The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-07


Philadelphia ana Baltimore, have no hospital ac-
commodations Tor sick and disabled seamen.
careful examination OF these institutions has been
maze BY DR.. stewart, agent OF the Treasury De-
partment, and by Dr. Billings, OF the United States
Army. The result OF their examinations is that
several hospitals have not been properly managed;
that others should be closed, and that hospitals
Philadelphia. Measures have already been taken
for the sale OF The hospitals al several places
where they are not eied. The hospital at
New Orleans Is represented as unsuitable from bad
location ana other circumstances. The War Depart
ment Is IN possession OF suitable hospitals at New
Orleans ana New ork, which, am informed. are
no longer needed for the use OF the army l respect
fully recommend that they be transferred to the
Treasury Department.
me revenue marine system is an important and
expensive branch VI the customs revenue service.
There are 80 vessels belonging to the department,
or which IL are sailing vessels and "a are steamers
They vary III size lrom 40 to 400 TONS one hun
dred ana seyenly-lhree officers aud 2,4OO men are
required 10 man these vessels, and their running eX-
penses amount TO about $3.50 600 year, Five Of these
vessels sidewheel steamers OF 4S) ions burden, are
lake steamers ana out Vi commission. they are rap
IDLY diminishing In value, wne the care or them III
wolves nm annual expense OF about $4,000. me
vessels now IN the service have been purchased aud
built at various times ana, Jar as can ascertain
without special reference 10 the nature OF the duty
TO be performed, ana certainly without any matured
plan. From one-nai 10 lhree-fourths OF tue Whole
number are not adapted 10 the business. Congress
OF TOUR additional vessels, and proposals were
issued and bIds received unoer tue authority
tnns conferred upon the secretary OF The Treasury,
but no contracts have yes been maze.
An examination Of the subject has forced the con-
viCtl0n upon me that 1t IL nexpeaient 10 incur the
expenditure until the department Is In possession OF
moro accurate aud complete Information. | shall
therefore take the opinion OF board OF competent
officers upon the following polnts:-Flrst the Size
and Character vessels required b. the nature OF
the service that they are TO perform; secondly,
whether they should be CONSTRUCTED o iron or wood.
or OF a combination OF these materials. When the
report OF the commissioners siial have been re-
ceIved proposals WIN be issued or the construction
OF four vessels Us authorized.
TIE MINT ASD BRANCH MINIS.
In addition 10 the parent mint al Philadelphia six
"A
IN different parts OF the country-one at san Fran
cisco, one at New Orleans. one at Charlotte, \. c.;
one at Dahonesa Ca; one at Denver, Co.., and one
Ut Portland, oregon. since the commencement OF
the war the branches al New Orleans ana Dahonega
and charlotte nave been closed. An assay office, II
Is bell eyed, VIII satisfy the necessities OF the mining
interests In Colorado; and for the present only
limited business Will be cone NJ the Portland mint.
Indeed, with The construction OF railroads and LAe
consequently increasing facilities Tor communlca-
ton. am OF opinion that the business Of coming
Will be chiefly at one mint upon the Pacific ana ut
one mint upon the Atlantic coast. Under an act Of
making for the sale OF Inc minis at Charlotte and
Ddhlonegd.
The mining and coming OF the precious metals is
now large national interest that IL deserves more
attention than II has hitherto received AT present
there Is no bureau or oicer IN the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington charged specially with tue
management OF this great interest. therefore
recommend that provision be made Tor the appoint
ment Of proper officer 10 be entrusted Win TINS
branch OF the public business, unuer the direction OF
the Secretary OF tile Treasury.
The Coinage OF the country Is diminished in
amount by the fact that III England anu France the
mint expenses are much less lhan VITA IL would
no doubt have a tendency to prevent the export OF
the precious metals III the form OF buinoa II the
mint charges were to be reduced or altogether
abolished.
CUSTOM HOUSE LEASE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
An agreement was made on The 4lh day OF Feb
ruary 1868, between The Secretary OF the Treasury
California, leasing lot u land III San Fralsisco
known as the custom house block Tor the period OF
TWENTY-FIVE years. This lease Is subject TO the con-
dIon chat 1t shall be void If Congress or before
the LIST day OF January, 1870, snail take adverse
acton III reference thereto. III view or the
fact that the lease Is for a long period OF
time, and being OF the opinion that the govern
ment should retain control OF properly that may DO
needeu for public purposes think IL eXpeuient for
Congress to annul the lease.
THE NEW POST OFFICE BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK
AND BOSTON.
Considerable progress has been made upon the
foundations OF Tie Post Ollce building In the city
OF New ork ami OF the POST once ud independent
Treasury building In The CITY or Boston. 1ne SUPER
vsing Architect OF the Treasury Department OF
the opinion that the walls ana roofs or tue buildings
may Ue completed curing the next year Al sum-
cient appropriations are furnished The WORKS hay
Ing been undertaken ain OF op.non that IL is econ.
Omlcal to make the necessary appro for
their speedy compeuon
OUR COMMERCIAL MARINE
During the month OF December the department
Will be prepared to submit report upol the
oition Oh our commercial marine. That report viii
have not recovered from the losses sustained during
tie war, and tlat efficient measures necessary
SALARIES OF OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
cannot omit TO call the attention Of Congress to
the Treasury Department VINO exercise dlscre-
ton ana whose acts bind the government OF
AFFECT directly Its expenditures revenues. some
OF the salaries were fixed when the govern
ment was organized, Others when new officers were
adeed, and out lew OF them have been increased
Gently. II is unquestonably true that persons nav
Ing equal abIti and clothed with similar RESPONSE
ointy receive much larger compensation from lndi-
vlduals and corporations and although many OF the
officers now III the puDllc service are likely TO
tnue, from the circumstance that rneir vocation
LED them aside from the ordinary channels OF busi-
Interest OF the government 4 earnestly recommend
an Increase OF their pay. speaking generally
to revenue officers In the customs service
such as collectors, surveyors, naval officers
and especially to appraisers and examiners
III the appraisers department., should the recon-
mendation to repeal Tue laws granting SHARES OF
penalties Zines and lorfeitures TO pubic officers be
adopted 1t Will be necessary to increase the salaries
OF collectors, naval oncers, anu surveyors at
q plain trutn that the government has no
right 10 expect the services OF sucn COM
petent men ~ appraisers ana examines sa a. tue
they insufficient for the support OF family and
under such circumstances the government Is not
without responsibility wnen II places us officers IN
such Il position that they are compelled 10 choose
between dishonesty on the one hand anu penury
the other. The salaries OF the Assistant Urea
surer ana the principal officers should also be IN
creased and Tor suDsi antialiy tine same reasons. liz
has been found Impossible Tor the last few years 10
the OF the most efficient clerks the
Treasury Department except by additions 10 their
lawful salaries through an appropriation placed Ia
Tie distribution OF this appf0pria ion IS
an unpleasant duty for the Secretary
and cannot lie performed without producing
jeaOusies and uscontenLs among the officers OF the
department.. Speaking generally 1t may be said that
the heads OF bureaus, Chief clerks and clerks In
charge OF divisions are inadequately compensated
Tor the services they perform Ihe routine business
Of the department. can be performed In satisfactory
manner by clerks receiving the compensation now
provided by law, but men on whose discretion aud
judgment the government relies for the proper tran
sacton OF the business OF the country and whose
apors are not limited 10 the ordinary hours OF duty
should be made TO feel that they are properly CON-
pensated.
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT RE-
CoHMRNDED.
There are two changes IN the organization OF the
Treasury Department which consider important
The nrst change TO which refer il the creation OF a