New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-09

ness of the Office. Thd Treasury Depart
ment has the caro- Of one hundred and ten
public buildings that are completed, and
seventeen more that are in course OF erec-
ton, all Of which had cost ON the thirtieth
Of June last, s., 590, 099, 1893. The appro-
priation for repairs and preservation Of
these buildings for the current year is
500, 100, sum manifestly inadequate, be-
ing less than one-third Of one per cent.
Unless larger annual appropriations are
made, the buildings will rapidly deterio-
rate in value, and finally will need much
larger repairs, or the erection Of new ones
in their stead, while, with the increase Of
population in the country, appropriations
must be annually made.
The erection Of postofices, customhouses
and other public buildings and the present
mode of inaugurating these works, seem to
me unwise. Appropriations are often made
without sufficient information upon the sub
ject. It is true that when the propositions
are introduced into Congress for the cree
ton of public buildings, the subject is re-.
ferred to the Treasury Department, and by
the Secretary to the supervising architects
of tho treasury; but it is also true that the
supervising architect has only general in
formation upon the subject, and in answer
to a sudden call, and without time for
preparation of plans and estimates, cannot
give correct opinion as to the necessity or
cost of the work.
respectfully recommend that hereafter
when appropriations are made tor the con-
struction of public buildings, the first step
ON the part Of Congress will be to instruct
the Treasury Department to make careful
inquiry as to the necessity Of the work, and
also to prepare estimates to be laid before
this department. This being done and the
work authorized, it would be wise to make
an appropriation sufficient to meet the entire
cost, and then hold the department and
the supervising architect responsible for the
speedy completion of the building substan-
tally upon the plans duly authorized and
within the estimate. l am satisfied that
much waste of the public money occurs, and
much complaint on the part Of the citizens
arises from small appropriations which are
consequence of this policy is that public
works are injured in process Of construction,
and expenses are largely increased.
The supervising architect of the treasury
states in his report that the expenditures
authorized by law for the construction ct
postoffices in the city of New York will be
inadequate, unless the character Of the work
is changed from the original design. 1t
seems to be due the city OF New York, for
general and apparent reasons, and in con
sideration of the fact that the most eligible
site has been secured by the cooperation,
and, in some degree, at the expense OF the
city, that the building should not only be
fire-proof structure, but also of such design
and workmanship as rank among the best
public buildings in the country.
At the present time there are twenty-four
steamers and ten sailing vessels attached to
the revenue marine service, the number
having been reduced during the year by the
sale Of two vessels of the latter class. At
~ I'D nf
an appropriation of $500, 900 was made for
the construction of four steam revenue cut
tiers. After proposals had been issued and
bids received, which were rejected, under
the impression on my part that the pubic
interests did not require vessels of as large
a size as those for which proposals had been
issued, appointed a commission by letter,
dated December 16, 1869, consisting, OF
Captain C. T. Patterson, coast survey; Cap
tain Douglas Ottinger and Captain j.. H.
Merriman, of the revenue marine, and IN
structed them to consider and report upon
the character of vessels best adapted to the
service. The final action in reference to the
construction of the vessels authorized, was
DELAYED for the report of the commission;
that report was made ON the first day of
Nav, 1870 Executive document No. 90 of
the Senate, second session OF the present
Congress.
Upon the completion of the work of the
commission, proposals were again issued for
the construction of the four vessels author
lied by law. Satisfactory bids were re-
ceived, and on the twenty second OF July
and twenty-second of August last, contracts
were made and the construction given by
the Controller. The fifth section Of the act
making appropriations for the legislative,
executive and judicial expenditures of the
for the year ending June 30,
1871, rendered the appropriation unavaila-
BILE, and it therefore became necessary to
notify the parties to the contracts that they
must be considered null and void. One of
the parties has asked to have his contract
formally annulled, which has been done. l
of $500, 900 for the construction of steam
cutters, without limitation as to the
number or specification as to the size OF the
vessels to be built.
The report of the commission shows
that thirteen vessels now in use are either
old or not adapted to the service. The
opinion entertained by me, that the vessels
in use are larger than the nature Of the
service required, is confirmed by the report
of the commission; They recommend that
the number be reduced to thirty-two, and
the aggregate tonnage reduced from 92O8
tons to 7l75 tons. They also state that
it will be practicable, upon the proposed
basis, to reduce the total number of.offcers,
pilots, petty officers and men from 1866,
number then in service, to 1861, and the
actual expenses Of maintaining the system,
not including appropriations for the con-
struction of new vessels, from 81 ,446, 43O to
$943, 639, making q saving of more than half
a million dollars per year. The report of
and comprehensive examination of the sub
ject by competent men, and while it is the
present purpose of the department to act
upon it, I am of the opinion that 1t should
receive legislative sanction.
On the ninth of July, 1869, l convened
the board of examiners, charged, among
other things, with the examination of the
officers of the revenue marine board. 1t is
of Captain Patterson and Coast
Survey. The examination has not yet been
as only a small number of Off
GERS could be detailed for the same. Some
one hundred and ten ieutenants have been
examined; ten first lieutenants, nine second
lieutenants and six third ieutenants were
reported for removal, and have been re-
moved. Vacancies thus created in the first
and second grades were filed by promo
tons, and vacancies in the lowest grade
will be filed with qualified persons selected
at large. The remaining officers will be
continued.
The condition of marine hospitals has
been improved during the past year. This
result is largely due to DR.. J. S. Billings, of
the Surgeon Generals Office, who has
visited nearly all of them, and through
whose advice many important changes have
been made. No appointment has yet been
made for the superintendent. Under the
act OF last session, authority therein was
granted to appoint. A superintendent is
desirable, although the salary does appear
to be sufficient. l, however, recommend
such an alteration of the law as will permit
the President to detail q surgeon of the
army or navy to perform the duty of super