New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
the army respectfully recommend that they DE trans
ferTed TO the Treasury Department.
THE REVENUE MARINE.

fefIed 10 the treasury DcpaIibfhI
THE REVENUE MARINE.
The Revenue Marine system Is important and
pensye branch Of the Customs Revenue service. There
are &c vessels belonging to the Department, OF which II
sailing vessels and steamers They vary IN size
nped a. 20 man sD ss ye 10 and their rmhs expenses
amount TO about ss650OO year Five OF the vessels
sdewheel steamers of $50 tuns burden lake steamers
and out OF commission They rapidly dminishnglh
value, while the Of them involves an annual expense
OF aD0utS $1,000 The vessels now ~ INC service Jaw
been purchased and built at various times aud as Tar -
ascertain without special reference 60 the nature
OF tho duty TO be performed and certainly without any
maured plan. From Ouc'half 10 tlree.fonths or the
Congress recently appropriacd sscoeoo for the con
sucton OF four additional vessels aud proposals were
ferred upon the Secretary Of the Treasury but no eo
tracts have yet been made. An examination OF the
subject has forced the conviction upon ne that N Il
inexpedent 20 incur the expenditure until the Depart
Information. shall, therefore, take the opiuon q
board OF competent officers upon the following points;
II the service that they Ia performs secondly
whether they should be constructed Of iron or wood on
the Commissioner shal have been received proposal.
will be issued for tie construction OF four vessels az
TIE UNITED STATES MINIS
In addition to the present Mint at Philadelphia, sin
branch mlns have been established at various times IN
different parts Of the country at San Francisco one
at New Orleans one at Charlotte ~ c. az Dlouegl,
Ga, at Denver Col, and one at Portland Oregon.
Since the commencement Of the war the branches &C
New-Oreans DahlOne and Charlotte have been closed
An assay office, II IL believed viii satisfy the neeessuc.
OF the interests IN abu ltetht
only limited business VIII DC Done az the Ioi ana MINI
Indeed with the construction OF railroads, aud tie con-
sequenty increasing facilities for eommunication, am
OF opinion that business Of cOinng Will be chiefly at
one mint upon the Pacific and at one mint upon tho
Atlantic coast Under act OF Congress passed July ~,
1885, preparations making for the sale OF Tie minis al
Charlotte and Dahlonega.
large national interest that 1t deserves more aten
bureau or officer in the Treasury Department at Wash
ngton charged specially with the msn1gsneht OF tIs
made for the appointment or proper ONccf 10 ne
trusted with this branch OF the pebble business undert tina
direction VI the Secretary Of the Treasury.
The COINAGE DDnNIsHtNG.
The coinage Of the country diminished in amount by
fact that In England and France tie mint expense.
are much less than with 1t would no doubt have
tendency prevent the export Of the precious metals m
| duced or altogether abolished.
An agreement made on the 18th day Of February,
1862 betweed the Secretary OF the Treasury on behalf u
the United States aud certain parties IN California lca
ing lot OF land in San FRANCISCO known as the Cuhto
House Block for the period OF 25 years Tbs lease ~
subject to the condition that IL shall be yold Congress
or before the first day OF January 1910 shall !aso ad
action in reference thereto In view 81 Tue tacl
that the lease ia for long period OF time ana beng 81
the opinion that the Government should retain control 81
property that may be needed for public purposes shinn
| 1t expedient for Congress to annul the lease
NEW BUILDINGS.
Considerable progress has been made upon tho founda
lions OF the Post-Ohce Building in the City Of Sewiork
and OF the Postoce and independent TreasurJ budisa
in the City OF Boston The Supervising Architect of te
Treasury Department Is OF the opinion that the Wau'
next year II sufficient appropriations furnished. Tee
works having been undertaken. am Oh opinion tnat "
| their speedy completion.
| AMERICAN SHIPPING.
