New-York tribune., 1871-07-26
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
REORGANIZATION OF THE TREASURY DE-
PARTMEHT.

REORGANIZATION OF THE TREASURY De
PARTMENT
THE VARIOUS BUREAUS AND DIvISIONs-NUM-
RER OF EMPLOYEES; THEIR DUTIES; HOW
PERI oRMED, AND AMOUNT OF PAY RECEIVED
ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY, AND DISPATCH IN
THE PERFORMANCE OF BUSINESS.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 1s.-The Secretary
of the Trssury found his Department somewhat mixed
IA to the duties OF it's various officers when, in 1869, he
became the head OF it, and resulting complications in re-
gard authority priority were naturally OF daily oc
currence He al set about reorganization OF the
entire system which should he limited only by the law
He extended this reform also TO the CusomHouses Sub
Treasures NInts, Deposltories, Revenue Marine Light
House Service Special Agencies and Detective system
as well as to each and every Bureau and Division OF the
Department proper which nc has personal super
vision The Bureau of the Solicitor OF the Treasury De
pertinent now portion Of the Department OF Justice
The Treasury Department comprises in addition to
tho secretarys Office (rcaly the largest in the Depart
menO the folowing-named Bureaus: First, Second,
Third Fourth Fifth. and sixth Auditors; the First ana
Second Controers the Customs tof which the Commits
sioner IS in fact Third Controller ony) the Treasury
proper; the Internal Revenue the Registers and sta
tstcal; the Supervising Architects; that of the Con-
trolcr OF the Currency, and that Of Engraving and
Printing
The reform began in the Office Of the Secretary himself
The business carefully arranged and divisions perma
was allotted These divisions so constituted as 10 DC
almost independent Of each other though their work is
very frequently conformity performed without confusion
aud with the greatest accuracy The Secretary himself
is the high court Of appeal in all questions arising
under the Customs or Revenue laws such as claims Tor
nooes. PROPOSITIONS TO compromise, and the remission
hes penalties forfeiture etc. The enforcement Of
all Customs and Revenue laws comes under his super
vision and an almost daily contact with the Customs
and Revenue officers the consequence. The issuing Of
all securities and their subsequent redemption, and
action ON thousand other subjects, employ the time Of
e secretary and Of the officers and clerks Of his office
TUE APPOINTMENT DIVISION
Mr.. Harry 5. Vanderbilt Chief OF the Appointment
ii, on has some of the delicate duties TO per
II Is in his Office that appointments are made,
promotions given, and dsmissas dealt out, far as
Icy relate to the officers and Others employed in the
Treasury Department proper CustOm-Houses, subTreas
ugcs Nnts. United States Depositories Lighthouses
Iifc-Savlng Stations, Revenue Marine, Steamboat In
spcctlors end in other duties these number
moro than 1900. complete record is kept of all the
appointments and removals of the officers and employees
o the subordinate branches of the Treasury Department
including the Internal Revenue From this Bureau,
too the commissions for all appontees issued this
item alone involving small amount of labor All the
Iay-ros Of the department proper examined twice
month this Division and their correctness certified by
Mr Vanderbilt before disbursements are made The
accounts and estimates for expenditures rendered by
the Assistant Teasurers, United states Depositories
Customs Collectors, Chiefs of Revenue Marine, and Of
those in charge Of the lighthouses and lifesavirg sta
tons are examined and certified in this Division if found
correct before they are audited any warrants or
drafts can he issued.
record of the status every clerk other empoye
the Department is kept here that what work he or
she performs, the salary received when appointed az
whose solicitation recommendation, the character Of
Tie examination and its results when promoted II ever
aud why Of what State the clerk formerly resident
and his present residence may at once be asceraned
monthly statement Of the time lost by each clerk ana
the reasons for this loss besides general record OF the
work done by and habits, far known, Of the ap-
ppnee eiDployG is also made ont To great extent
tbc Collectors Of Customs Chiefs OF Bureaus, Heads Of
Divisions and other leading officers are required TO give
much OF this information and the system has worked so
we'll during the past year. that brt few mistakes nave
been made in these records. The most unnleeSo part
Of Mr. Ye::s-its day duty is the reception OF appi-
cau for place and listening TO opportunities for promo
tion and appeals for reinstatement by those who have
forfeited their places by violation of the
rules and regulations. One may learn valua-
Me lesson in human nature by a visit to Mr. Wander
bits Headquarters, if he will but study the eounte-
nanccs of those who gather there. Sorrow and woe,
bright hopes blasted prospects of fortune forever gone
want bordering sometimes upon starvation, suffering
70 and little ones the constant themes to be quietly
listened to by the appointment Clerk shrewd disere-
ton must used lest deception spracced The recon-
ncndatons OF Senators and Representatives are first
considered in connection with the general recommenda-
ton Of the applicant If vacancies exist the Secretary
advscs with the Appointment Clerk and given number
Of applicants receive designation for examination;
that is il two vacancies exist in an Auditors
Bureau. FIVE seven applicants are named
ior examination. The two found most efficient
and capable receive the appointment. As this is com
pctitve examination, it does not deprive the unlucky
ones Of being again designated" IT, however, place
vacant and applicant examined for 1t fails, and Is
rejected bis goes of the list, unless second trial
granted by special order of the Secretary ana th Is
never done except for good reasons. 1t is in dealing
with taesA feected applicants that Mr. Vanderbilt has
Ills good Eature most tried. From list of thousand,
five names perhaps selected, competitive examna-
ton is given them, and three or four, sometimes the
whole Of them, rejected. Then, au appeal TO the
Secretary being of avail they charge upon the Ap-
pointiuent Division. The mcmbers solicit, protest,
demand aud even sometimes swear, when one of their
favorife constituents fails to answer few common
school ouesio Sometimes all Of the designated pass
the examination and then the two most proficient re-
cevc the appointment and the other three the next va
cancles that occur in the Department. If none pass,
the examination of another quintette are designated
The character OF these examinations mas already Uetn
explained in TIE TRIBUNE.
The greatest difficulty that Secretary Bout"eh mas
found has been in dealing with COngressmen, some OF
whom, while they make loud speeches IN 1aNof OF CIVIL
service reform 10th to give up their little crumbs OF
patronage TO some degree this dlfhculty mas Deeh
overcome and bers do not now present so many can
didates for places, who are totally incompetent az
formerly one member, after recommending "a man
who failed was heard exclaim, Well, If that clap
can't pass there's chance for my constituency He's
the smartest fellow in my districts wrote all my cam
paign speeches. to try him some place where this
civil service reform amt commenced Guess III take
him up to the Capitol" And sure enough TINS rejected
candidate who was certain that the Gulf OF Mexico
washed thc coast OF Staten Island and NewYOrk city,
aud that the surpush lett Of thirteen and onetenth
dollars after nike and seyentenths were subtraeted
was exactly four" duly installed in snug place IN
the wing just TO please the member You Know