The New York herald., 1871-01-01
GENERAL PLEAS0NT0N.
A Banquet rendered and Declined-Covre.
spondence with the Onicers Of the Thirty
second District.

A Banquet rendered and Declined-C0Te.
spondence with the Onicers Of the Thirty
second District.
new YORK, Dec. %, 1870.
General ALFRED PIEAsoNToN Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue:-
GENERAL-In common with your numerous
friends. we have learned with sincere qualification
OF your appointment to the oflice OF Commissioner
OF Internal Revenue and beg that you will accept
our congratulations. As citizens OF New York.
taking special pride in the mark OF confidence thus
bestowed upon representative OF our State and as
your recent onlcal associates we beg leave TO ten
at such lime will accord with your convenience
ana that ysu may be pleased to designate. Very
s. r. Harlow Collector Fourth district; Spencer
Kirby, Assessor Thirty second dstrct NJ. 3. Blake.
Collector seventh district; NJ II. Ireadwell. Asses.
Fourth district; NJ. Fredsam. Assessor Filth DIS
trlct; Jshn McHarg Collector Fifth district; Charles
X. Coster, Collector sixth district; Max Weber, AS
SCISSOR Sixth district; William Lambeer, Collector
Eighth district; A. Ford, Assessor Eighth dstrct
William A. Daring, Collector Ninth district; A. p.
Ketchum, Assessor Ninth district; Gordon H. Ford.
Collector Third district; j. Jourdan, Assessor Third
district; James Freeland, Collector Second districts
Alexander Allen, Assessor Second district.
GENERAL PLEAsANTON's REPLY.
UNITED STATES INTERNAL REvENUE,l
COLLECTORS OFFICE, BOD DISTRICT.
NEW YORK. Dec. 81, 1901
GENTLEMEN-Your very ratterng and compliment
tary invitation to accept an entertainment to be
given by you ut such time as might designate has
been received. have delayed my answer with the
hope Of being able 10 accede 10 your request; but
regret to state that the many pressing public duties
consequent to removing from tins city TO Washing
ton, and the labor that will demand my attention at
that place, compel me most reluctantly TO decline
your distinguished testimonial. In doing so how
ever, should be doing great injnstlce to you as
well as to my own feelings In failing 10 convey the
deep sense OF gratitude and obligation iee for the
suggestions and experience with which yOu have
always aided me IN the discharge OF my duties; and
whatever Of success my service In the
Internal Revenue Department may have Op-
tanned, 1t Is largely due TO the generous
support accorded bv my brother officers
This Is the more gratifying from the Importance Of
the service rendered. The civil service In time OF
peace stands in the same relation TO the institutions
OF the country as the army and navy IN time OF war;
men and proper system to see that they are prop
ery executed. The general complaint OF the people
is not OF the laws so much as the manner OF exc
cutting them. Uniformity Of execution should be
the great end OF all civil system, ana when TINS ,s
obtained the people are satisfied, and the govern
ment ful1ls It's mission.
The officers OF the government snould never be
brought into embarrassing relations with the peo-
pie. Under the present laws granting moietles to
revenue officers, IN part compensation too wide q
scope is given, and great dstrust Is created
against the civil service from the interest
seizure. IL wonld be much uciter for tie
government to abolish The moety system and dou.
Die the salaries OF the 0iiicerS Inc expense Woulu
be less than 1t Is AT present, confidence would be in
creased among the people Ia the civil officers and
the officers would be freed from the embarrassmentS
o suspicion under which they labor at present 10 u
great extent am very glae to be able 10 state that
all the revenue officers have ersed with on
this subject coincide with these views and they al
express the most earnest and honorable desire 10
have the clvi service placed on such footing that
the people VIII learn 10 look uuol the service as
their protector. whose mission Is To prevent crime
rather tnan detect IT. and that the execution OF the
law Is only for the benefit of the community. Con-
graduating you upon your efforts lor The improve
meDt OF the service, and with my best wishes ior
your future success, remain, gentlemen, very truly
yours, A. PLEASOSTON.
To S. r. Harlow. collector; Spencer kirpy asses
assessor; Z. G. Van Wyck, ASSESSOR NJ. Frledsam,
assessor: Jonn Mctarg, collector; Charles X. oster,
collectors Max Weber, assessor William Lambeer,
collector; A. Fsd, assessor; william A. Darling, col
lectOr A. p. Ketchum assessor; Gordon l.. Ford,
collector; j. Jourdan assessor; James Freeand, col
leCtOr; Alexander Allen, assessor.