During the month OF December the Department will be
prepared to submit report upon the condition OF oni
commercial marine. That report will show that the nsvb
cation interests Of the country have not recovered from
the losses sustained during the war; and that eicieh
| measures necessary for its restoration
| IsCREAsE OF SALARIES.
| Icannot omit tO call
iuadeQuacy Of the salaries paid officers In the Treasury
Department who exercise discretion and whose acts bad
the Government effect directly its expenditures ot
revenues. Some Of the salaries were fixed whrn thu
Government was organized, others when officers
added and but few OF them have been Increased re-
Gently. It Is unquestionaDy true that persons having
equal ability a1d clothed with similar responsibility 10
cevo much larger compensation frotn individuals and
corporations and although many OF the officers now 10
the public service likely 10 continue from the oreun
stance that has led them aside from tins
ordinary channels OF business yet as an act % justice 10
them and in the interest ~ the Government, earnestly
| recommend an increase OF their pay.
Speaking generally this increase Of pay should he
tended Revenue officers ~ the Customs service, such
appraisers and examiners IN the Appraisers Department.
Should the recommendation Ia repeal the laws granting
GERS be adopted 1t will be necessary to increase the
salaries OF collectors, naval officers, and survey
| Ors at all the principal parts OF the country
II is plain truth that the Government has right 10
expect the services OF such competent men as Appraisers
and Examiners at the present inadequate salaries. In
the larger cities they Insufficient FOR the support OF
family, and under such circumstances the GOyernmenG
is not without responsibility when il places officers
such position that they are compelled 10 choose be.
oT6er The Salaries of the Assistant TeaSurer and tic
principal officers should also be increased aud for SUD
| stautialiy the
II has been found Impossible for the last few years 10
retain the services OF the most efficient clerks m the
Treasury Department except by additions TO Their lawful
salaries through an appropriation placed ~ The hands OK
appropriation is unpleasant duty for the Secretary,
aud cannot be performed without producing 1talJus"s
and dlseohenis among tue officers OF Inc DvPtttmtnt
Bureaus chief clerks, and clerks In charge OF divisions
form The routine business OF the Department can bs
performed In satisfactory manner by clerks receiving
whose discretion and Judgment tie Government relies
for the proper TRANSACTION OF the business Of tho COUNTY,
aud whose labors hot limited 70 the ordinary h0ars
Of duy, should be made d feel that they are properly
compensated.
There are two changes In the organization Of the Treas
ury Department which consider important. The hrsi
change which refer Is the creation OF Chief Cou-
troller of the Treasury who shall DO authorized to con.
troll tho system OF accounting Gy tue several auditors
and Controllers and to whom all appeals shdll DC MAIZE
upon questions arising IN the accounting ohees OF io
Treasury. The creation Of this Office, clothed with tho
powers indicated VIII give uniformity to the accounting
system, and trust VIII be In the power OF Tue oo,f
appointed TO simplify tho system aDd materially rcdncs
the expenses of tile Department IN tnis particular
The second change 10 which call attention U.s. IN my
opinion. important. Al present there are
eight divisions IN tho Secroiarys ONCE Whose duties are
connected exclusively with the customs revenue system
There no person except the Secretary OF the Treasury
who Is by law authorized TO pass finally. Oh m any way
tration OF the customs revenue laws present
time the revenue from customs Is large the rovenua
from tho excise system: the number OF mcn employ OF
the field OF Its operations nearly great IL ~
Impossible for the Secretary Of the Treasury Ia give ts
various questions that arisen the administration VI tie
system that attention which IL essential 10 tie service
The duties OF experimenting tlo collection OF customs
revenue arc so Varied. delicate and important rs Ia
justify and require tue exclusive attention "t Tie Iuesi
competent person WHOSE E2ryiss SAa " obtained
The experience OF the present year III lfe s01llFa
ton Internal Revenue system, and the collection
Of the Justles the opinion that tho establish
the office Commissioners Of Customs l;eVennc,
corresponding powers and position To that ~ CohnS
sion NJ Dt luRur 4