The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-07

insertion aer The arst Adyrsenens once daily
cents for each insertion Special notices charged aesee
and present it at the trclsurers Office The time that
would be occupied by the treasurer ia identifying the
applicants and the number Of additiana clerks which
would be required TO keep the necessary books, nde-
pendent Of the unusual responsibility which would
be put upon the treasurer of identifying 20 many
persons, render the execution Of the law, even m
this cise mpr.ccable. For all this additional trouble
and difficulty there Is compensang advantage over
the present mode of making such payments, which has
been found by practice both safe and expedcnt "
scarcely be necessary point out all the difficulties Which
exist Congress is again referred TO the circular egna
ons which adopted by the department ON this sub
eot and the recommendation Of amending the law, %
suggested in my last report, Is repeated
The report of the director OF the Mint Is herewith trans
United marked g. II appears that the amount OF bullion
received at the several mint establishments during tbs
fiscal year ending june 80 1858 was 50 3ll 70 III
gold and 80 1879, ,95f 81 in silver and that the coinage
during the same period amounted to $50, ss9 500 -
in gold and s., 233, 2S7 N in silver aud s23i 900 IN
cents.
The director recommends that tho law bc 50 amended
as to make silver legal tender TO the extent of fifty
one hundred dollars. am not aware OF any serious com
plant against the law as it stands and can sec there
fore urgent necessity for change.
He also recommends the issuing OF mint certificates to
depositors for low fifty dollars, payable TO
bearer with view OF creating sound paper currency
This suggestion does not meet the approval of the de-
partmcnt have many objections to the proposition,
but do not deem it necessary 20 enter upon the Discus
sion feel quite confident there will be serious dis
position on the part Of Congress TO give il favorable
consideration, The operations of the Mint during the
last fiscal year have been conducted with energy and
ability by the officers in charge of this important branch
of the public service.
The accompanying report of the engineer in charge
Of the Bureau of Construction will exhibit the progress
of the various public buildings under the direction Of
this department Many of them have been completed,
and ready to be occupied for the various purposes for
which they erected. In all Of them as much pro-
gess has been made anticipated at the commence
ment Of the year No new buildings haze been begun
since the adjournment Of Congress In my last report
called the attention Of Congress to the fact that owing
to the condition of the treasury, the department had
postponed the building of portion of the public works
authorized by previous acts Of Congress. To have COM
menced them at that tme at period since, would
have required the borrowing OF the to construct
them The silence of Congress the subject Indicated
their approval of the policy.
The condition of the treasury at present not more
favorable for the construction Of such buildings. Ata
time when the necessities OF the government demand an
increase Of taxation should not feel justified in lecom
mcnding the construction of such works as are not ur-
gently demanded for the public service 1t will be for
Congress to decide in providing the necessary means for
the next fiscal year, whether not they will impose an
increased tax for such purpose.
The occasion is an appropriate one again to call ths
attention of Congress to the system Of erecting pub
lie buildings. They referred to tables (Nos. s. q,
T. S, and 81 appended to the engineers report. These
tables will show the number Of public buildings erected at
different periods the Of their construction and the
necessity which existed for their erection The
received at any port indicates the amount of business
which requires custom house The amount received at
post Office indicates the necessity OF building for that
object and the number of days of the sitting OF the courts
will show the necessity for government building for that
object 1t will be for Congress to say whether syse
which has led to the building OF a custom house at
port yielding $3.50 90 of revenue and post office W
pays SlO7 Co. and court house whore the federal courts
in session four days in year. is entitled to their
continued sanction and approval it is said that OF
these buildings used for all three of these purposes
is trlp ,ufn
show that in that view OF the subject the expenditure in
many cannot be justified the combined services
npt of sufficient Importance to require the erection
of such buildings. II the amount OF business done at
the places where these buildings have been erected ust
fled the expenditure, then common justice would demand
that similar buildings should be put up at every other
place in the United States where equal amount of
business is done 10 do this would require expcndi
c of money which the warmest advocate Of the system
will not approve.
The recommendations of my last report ON this Sub
ect arc again submitted TO your consideration. In n
present state of finances il will hardly be propos.t
to add to the public expenditures by authorizing the
erection of any public buildings. In no event,
however should such works be directed without first
subectng the application for them rigid inquiry into
their necessity and popriety and when found necessary
the department should be required TO submit to Congress
suitable plans and estimates OF the COST before an aro
piiaton is made
Your attention is particularly invited TO that portion Of
the engineer report which refers to the subject Of ma
rine hospitals Each years experience adds to the OBJ
system of building and maintaining these hospitals. The
relief afforded is not ample, whilst the expense
is much greater than exists under tho old system. The
information which is communicated on this subject
must attract the serious attention Of Congress, and
should lead, in my Judgment to radical change. Tho
amount annually drawn from the treasury to supply
the deficiency in the fund for the relief OF sick and ds
bcd exceeds the raised out Of the wages of
the for this purpose. IL not formerly and
the fact is small degree attributable to the increased
and unnecessary expenditure growing out Of the building
and keeping up of marine hospitals Besides. there ID
fund sbuscd by the government which possesses higher
claims for Just and economical expenditure than the
under consideration. The law compes the oolec-
tion of this money from the wages of the seamcn and
the undertakes TO cxpend IL for their benefit
and protection The trust is sacred one, and only
be faithfully discharged by exercising the greatest
and economy in its disbursement. renew the recon-
mendations of my last report on this subject.
deem it my duty to call the attention OF Congress to
the bill for the revision and consolidation OF the
laws reported by in obedience to resolution OF the
House of Representatives at the last session of Congress-
For the then suggested deem it important
that the bill should receive the favorable action of Con-
gress at the present session.
Instead of that portion of the bill originally reported
regulating the collection districts, and appointment and
compensation of officers, propose TO submit at early
day, substitute suggested by the experience OF add
tona year in this department. which, ii is believed will
obvate many existing nconyenences, and very maeri
ally reduce the expense of collecting the revenue
In this conncxion is deemed proper to refer 20 mis-
apprehension which 10 exist to some extent, in
gard to the receipts and expenditures at certain ports
While the amount of foreign merchandise imported at