New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
THE TREASURY REPORT.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 6, 1869.

Department In this report naturally treat nrst the
matters OF administration and their measures OF pubic
policy The officers in charge Of the various bureaus anu
divisions of the Treasury Department have faithfully
performed their duties, and / commend their several
reports to the consideration OF Congress
TREASURER SPINNER.
The Treasurer OF the United States has prepared an
elaborate report setting forth the present condition OF
the Treasury and furnishing resume Of the business OF
the Treasurers Office from 1861 TO the present term The
long and faithful services Of the present Treasurer entie
him to the gratitude Of the country.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE BUREAU.
The report OF the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue
is respectfully commended to the attention OF Congress
Since the appointment Of the present Commissioner the
administration OF the office has been constantly improv
Ing The increase OF receipts for the first five months OF
the present fiscal year. in the sum OF S43S33 O6 oyer
the amount collected In the first FIVE months OF the last
fiscal year. satisfactory testimony to the ability and
integrity of the persons employed In that branch OF the
public service.
RECEIPTS FROM CUSTOMS.
The amount paid by warrants for collecting the rev.
enue from customs during the fiscal year ending June &
1861 s6S7s3s5 49, and for the year ending June 90
1862 S5376 1888 I3showing decrease ofs C0l6 go The
decrease in the cost of collecting the revenue has not been
attended by any loss Of efficiency in the service On the
other hand claimed that the means for the detection
of smuggling are better than before and that the
Custom House service is also constantly improving.
FRAUDS IN THE APPRAISERS DEPARTMENT
It ought to be understood that the chief means Of col
Letting the and enforcing the Revenue laws must
DO found in the administration Of the Appraisers Depart
ment The frauds and losses arising from actual SNUG
Cling unmpOrtdnt compared with the losses sus-
tanned through the incompetent or dishonest examiners
and appraisers. Assuming that honest men may be OBJ
tanned for these important positions at the present saar
les yet true that an incompetent appraiser or exam
iner may daily subject the Government to losses far
exceeding the amount OF his salary.
TIE PAYMENT OF EFoRNERs.
Updor existing laws, certain Revenue officers, and
other persons appearing inormers, are entitled 10
shares in fines and forfeures During the fiscal year
86C9 the Treasury Department distributed the sum Oh
Ss6O73 81 to such officers and TO nformes In the various
cases arising under the Customs and Revenue laws
large additional sum was also paid through the Internal
Revenue Office The reasons which the laws granting
such allowances are based Is that officers OF tue Govern
ment are stimulated greater activity IN the discovery
There can be no doubt that such is the effect Of this
policy, but the experience have had I'D tne treasury
Department has convinced me that the evils at t =.
the system greater than the Dement'S derived from IT,
IL often that Revenue officers are led 10 asse.
foundation in law in the facts OF the respective cases
and where real claims exist II IS often tue oect OF ne
ufOrmer and officers who share In the penalties 70 mis-
the 10 the Government SO as TO secure the
greater advantage TO themselves; IA.
But serious evil is found In the pracuce quite
general OF allowing persons fraudulent course unit! a
result Is reached which Will lnure TO the pehent oI o
tees at the outset II IL impossible to set forth In exact
language the character OF the evils that grow out OF tue
present system s 6ua 20 reIy anon public officers
for the proper performance Of their duties without
stimulating them by any conhgeht ~ Cms
elsewhere recommended an increase OF saaries OF
tom House officers; and the abolition OF the system OF
giving TO them share OF nne of saare
this department of the public service
TIE FORCE EMPLOYED.
1t has become practice for clerks and other persons
M sNa naFNnr fYrfpn In
cept employment as agents or attorneys for parties
having clalms against the Department. and there Is
reason TO believe that in instances the information
obtained while in the public service has been used In aid
OF caimants Without detailing all the objections 70
this practice respectfully suggest that law Dc passed
barring persons from practcinE before the treasury De
partment agents or attorneys in behaI OF claims at
were pending when such persons we're officers OF the
In March last hore were employed in the Treasury De;
partment at Washington 2s4S clerks, messengers ana
aborers monthly cost Of s2592l 81 Al present tne
whole number OF such employees Is 2iil ana ther ohl
y nav amounts S23 go 81 showing decrease OF eN.
peses at the rate Of S5l6sS 0i per annum III waslouh
necessary, however. during the periods mentioned; 70
the Office OF tho First Controller This increase IN the
aggregate is at the rate OF SsOO per ann1n rms state
mcn does not relate to the force employed IN the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing.
In March last there were GO Special Agents IN the erV
ice OF the Department, receiving IN the aggregate Tor
their services the OF 1871 10 per day Eaoh OF ese
agents made his reports TO the Department ana aete9
under direct orders. The number at present employed
is 81 and their daily pay amounts TO t36s s. The pay OF
he hal increased, ~,
that more efficient services might be obtained The sea
and frontiers OF the country have been divided INTO
l6 special agency districts, aud superntendent ap.
pointed for each. Assistants have been appointed anu
detailed under the several District Agents Inc
orders OF nG tbe e and The reports Of bis
sstans made TO him. The agent IS required 20 mako
a monthly report OF his own doings and OF the DO,
ngs OF his subordnaes The results thus far obtained
appear 10 Justify the organization introduced.
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.
have beeen made for the manufacture OF
paper for the currency and other obligations OF tho
United States and for the printing OF the same, which
increase the security Of the Government against unlaw.
fu issues from the genuine plates Under the eleventh
section OF an act approved June go 1864, eutted An
act to provide ways a S means f9g A RR9Et me
has been designated as the Government paper, and by
that 1t made felony for any person to have or re-
making any security OF the United States
except under the authority OF the secretary OF the
Arrangements have been made for the manufacture OF
this paper by Messrs Wilcox Co, near Philadeph,a
aud tho mills owned by them, which are exclusively de-
voted to this purpose have been placed under the super
vision of the officers of the Government and preeau
lions have taken for the custody OF portions OF the
machinery as to render 1t Improbable that the paper
manufactured can be obtained by dishonest means IL Is
received by agent Of the Government stationed at the
mills and upon the reputation OF the Department. It Is
shipped the National Bank Note Company the Ameri
can Bank Note Company or to the Printing bureau OF
the Treasury Department., as the case may require,
ENGRAVING AND PRINTING
Arrangements have also been made with each OF the
two companies mentioned for preparing one set Of plates
for every of currency other obligations The En-
craving and Printing Bureau at Washington prepares
third SET and each office places imprint upon every
oblig OF the Government Notice OF the transWs
sion paper from the agent at the mills aud It's receipt
by each OF the several offices OF tho deliveries thereQq
the Sealing Bureau in the Treasury Department and
also OF deliveries To the Treasurer OF the United States
given each day by telegram by letter. and Gu the
following day the accountants In the Treasury Depart:
ment prepase n statement showing the disposition OF
every sheet 6ftpaper manufactured In the month OF
November the paper at the mill and IN each OF inc sew
eIal printing Establishments carefully counted ana
the result compared with tho accounts IN the Treasury
Department In An aggregate OF about 100000 sheets
received by the agent az the mills, discrepancies we're
found TO the extent OF 80 sheets OF fractional currency
paper and for the money value Of which the Companies
doing tho work responsible. -.
IN Ia hplIp pd