Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-14
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


and the weekly journals of that metropolis
which live upon the Office holders, continus TOD
blate piteously over the late order Of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, reducing he force en- |
gagged in the collection of the customs reyenue,
it is working admirably for the public intsrsst
According to the JousssaI of ComnercsS BY 4
far the best newspaper authority, where any
branch of commercial affairs are concerned,
the net saving in the cost of collecting the
whole customs revenue likely to result from
the enforcement of the order in question will
not be less than ftesn per centum of its presents
sum total-a saving Of great Importance to the
national Treasury in these times -
Wecommend to the reader all that journal
says On the subject, in the following brief ex-
tract from its issue Of the 18th instant:
II g 1t IL now ten DAYS since the change took
effect, and IL Inconvenience Is to arise from II,
we might expect the most serious complaints to
be made now, before the clerks charged with
new duties become familiar with them, and
while the merchants are not fully acquainted
with the transfers which have been made from
one desk 70 another. Thus far however, we are
pleased to say that few IL any complaints have
been made, and our information derived from the
Custom House and from merchants having trans.
entire satisfaction already prevails with the new
system. 1t works smoothly and harmoniousiy,
and 1t Ii not likely that any delay or inconveni.
| ence will be occasioned by the recent introduce
| ton Of more economical system, in the collec.
ton Of the revenue.
'The saving to the Government at this port
alone will not be less than ninety-three thousand
| dollars annually, and we suppose that taken as
| whole, the reductions already made and in imme.
diate contemplation, will equal, If they do not
exceed fifteen per cent ofhe actual cost Of collect
| ing the revenue. THIS, we think, all impartial
men will agree with us n prononncing valuable
| reform, and one which has not been mnde a day
| too soon. The principal reductions have, we be-
ieve, now been effected, the changes at the small
er ports having transpired quietly to attract
very little attention. Boston submitted to a ma
terial reduction several months ago. a. also did
Philadelphia. In the Southern ports there have
been reductions about in corresponding ratio, so
| that the service may now be said to be on an
economical footing 1t is, however, probable
that after few months trial with the present
force 1t may be found practicable to further con-
| solidate the clerkships in some departments, dis
| charging few, and adding something to the
| salaries Of others charged with additional duties
| so that considerable saving may yet be effected
l 1.-THE economical system has advantaues other
| than the mere matter Of dollars and cents The
moral effect will be admirable, and, II persevered
in, the principle that officers employed for the
1 services they can render TO the Government and
| not for their own benefit and reward, may yet be
established The business of the Government
| should be placed upon the same footing as that Of
/ individuals. and only so many persons employed
as are actually essential TO perform the duties de-
1 handed. No supernumeraries, but inst sutfi-
cheney OF active working men should be the policy
in all the public ofiices.f' =
Mr.. FoRNEY's TACTICS were "set back
this morning by brief announcement in the
Constitution exploding the roorback alleging
that Mr.. Wendell received from the President
an improper letter. This, the Constitution
fatty denies. The story was preposterous as
that it was not thought worthy Of formal
denial, so long as it was merely repeated day
after day in the letters purporting to be writ
ten to the Philadelphia Press from this city,
which Mr.. Forney indites in his sanctum, over
the signature Of Occasional. But the Oppo-
sition press generally having seen fit to repeat
the SANDER. We presume it has at length been
Judged proper thus to explode it. I
Apopos.-In his last " Occasional effusion,
Mr.. Forney essays to break the force of the
Stars commentaries upon the course of the
Press and its conductor, by alleging that in
private conversation the editor of the Star
Processes great regard for the latter personally
We have merely to pronounce this statement un.
true. That We have more than once expressed
regret on account of the shameless tergiversa
ton of the conductor of the Press, and pity fol
his present condition before the public, is very
likely But as we are no believer that mar
can be politically corrupt, and yet a person Of
principles deserving respect and regard, We
could have no regard for him, since his mani
festation Of his true character through his
course towards his personal benefactor and the
Democratic party. g..
An RRoR.-The recent statement of the New
York Herald, that between sixty and seventy
cargces of Africans have been landed in the
| United States since the successful voyage of the
yacht anderer, is incorrect. 1t is positiy ell
certain that not single such cargo has since
landed, the various stories to that effect afoat in
the press to the contrary Notwithstanding The
Echo is the only vessel that has attempted To
approach the Southern coast of the United
States to that end, and the public arc aware Of
the result OF that attempt. The Governments
arrangements to prevent the landing of such
cargoes have been so complete as to proven,
those disposed TO violate the law to repress the
African slave trade, from venturing efforts To
eVade It, We may not inappropriately add. that
the parues In the South active in ondeayoring
70 reopen the trade have been doing their best
TO embarrass the Government officers charged
with the duty Of guarding the coasts of the
United States against the approach of slave
| ships, by getting up rumors keeping them
| perpetualiy voyaging in various directions in
search of wholly imaginary slavers. The
promptness and efficiency with which thew dis.
charge their duties under such circumstances.
however, have doubtless had the effect of deter.
ing all who would otherwise violate the ant.
African-slave-trade law, from risking their
money and personal liberty in such ventures
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION There has
been but one death reported to the United
States Pension Office, from among the reyolu.
tionary pensioners in the State of Ohio, durp,
the six months ending with June 30, 1859
Nor have any deaths occurred during the same
period among such in the State Of New Hamp-
shire ..----
SURVEYS IN FLORIDA.-Plats, &C.. of the
surveys of number of townships in the ever.
glades of southeastern Florida, have been re-
eeived by the United States General Land
oniee. These lands, though low, under a