The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-12-14

y
supposed to he informed upon the sub
ject and no one on whom the Secretary
OF the Treasury can officially rely for in
formation or advice in the management
OF this important branch of public bus
mess ~ -
1t is estimated that the internal COM
merce of the country is fifteen times as
great as our external commerce, but the
statistics are not trustworthy or complete,
and respectfully recommend that a pro-
vision be made for obtaining such returns
as Will fully the trade of the country
upon its rivers, canals, lakes, and rail-
ways.
The report Of Mr.. Charles Bryant,
special agent, who has charge of the fur
seal fisheries at the islands of st. Paul
and st. George, shows that the business
has been conducted by the Alaska Com
merclal Company i'll substantial Uniform.
lty to the terms of the contsact. BRYANT
suggests an appropriation for the con-
struction of a house upon each island, for
the accommodation of the agents of the
Government, who at present are depend
ent upon the company for board and shell
ter, and although [ ana not aware that any
evil has resulted from the arrangement, it
is manifest that it ought not TO be con-
tinued. It is estimated that an appro-
priation of So, 600 will be sufficient for
suitable building on each island. The
agents charged with the management of
tAe seal fishery have been detailed from
the custom service. | respectfully recon-
mend that authority be given for the APP
pointment of two agents and two assis-
tant agents, and that suitable appropria-
tions be made for their salaries and ex-
penses. The necessity of two agents at
each island is apparent. The agents will
desire to return to the States as often as
once in two years, and moreover it is wise
for the Government to not have less than
| four persons IN its employ connected with
the care of the people and the bushes of
the island. Mr.. Bryant also makes sug-
gestions as to further provisions for the
care of natives, which appear to me to
deserve consideration.
again call the attention of Congress
to the importance of increasing the sal
aries OF the bureau officers and heads Of
division in the Treasury Department. At
present there is great inequality and
| Injustice existing. The First Comptroller
receives salary of $4,000 year, while
| the Second Comptroller, and other bureau
| officers, whose duties are hardly less i'm.
portant, only receive $4,000. The Sotici-
tor of the Treasury is upon salary Of
$500, while the Solicitor Of Internal
Revenue, whose duties are less important,
receives salary of $4,000. The heads of
divisions in the Internal Revenue Depart.
ment receive salaries of $4,000 per annum,
while in every other branch of the Tres-
sury they are selected from fourth class
clerks, whose salaries are fixed by law at
81 800 q year. Although for several
years an appropriation has been made
| from which the Secretary of tho Treasury,
| in his discretion, has increased the salaries
Of his own Office to $4,000 per annum, it
is not an exaggeration to say that the
head Of 3 division, in charge of the loans
and warrants of the Sub-Trcasury ac-
counts. occupies q position in which the
country and the world are more concern
ed than i'll that Of the Collector of Gus
| toms at New York, yet the latter receives
more than 0,OO0 year. while it is with
difficulty that the former is able to secure
the inadequate sum Of $2,800 The same
| remark might with truth be made of sew.
eral Bureau officers and of persons in the
office of the Treasury of the United States.
In this connection, | also recommend an
| increase OF the salary of the Supervising
| Surgeon OF the Marine Hospital
think it my duty to speak of the act
creating the Department of Justice, by
| which the Solicitor of the Treasury and
and the Solicitor of the Internal Revenue
| Office are made officers of that DEPART
meat. The proper and ESSENTIAL duty of
| the Solicitor is to give advice to the Sec
rotary and Bureau officers upon questions,
which arise in the daily bushes of the
department Under existing systems, the
| Attorney General is made nominally re-
sponsible, while, in fact, he ought to be
exempt from all responsibility fer advice
given by these officers, that, upon a refer
ence to him of questions which May have
been previously considered by them, he
may be free to advise or reverse their
action. These officers should receive
their appointments through the Treasury
Department. and be responsible to its
head. It is fundamental error in ad-
ministration to place in any Of the de-
partments officers deriving their appoint
ments from another department Should
the Government transfer the officers to
the Department of Justice, as appears has
been contemplated by the act, this de-
partment would be deprived substantially
of their services. Earnestly recommend
the restoration Of these officers to their
former positions in the Treasury
The examination of persons designated
Tor clerical service, and for promotion III
the Treasury Department, have been con-
tlnued with beneficial results, and the
examination is even more exaetlng In
requirements than at the date OF my last
annual report, Means will be taken TO
i y L l. adj