The national Republican., 1862-10-03
LIVE BUSINESS mSN IN THE DEPART
N nNTt.

mhNTSs
The present Administration ha, done much
owards driving out the fossilized old togies
from the Departments Of the Government
Whit many still remain, who in peint Of com |
nionest business enterprise and tact would dis |
grace the meanest counting room in the land,
YET the friends OF the Admn,sh alton can point
with pride 10 the various departments, and
challenge comparison with any that have pre-
ceded il, either with regard 10 executive abil. |
iy, OF talent aud efficiency in carrying out the |
details OF the business OF the Government
Among all the old or new departments, none |
are more deserving Of the favorable apprecia- |
lion OF an intelligent public, than that under
the immediate control OF Ex Gov. George s.
Boutwell,, Of Mass.
These who know the Governor need not
he told that the "Ofice of Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue Is model place Of busi-
ness. Yet few are aware Of the enormous
amount OF labor, as well as the administrative
talent required In organizing an entirely new
and complicated department, the operations Of
which are so wide spread.
Among the first and most important duties
of this Office was the appointment Of a chief
clerk who should assist in arranging the pom
derous machinery required by the law; and
then TO superinteld its workings, to accomplish
the eoormous amount Of necessary business
The positOn required the experience Of the
b:st of accountants, united to talents of Pc
culiar order. And 1t is not saying too much,
when We assert that the Commissioner could
not have made happier selection than he did
10 The person of Charles F Estee, Esq, of Mas
saobusetts.
| Together these men have labored, tor four
months 10 organize and perfect department
which will ever stand as monument to the
fidelity OF men who have not hesitsted to give
days and nights of toll and care to its accom-
plishment. They must, first, thoroughly digest
and understand law which required the best
talent Of the assembled wisdom of the nation
to frame. Then came the difficult and delicate
task of appointing The assessors and collector
10 all the States then thousands Of letters
must be written in reply to the numberlsss
questions OF the officers and OF persons inter
estsd In the operation of the law Between
two and three hundred black books we're re
qnirad for Office records, and a large number
Ci blank forms had to be prepared and sent to
all parts OF the country. Some Of these last
are very ingeniously contrived, especially the
roTms of books to be kept by distillers, brewers,
coal .oil listiilers and others, collectors and
ali ri he
utmost rare and legal exactness in their preps
ration
Ard il must be borne in mind that all ths
was new and untrisd field of labor. No pre-
cadeutr worthy of The name, had been estab-
lishei. The light Of a predecessors iabors or
experience has not fallen on the present ,ncun
bent Of this important office,
Yet the work has Isen nearly accomplished
TIE machinery has been successfully get 10
motion aud, 60 far, works admirably Some
thirty FIVE or more clerks, newly appointed,
are now iDdustiiousiy engaged IN posting the
numerous book. oi the office, all OF which are
kept ty thoTongh system OF double entIy-a
thing which we believe, no ether department
Trlnre- aud the labor oi collecting sn an
Iual revenue Of from one hundred aud fifty to
two hundred millions IF dollars, throughout
our vide spread country, has already begun
We cannot close this hastily written sketch
without sdiing word with reference to the
Commissioner, personally While hs is hs
worker in the busy hive Of his d. sr,ment and
insists upon scrupulous exaclness IN all its ar
raDgements, be is always spprOacLabie, 1t is
tbe common remsrk oi persons who come from
& dislauce to transact business with the de
Partmsuts, that, among the snub6ish officials
one ia too apt to meet in Washington, "there
is one at least, who can be got at" The Gov.
ernor is gentlsmanIy and courteous to all.
Massachusetts not only sends brave soldiers
iuio Ihc iald, but supplies competent men for
important positions in the civil department of
The Government.