth class.
In the fourth Eth SIXTH and seventh Glasses collectors
aio wed additional pay for services actually rendered
in the form Of prescribed e to be paid ont OF the pnblie
treasury aud the Secretary is authorized with the Appro
bsion Of the President to grant additional
collectors In districts and eight reporting such
changes salaries cashcatons districts changes Of dis
cfs or new ports established annually 10 Congress
yidng that collectors whose compensation was $1,000 and
below that sum- shall not be diminished by the operatons
Of the bill
The naval officers surveyors, and appraisers all
compensated by fixed salaries roportionsd TO the salaries
of the collectors At their respective pos and the general
appraisers also paid liked salaries and salaries
diem compenssons also assigned all the other
mAnent officers connected with the cusiomsL
The present mode OF compensation BY salaries com
missions and fees aad being fixed by law and the amount
collections and other business which especially the
two latter elements depend being hactuang there is
just proportion between the eompensa
ton and the service nothing OF the door open TO
fraud and oppression by exacton Of illegal lees without
the knowledge OF the department and therefore beyond lis
control
TIE proposed system dispensing with fees, granting
fixed salaries salaries and commissions to the collectors
of the districts arranged in classes proporuoned 10 the
of collected and providing for transfer OF
districts from class class with the increase dimnuton
of revenue couhnes with adequate scale Of compensa
tioa, principle OF se-adjustment by which, without
any additional legislation exercise OF executive discre
ton is designed and hoped that the pay viii always
be kept in due proportion TO the service and reponsi-
bility.
cHAPrKR III.
q ,ba af "A
ulating the coastng trade
In this chapter are brought together the several provs
ions Of the existing laws regulating the issuing Of
enrolmen and licenses and the coasting trade with such
additions and notifications adapt the law TO the
present condition Of navigation and commerce.
By the law registers granted for the foreign
trade and enromenis and LICENSES licenses alone
cording tonnage for the coastwise trade 1t proposed
to dispense with enroents and licenses and issue instead
q register for the coastwise trade well the foreign
trade the coasting register TO be renewed annually and
register also TO vessels engaged In the various fisheries
This will il believed, be simple than the present
arrangement and viii distinguish quite well the tonnage
of the United States engaged in the various branches Of
commerce.
AS to the vessels which may documented vessels
the United States change IN the present law
posed except that vessels wherever built wrecked and
properly CONDEMNED unseaworthy purchase by cit
Of and repaired in the United States, at cost equal
twothrds the value when repaired and wholly owned
and commanded by American citizens may be registered
as aso vessels the United States sold foreigners and
afterwards repurchased in the United States and wholly
and commanded by citizens the United States not
having been engaged in any unlawful trade payment
of duty the appraised value OF five per cent, to be
carried TO the marine-hospital fund.
Also foreign built vessels purchased by American cit
under certain circumstances have the bill of sale
recorded and be permitted engage in the foreign
trade by paying annual tonnage duty in advance OF
one dollar per toa.
1t is proposed 10 substitute for the present arbitrary and
nexart mode OF asceraining the tonnage of vessels
method that shall ascertain the precise carrying capacity
Of vessel may be, and instead of prescribing
any fixed mode by law in view Of the frequent change of
model and improvements Ia shpbudng the Secretary Of
the Treasury is authorized TO prescribe from time to time
the rules the asceranent of tonnage for vessels of
different build, shapes, and dimensions.
Ample provision made for the exchange of registers
from branch of commerce TO another without the
ment of any fee or charge therefor
The change effected in coastwise and interior
by the of steam has rendered nappcabe many
Of the provisions OF the existing eoasng law enacted in
l7s and among these the requirements 10 regard to
maufess By the proposed law the Secretary the Treas
authorized to prescribe the form OF the manifest 10 be
used by steam and other vessels engaged the coasng
trade and alter the from time to time make
them conform to the convenience of trade and prevention
of smuggling. And TO interfere little possible with
the and arrangements OF and other coastng
vessels collectors authorized station deputy the
place of their departure receive there the oath of the
master to bis manifest without requiring his presence at
the custom house.
the law stands the sale Of part interest in
ship owned by several papers must be issued
and all the give bondR IL Is proposed in
such Gases to require only new bonds 70 be given by the
new partifs in interest
In order TO prevent American vessels rom DeDg en-
gagged in the slave trade it is proposed to prohibit under
heavy penalties any American vessels engaging in trade
on the western coast Of Africa between any country
and that coast without specia license therefor in addi
ton 10 her register for the foreign trade This is designed
superseding but auxiliary other laws in force
which be adopted for the prevention Of the slave
trade. a
The foregoing are the principal changes introduced into
this chapter in regard the issue of marine papers and
regulating The coastng trade
CHAPTER ".
Chapter 4. For the government and regulation of
in the merchant service Of the United Staess
This chapter embraces all the essential provisions of the
existing law regulating seamen in the merchant service
with other change (besides few trhing verbal amend
mens than the bringing together in immediate uxtapo
sion the provisions scattered through various laws
the subjectmaiter and presenting them in clear
simple and intelligble arrangement.
prescrbes the shipping contract to be entered into
the and master the list of crew the bond for the
return Of the seamen their proper discharge abroad
the payment Of wages and recovery withheld the fur
nshng of proper medicines and provision the discharge
OF seaen and procuring surveys Of the vessel the al
legation OF unseaworhiness and the mode of enforcing
the shipping contract by the master well the mari
The existing laws have been found in general work
we'll and their essential provisions have been retained
CHAPTER v
Chapter To regulate the duties of officers of the cus
toms and the OF vessels entry Of vessels from
foreign ports.n
This chapter is composed with few additions and mod
catons of provisions taken from the general collection
law Of lTs9 and its amcndatory and the laws of 1921
and 1929 regulating mportatons from territories adjacent
to the United States 1t prescrbes the duties of collectors
naval officers surveyors and Inspectors the form of and
examination of manifest the report and entry Of the