Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-02

redemption, ana leave 1t in the hands of the
Goyernment 70 be disposed of subsequently at q
loss.
c lin irredeemable, but whose intrinsic and nom
inal value should correspond to gold the time
must come when the country would suffer from
the presence OF a deprecated silver currency,
in the channels of trade.
Tokens of base coin, except for small demon =
nations, are less convenient than paper, and
are subject to many other serious objections
The provision made by the Treasury Depart
ment for the redemption of mutilated paper
money IL much more ample than formerly, and
think 1t practicable, through the Post ONCE
Departmental make an arrangement by which
the whole country shall be supplied with fresh
fssues OF fractional currency.
Therefore, in renewing the recommendations
heretofore made for the passage Of the Mint
bill, suggest such alterations as will prohibit
the coinage OF silver for circulAt ion in this
country, but that authority be given for the
coinage of silver dollar that shall be as valu-
able as the Mexican dollar. and to be furnished
at its actual cost The Mexican dollar is used
generally in trade with China, and Is now sold
actual expense of coming. As the production
OF silver Is rapidly increasing, such a coinage
will at once furnish a market fer the raw ma
terlaI and facilitate commerce between the
United States and China.
IL Is no exsggerstiOn to say that a necessity
exists for new issue of national bank notes.
Ihe reasons Tor such issue were given in my
take this occasion to call the attention
OF Congress TO communication made by
me to the House of Representatives on
2SS. 42d Cong, ID Sess.,) in which |
recommended the enactment Of a law for the
relief of the Treasurer from responsibility on
account of the dishonesty of Seth johnson and
Frederick A. Marden, formerly clerks in his
Office; and also for the correction of certain dis
crepancies in the public accounts, amounting to
sic6-35, that the books of the Department may
be made TO conform to the facts.
An examination of the affairs of the Office of
the assistant treasurer at New York, made in
September and October last, disclosed a defal-
cation in the stamp division, in charge of james
L. johnson. of $751; -. The report of the
committee explains the course of proceeding by
which johnson was able to embezzle this amount
of money.
The report further represents that Mr.. Hill
house, the assistant treasurer, cannot be charged
properly with any neglect OF duty, and in this
opinion concur.
The business Of keeping and selling stamps
urers by virtue of the suthority conferred upon
the Secretary Of II Treasury In the 9Th section
Of the act of August 7, 1876; but by the terms of
that act 1t was not competent for the Treasury
Department to allow the assistant treasurer ct
New York compensation for the labor and re-
sponsibility Of the stamp division, although the
him at the rate allowed to private parties by
the 1e1st section OF the act Of 1864, amount to
more than five hundred Thousand dollars.
The circumstances Of this case are such as
to justify me in recommending the passage of a
law by which Mr.. Hillhouse shall be relieved
from responsibility In the matter Of the defal-
cation of johnson.
The report of the Supervising Architect of
the Treasury furnishes a concise statement of
the costs and condition of the public buildings
in charge of this Department. Large sums Of
money will be needed for the buildings already
begun or authorized, and respectfully advise
that, beyond the erection of pavilion hospitals
and a building for the accommodation Of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the
storage OF the books and papers of this Depart
ment, no new works be authorized at the pres
eDt session of Congress.
The business of the office OF the Supervising
Architect Of the Treasury Is fully equal to the
force employed, and the necessary appropria-
tons are so large as to justify Congress in re-
I using all applications during the present ses-
sion.
The destruction of the buildings on the east
erly side of the new post Office in the city of
Boston furnishes an opportunity that ought not
TO be lost Tor the purchase of the remainder of
the square.
An act approved June s, 1872, authorized and
directed the Secretary of the Treasury to pur.
chase lot Of ground in Philadelphia for the
accommodation of the post Office and United
States courts, and to erect building thereon,
the cost of the whole not to exceed Il $50 900
I nder this act, and following the usage of the
Department, appointed a commission of citi-
zens or Philadelphia, who were authorized to
receive proposals for the sale to the Govern
meDt OF suitable lot of land. The report of
the commission has been submitted to the De-
Iartment, from which it appears that the lot
thought to be most desirable, situated on the
corner or Chestnut and Ninth streets, can be
purchased at q cost of 1925 1913 33. 1t also ap-
pears that the cost of a sufficient quantity of
land TO make the site OF the present post office
available would exceed half million of dollars
Accepting the conclusions of the commission
as final in reference to the cost of a suitable
site, have declined to proceed further without
frnu Hail,
clear that II is impossible to procure land and
erect building for the sum specified in the
act
Similar circumstances have prevented the
purchase OF land for public building at Gin
cinnati.
The increase of books and papers, not In daily
or frequent use, Is 50 great to seriously inter-
fere with the business of the Department The
annual accumulation requires ,6sS cubic feet
of space Tor storage. All the available rooms
IN the building, including some that might be
used for clerks desks, and portions Of the public
halls have been given up for the deposit of
such books and papers, and the time has come
when other provision should be made. 1 there
lore, recommend the erection of q brick fire.
proof building upon the public grounds south
Of the Treasury suffic for storage and for
the accommodation Of the Bureau or Engray-
ing aud Printing. The relief which these
c-anges would anord is essential for the proper
OF the business OF the Treasury De-
partment
The operations of the Coast Survey, as well
ne those of the Lighthouse Board, appear to
have been economically and efficiently man
aged.
The Revenue Marine consists of twenty-seven
steam and six sailing vessels, carving sixty
five guns, and manned by one hundred and ninety
eight officers and eight hundred sixty men. This
service has constantly Improved in efficiency
and in the economy of its management since
the summer Of 1869. At that time a commits
sion was appointed for the general and profes
sional examination of all the officers employed,
and upon their report thirty nine were dis
charged, aud those who were approved were
assigned to duty and given rank, according
TO their merits. From that time to the present
all vacancies in the service have been filed at
ter an examination, and by those found to be
best qualified. At the same time q commission
" as appointed foRthe entire revision of the ser
vice. Their report was submitted to Congress
on the the 18th of May, 1870. lex. Doc. 80, 4lst
Cong, I'd Sess.) The vessels then employed
were rated at 9,20S tons A reduction has al
ready been effected OF co. tons, and the vessels
now building and authorized will work further
Of ,232 tons, making an aggregate
of !, $50 tons.
The cost of maintaining the Revenue Marine
has been reduced from 81 ,293, gel 81 in 1865 to
: eco ,2i9, 81 for the year ending June so, 1872.
Statistical tables prepared from the returns
show that, in the essential particulars Of assist
ance rendered TO vessels, seizures IN ade, number
of vessels examined, and number OF lives saved
upon the ocean and the lakes, the Work per-
formed during the last fiscal year is nearly twice
as great as the average for the ten preceding
years.