Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-12-22
Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. II. lS

WASHINGTON, ID. g., Dec. ii, 1868.
Hon. i. A. Rollins, Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, as you will have seen
before this letter reaches you, has made
his resignation absolute. 1t is to take ef-
feet on the 3lst inst, unless a successor
shall have been previously confirmed
This determination is taken in accordance
with wishes entertained fortwo years past J;
but which has been postponed this length
of time purely on public considerations
His Report is specially worthy of the se-
rious attention of Congress and the coun-
try, first because of the Commissioners
long experience, together with his rccog-
nized ability and faithfllncss, and second
", because of the absolutely disinterested
position in which, by his resignation, he
speaks. lie recommends that appoint
ments be made on fitness, and not on par
ty recommendations and that the appoin-
tees be retained during good behavior, in
the spirit of Jencke's Civil Service Bill.
He also recommends for personal
reasons, he has heretofore abstained from
recommending-the conversion of the Bu-
reau into department Independent of the
Treasury. Weighty reasons are given for
both recommendations, for which | refer
your intelligent readers to the report it.
self They are not lengthy. In fact the
whole Report is given within moderate
compass; and it embraces the most i'm
portant pecuniary interests of any Report
presented to Congress. The Internal Re-
venue Department properly organized,
and administered, without interference, by
an able and faithful officer, would yield at
least twice as much revenue as all other
sources; whereas, it is seen by the Treas
urer's Report that but little more than the
amount received from Customs has been
obtained by it for the last fiscal year.
1t has a most inopportune look, for the
promotion of our interests in this very
blood-makiug branch of the Government
that Commissioner Rollins, after uncarth-
ing the whisky rascals, and getting famil-
lar with their tricks, and just on the eve
of being disembarassed of the slip which
has held him back from pursuit, should
determine to abandon. the field. Had he
consented to remain until March, we
might have hoped--as l fear we cannot
now hope-for the nomination of success
sor than whom no better man could be de-
sired, in point of familiarity with the In
tcrnal Revenue affairs, great abilities. and
undoubted honesty-Thomas Harland, the
present First Deputy Commissioner 1t
President johnson would consider only
the interest of the Government, and make
this nomination, speak knowingly when
| saw that, as between it and any other
that he is likely to make--and ! would
almost say, that of any other man what
ever--he would render an important SER
vice to the country. But | have no hope
of it.
Secretary McCulloch overturned and
recast the Commissioners nominations OF
Supervisors of internal revenue, as con-
dition of appointing any, until It Is rem
dered doubtful that there will prove eih-
ciepcy enough in the officers, in the total
unacouaintancc Of many Of them with
Revenue affairs, to give the office any OF
the utility for which it was created all
for party considerations; and better thlngs
can hardly be expected Of the President
Il is understood that this action OF the
Secretary was taken only in obedience TO
the Presidents demands. There IS rea'
sou for saying, however, in mitigation o'
tbis unl.oncfu view that the President