The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-30

THH TAX BILL AND THE NUMEROUS OFFICE
IT CREArEs.-The Tax bill has at length passed
both houses Of Congress, and only awaits the
signature of the President to become law.
1t ia to take effect on the LIST Of August. The
people will therefore soon see the national tax
gatherer approaching their doors for the first
time in the history Of the nation. Public atten-
tion thus far has only been directed to the long
list of articles to be taxed and the schedule Of
rates; the manner and mode Of collecting the
tax has attracted but little notice. Our readers
will see by those sections Of the law which pro-
vide for putting it into operation, which we
published the other day in the HERALD, that il
provides for a small army Of Office holders
with good Salaries feature that will create
no little commotion among the office seekers.
In the first place, there ID to be Commits
soner Of Internal Revenue at Washington, sur
rounded by his necessary assistants and clerks,
to be the centre Of all operations. The Presi-
dent has the power to divide tho different
States into districts-the number in each State
not to exceed the number Of representatives in
both houses Of Congress. For each district
thsrs are to be appointed an assessor and col
lector, with assistants. These districts are to
be subdivided into convenient districts, with
deputy assessors, collectors and assistants. This
will create several thousand new Offices, at the
disposal Of the national administration, with
salaries ranging from one to four thousand dol
will Immediately take place; the party idlers
and party runners will be on the qs1i uive for
the spoils, and will soon be on their march
to Washington, besieging the President
for an appointment. There will be plenty
Of those who will be full Of pa
triotism, under this incentive, ready to serve
the government under this law, however much
they may have detested shouldering the mus
ket in the country's defence; and we may ex-
pect soon to see those scenes that were enacted
in Washington upon President Lincoln's taking
the helm of the government re-enacted in every
particular. The squabbles between the differ
emit factions will be renewed with all their
former vigor. This will NO doubt be the alb
sorbing subject at Washington until the ap-
pointments are disposed Of, even to the exclrl-
sion of the army at Richmond.
In view of the large number Of Offices
created by this bill, the scramble that will take
place to obtain them, with the spoils attached,
and the importance that they should be filled
with better class than usual, the President
should forthwith establish some national prin-
ciple as basis or guide for their selection.
He should mark out such course for his action
as will prevent these important positions
from falling into the hands Of another set Of
inefficient officials like those in possession of
our custom houses and post Offices throughout
the country. The public will judge of the law
great deal by the character Of the men who
execute it in their midst. Let us, then, have men
in every particular competent aud conservative,
and not of that class which will furnish work
for Congressional investigating committee in
every tax district, like our Custom House in
this city