Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-05

did not exceed An average Of $50 900 900 year;
much less under a low system OF duties than it
Is at the present time. At the principal i'm
porting cities Of the country IL Is necessary to
employ large force for the protection of the
vharves and water lines within or near to such
cities. Ii Is also necessary TO guard against
smuggling, by the presence often of several Of
hcers upon and around the steamers and other
while engaged IN discharging their cargoes.
IL is also apparent that the extensive line of
coast on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans aud
the Gulf of Mexico, everywhere furnishing
opportunities for the Introduction Of goods in
violation Of the revenue laws, requires the
presence of large number of skilfdl and
trustworthy pc rsons. The acquisition of Alas
ka, the establishment of interior ports of entry,
the accommodation of business by railways and
steamers on the northern frontier, add mate
rally 10 the expenses of collecting and guard
ing the revenue. therefore respectfully rec
appropriation for collecting the revenue from
customs to the sum of two million and six hun
dred thousand dollars for each hall year from
and after the 30th day of June, 1879.
At several of the important ports there are
two appraisers, whose powers are equal. ! e
commend such An alteration of the law as " 1,
provide for one principal appraiser st each
Poit, who shall be responsible for the business
OF the Office.
The Treasury department has the care of enc
hundred and ten public buildings that are Gem
peted, and OF seventeen more that arr N the
course OF erection, all of which had cost, on IT,
3Otn of June last, SIS, 800 1885. The app-sp-a-
ton for the repair and preservation OF aese
buildings for the current year is SO, 900 sum
manifestly inadequate, being less tt.n one
third of One-per cent. Unless larger -nnaei ap-
propriations are made, the bulldogs Will rap.
idly deteriorate in valve, and rIaily viii need
much larger repairs, or the erSDaoh Oh new ones
IN their stead.
With the increase of EQUATION in che eoun-
ny appfopfissecs offices, custom.houses, and
otbeT nnblic aildings. The present mode of
inan,nrat;.e these works seems to me unsise
Appropr: CONS are often made witout sutici-
81, ~ IN alton upon the subject. II is true
tba, Hen proposition is introduced into Con-
S 80 for the erection of a public building the
3yect Is referred to the Treasury Department,
nd by the Secretary to the Supervising Archi-
ct of the Treasury, but il Is also true that the
Supervising Architect has only genera al informa-
ton upon the subject, and in answer to a sudden
call, and without time for the prepar alton of
plans and estimates, he cannot give a safe
opinion as to the necessity or the cost of the
work.
1 respectfully recommend that hereafter.
when applications are made for the construc-
ton of public buildings, the first step on the
part of Congress be to instruct the Treasury
Department 70 make careful inquiry as to the
necessity OF thelwork, and also to prepare esti-
mates to be laid before Congress. This being
done, and the work authorized, il would seem
% be wise to make single appropriation suff-
lent 70 meet the entire cost, and then hold the
Hble for the speedy completion OF the building
upon plans duly authorized and
within the estimates i am satisfied that much
waste Oh pupic money occurs, and much COM
'laint on the part Of citizens arises, when SIN All
PioPNa.ons are made from year to year.
The inevitable consequence Of the policy is that
ne pubic "orss are injured in the process of
reased. 81,
go :, ~. ,n,,ns .i Sn.ect oi sne treasury
30 nv Law fpr The cons,rnct,n.s ~ "a, autnor.
flee in the citv of Nav YorS Iii 81 aT pos'
banoed fror, the or;n;naI go, euT woIA rs
q d,ss e. tba c;t. 90 SsM aI ~ 1. seems 20
nnaTent reasons ana q con.,do ~, Eomors! and
7 = =. ,bat q 49,. a,;;S, I s.on vi the
a !, III cosng slee mas oeen secured,
na,ess - a. 80 .ss .h svmU ueS,ee AZ tne
80 Ia a $1,000 ..rm.tr,a nv. 81, snou s NOT
M = 80 49,. - ~ - ~. oIsO VI sucn
LEI III Siid; s ~ 90 " ouh auaons tue
Puo..o sa.. - ~ IN, .no ooun NJ
I ,,a,,ai e IL anu
saiiig Nesei ~, ', .ie revenue marine
II fed, ny me sie VI wv tcsseiS vi .iie latter
ass ht tle ,I ~ , ~ ~ t rortIe'h Ooh-
ress an s sa,, u was me Ior
&c CONSTRUCTION VI ioui s.oaiu &c, ehue cutters
wed. which ERE HnueI loe impress
Dn n my part tina Ps"ii tnaei 20 es's lid not
q IRE vessels of as a.. d az tno,e lor
h ch PROF o,als had been =, o.a,bay ~ Isaa
mmission, by letter dated DE, :, the CO.,
insisting of Capt. c. T. Patterson, u 1,ant "
lrvey, Capt Douglass Ottinger and
Merryman, OF the Revenue Marine, anu IN
rue,ea them 10 consider and report upon the
.aLacleI OF the Sesseis best adaPied 10 the
rVlce- flnai actioi IN reference up the CON
ruetloh OF the vessels autnorlZeu Gas de4ayed |
T the report ~ the COMMISSION. That report
a. Hauo q, on Ille IL uaN Vi aS, I, az, en-
"; : " 9o' ceh"''' o00'"" vi VIZ f'SS
~ - OoI's ~. 20 49,, r,rt n. ,ha
;sl pun 'ns oonPie Vi .ne "v,n ~ Wy IN
piofo r. so,, Hsn nssu ioi the
~ Sat;S,actnrv hido - Taca;raS and ~
% ooJ Of Iniv all o9d or anans, lie, ,onuraot
ere made Tbe constrnction oiren hv Tho |
SnpfT"IIar 20 tha IN section Of 90 Thas O.,
aLfp1 annrooriations for the lecisIati1e
.ufive and irdiciaI exnenditures NJ the ooy
.rmapt for the year ENDING tho 9ntb ~ J5na
i ;; rendered The arnronrIatiop rnsy,;Iahie
al - t6aTefora became necassa,v 70 nor - a.,
,Tties to fine Contracts thai tbev mnst he cor
IereJ a. mil and void One M the narties no.
led To have his Contract formaIIy arnu,iaa
bicb has heen dome
n recommend a renewal of the annronria.io,
SSnO 600 for the construction OF steam rev
,i,1 enters without limit alton as 70 the nrr
pr or specification az IN fine size of fine ,essais
he built.
The report .of the commission shows that
i;t eensof the vesseIs nov in rae are .. ther ola
M al ,ntad 10 the serr;ce The oninisn an.
,to;nsd ~ -. ,tat tn Sa..ais in ne -
49, tLa,y.,. ~ sS - asry;ca raop;raa
tn Wv vi - TIE conn,r;s.;S'
cobhtiheu oy the re.9It VI - 10 r.dncai
Icy iecommenu tnat inc numu eo.aso -