The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-15
(TREAsURER's REPoRT--CoNCLUDE J

leaving 654 as the total number of APP
pointments made since that time. Pre-
yious to the war the business of the De
partment was 80 small that, on the 1st
day of March, 1851, only 433 persons were
employed, and of these 81 are now in the
service. One has been IN Office over fifty
years, one over thirty five years, seven
over thirty years, one over twenty five
years, ten over twenty years, fourteen
over fifteen years, and twelve over ten
years. These statements show that the
changes in the Departments are not so
numerous as to deprive the service Of the
knowledge derived from experience. On
the other hand, the introduction of new
men secures new energy and efficiency.
ERRORS POINTED OUT.
Two errors prevail in the community in
connection with the subject. One is, thai
under republican Government, every
man has right to an Office. This is in no
sense true. The only right is that of the
people tc elect, and to have appointed to
Office persons best qualified to perform
the work. The other error is that offices
in the Treasury Department are prizes
which the young men of the country may
wisely seek. Speaking generally. it IL Il
misfortune to young man who possesses
even ordinary capacity for business or
labor to remain permanently in the pub
lie offices Of this city. 1t u.s. however, tru:
that many of the nost valuable clerks
OF the Treasury are young men who are
pursuing professional studies, or who, hav-
ing completed their courses, remain from
g., tbo I,
purpose, by industry and economy, of sc
curing a small amount OF money with
which to commence active life elsewhere.
A system fife tenure would exclude all
these men from the service, unless they
CHI Csc to accept it IS 8 permanent pursuit,
which, in the main, would be AN injury TO
them and to the country. ana also truly
convinced that any more permanent ten
ure of Office would materially mpSir the
efficiency of the revenue system. There
are many thousand men employed in the
customs in the internal revenue service,
and, however careful the preliminary ex-
animation might be, the evils which now
impair their efficiency would undoubted
eddy exist. No system of examination
could exclude all those who are dishon-
est, or who, uuder the pressure of necessi-
ty or the offer OF wealth, might yield TO
temptation 1t often happens and it would
happen under any system. that men are
found who are honest, temperate and sui
fciently capable, aud yet lack the energy
or courage essential to the enforcement Of
the revenue law--a duty which eften re-
suires sag4city and kind of intelligence
too subtle for discovery through formal
questions. Men who are thus unqualified
should be removed from Office, and this
without an investigation, which, indeed,
might furnish nothing tangible in justi6-
cation Of the act 81, too, in the Custom
House or collection districts, a DIanch oil
the service will fail to meet just eypecta
lions, although no dishonesty may be
traccablc to any person connected with
the Office. In such a case, the insterests
of the government demand u change. and
the change must be made without the
hearing of the parties concerned may
be warranted in saying, in this connection
that the evil of office. seeking. although
great, is probably exaggerated in the
public mlnd 1t is true that tn re are
mere apphcation for appoint
nent to office in the Depart
nent than can be met, bat he number oil
applicants who are well qualified, who
could pass any proper examination is not
usually large. Outside the department,
and in the several States and districts of
the country, the number of applicants for
local services does not often exceed three
or four to each nffice, and occasionally
there are not more than two Who are real
ly 80 presented as to be considered in
connection with the appointment. I'M
justification OF the present tenure and as a
proper recognition OF the services OF Off
GERS and clerks employed in this depart
mcnt, express the opinion thar the bust
ness upon the whole, is not only done in
satisfactory manner, but that it will com
pare in accuracy and efficiency with the
business of the country generally which is
carried on by corporations OF individuals
In my annual report of December last,
| advised the continuance of the existing
system Of taxation as an essen lal condi-
ton, such as the proposal of loan. The
circumstance that war was declared be
tween France and Prussia simultaneously
with the passage IF the Loan bill, put it
out oftne power of the department to
make negotiations, as had been expected.
The large revenue, however, of the
government, continuing without material
abatement until tue presen meimproved
the credit of the country, and enabled the
Treasury Department, by weekly pur
) chases, 10 reduce the amount OF surplus
bonds offered for sale, and contributed TO
depreciate the market value of gold. l
also expressed the opinion that the set
tied policy OF the country should conteni
plate revenue sufficient to meet the or
- binary expenses OF the government, pay
the interest on the public debt and from