The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-06

csss'y Of providing for the adequate compensation
OF some OF the officers connected with Treasury Do
partment The salaries OF those VINO are required TO
Furnish bonds with heavy penalties and who cuso-
dams oil large amounts o money and of Others occupy
ing very important positions altogether Inadequate
10 the responsibilities which they and the
which they render
For example, the Treasurer, who received and dis
bursed last year about four thousand millions Of dollars,
y paid salary Of 1--WE thousand dollars per anuum The
Assistant Treasurer in New York who has hs custody
from twenty TO forty millions of dollars eon,
and frequently as large amount currency receiving
ana paying Out In the course Of the year than two
thousand millions Of dollars six thousand dol
lars The Assistant Treasurer San Franc receives
forty-nve hundred dollars in currency which Is nm
entirely inadequate salary that State for officer
Of character and ability holding position o. great
responsibility The Commissioner Of Internal Revenue,
holding an oMceRwhich requires In it's admin
much executive ability and high an order OF talent
any connected with the Treasury Department. receives
twenty-five hundred dollars. The custody OF the
vast amounts OF government securities printed
and issued from tho Treasury Department 10 i'm.
posed upon the chief OF the first division Of
the Currency Bureau, who receives an annual compen
saton Of cnly 1000 The Complroiers Treasury
whose functions Of supreme importance the safe
transaction Of the the Department receive
salaries which are Just compensation that bust
ness ABILITY and those legal attanmcnts which are indis
pensaDc Ia the places they Occupy Many other officers
might also be named whose compensation entirely in
adequate TO their talent and services.
me Secretary rs aware OF the necessity OF economy
in the expenditure of the public moneys at present
time but the government, In order TO the
vices OF competent and faithful officers must pay saa
res equal TO those which paid by private corpora
tons and individuals; and If such salaries are paid
the result will inevitably be highly injurious to the pub
lie service, because incompetent unaithfu and ire
sponsble men will be allowed Ill Offices requiring the
highest capacity and most reliable Integrity.
The duties devolved upon the officers named are
too important to be entrusted persons less able
and reliable than those who now hold them; and II
Is very questionable II the services OF such be
retained without an increase OF compensation Expcn
sive as living is in Washington and the other cities
named at present. and is likely TO be for some time to
come, there IS scarcely OF these officers who
support his family in manner corresponding to his
position or even comfortably on the salary which he re-
II not asked that there shall an ndiscrminate
raising OF salaries, but that provision be made for the
payment OF such salaries be necessary TO
the permanent services OF tho right men in the most
important positions in this Department Unless this
shall be done the Department will labor under serious
embarrassment in the transaction its vast business
during the coming year
The EXTRA CONFIRMATION FUND
In this connection the Secretary desires advert TO
the disposition that has been made by the appropriation
OF the last Congress- of the two hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars for compensation to temporary clerks and
additiona compensation TO those permanently employed
Congress having declined make any general ndis-
crminae increase of the salaries Of clerks II was in
ferred that Il was intended that such portion OF the ap
preparation IN question might not be required TO pay
salaries or temporary clerks should be used carefully in
increasing the compensation OF those who peri
ing difficult and important duties and whose services
could not be dispensed with without injury to the gov
eminent Upon making the examination necessary to
proper decision as to the use 70 be made OF the fund
lower grades but that there scarcity OF those of
the higher grades competent to perform important
and responsible duties II appeared that many clerks,
receiving the highest salary allowed by law, had
signed because they could obtain greater compen-
sation elsewhere. The Treasurers Office had suffered
largely In this manner many Of his most valuable clerks
having ft to accept situations IN banks and commercial
establishments where they could obtain permanent
ployment and higher pay. There Indications also,
that many others would do the Same unless additional
compensation should be made to them Under these
circumstances was decided to part OF the fund in
slightly increasing the salaries Of clerks OF this descrp
ton until the intention OF Congress In relation TO Its dis
position should be more clearly indicated The amount
OF the fund already expended in this way about tweD
tyhve Thousand dollars II the disposition which has
been thus made OF II Is not in accordance with the in
tention OF Congress- H OF course competent for them
TO provide different expenditure Of IT, The Secretary,
however deems TO be his duty 10 ray that tho inter-
salaries OF clerks who are acting as heads OF
divisions, or are employed in duties requiring
In their performance high order Of ability, we'll
AZ the salaries or the officers referred should be
sderably increased. II would doubtless be q
omy 70 dim nsh the number Of the clerks, and 10 in
crease the compensation OF those who may DO retained
CONDITION or THE VARIOUS
For Information in regard ~ the condit and opera
tons OF the various Bureaus OF this Department
reference made 10 the accompanying reports OF tho
proper Officers all Of whom with the Assistant Secreta
Tee merit the thanks Of the country for the efficient
manner In which they are dscharging their ana
responsible duties
HUGH AcCULLOCH Secretary OF tho Treasury.
Hon. SCHUYLER CoLvAx speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentative6