The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-08
TREASURY REPORT.
Report of Secretary Boutwell,.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, I
Dacamhar n 1870


4 December 6, 1869.
| have the honor to submit herewith
the annual report Of the doings and
conditions of the Treasury Department.
In this report / naturally treat, first,
the matters of administration and their
measures of public policy. The officers
In charge of the varions bureaus and
divisions of the Treasury Department
have faithfully performed their duties,
and commend their several reports to
the consideration Of Congress.
The Treasurer of the United States
has prepared an elaborate report setting
forth the present condition Of the Treas
ury and furnishing resume of the
business of the Treasury Office from 1861
to the present time. Long and faithful
services of the present Treasurer enti-
ties him to the gratitude of the country.
The report of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue is respectfully COM
mended to the attention OF Congress.
Since the appointment of the present
Commissioner the administration of the
Office has been constantly improving.
The increase of receipts tor the first five
months of the present fiscal year In the
sum of l4,i3l, 1888 66 over the amount
collected in the first five months of the
last fiscal year is satisfactory testimony
to the ability and integrity of the per-
sons employed in that branch of the
public service.
The amount paid by warrants for COL
lectipg the revenue from customs dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1858,
was Sc, ,37S, ,3S5 43. and for the year end
ing June 80, 1863. s. &c., ,73S l3, showing
a decrease of Sl,00l ,647 80. The de-
crease in the cost of collecting revenue
has not been attended by any loss Of
efficiency in the service. On the other
hand it is believed that the means for
the detection of smuggling are better
than ever before and that the custom
house service is also constantly improv-
ing. 1t ought to be understood that
the chief means of collecting revenue
and enforcing the revenue laws must be
found in the administration of the APP
praiser's department.
The frauds and losses arising from
actual smuggling are unimportant when
compared with the losses sustained
through the incompetent or dishonest
examiners and appraisers. Assuming
that honest men may be obtained for
these important positions at the present
salaries it is yet true that Incompetent
appraisers or examiners may daily SUBJ
iect the Government to Losses far ex-
ceeding the amount of their salary.
Under existing laws certain Revenue
officers and other persons appearing as
informers are entitled to shares in fines,
penalties and forfeitures. During the
fiscal years of 1865 and 1869 the Treas.
ury Department distributed the sum Of
S2S, ,6s7 1861 to such officers or to inform.
ers in various cases arising under the
customs and revenue laws. A large ad-
ditional sum was also paid through the
Internal Revenue Office. .
The reason on which the laws grant
ing such allowances is based is, that
officers of the Government are stimu-
lated to greater activity in the dlscov-
cry OF frauds and in bringing offenders
To punishment. There can be no doubt
that such is the effect ofthis policy, but
the experience have had in the Treas
ury Department has convinced me that
the evils attending the system are
greater than the benefits derived from
it. 1t often occurs that revenue officers
are I'D to assert,claims in behalf Of the
Goverament which have no just foun-
datioH in law or in the facts of respect
i've cases, and where real claims exist 1t
ie often the object of the informsr and
officers who share in tho penalties TO
misrepresent the case to the Govern
ment so as TO secure the greater advsnt-
age to themselves. Cuba's more seri-
ous evil is found in the practice quite
general of allowing persons q fraudu-
lent course NATL result is reached
which will insure to the benefit of the
officers and informers, instead of check
ing criminal practices at the outset. 1t
IS impossible to set forth in exact Ian
guage the character of the evils that
grow out Of the present system. | am,
however, clearly of the opinion that the
Governments ought to rely on public
officers for the proper performances OF
their duties without stimulating them
by any contingent advantages. / have
recommended an increase of salaries of
custom officers, and the abolition Of the
systsm of givingLto them a share OF
fines, penalties and forfeitures will be
an additional reason for an increase Of