The New York herald., 1872-12-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 0, 1872.
MI. HARRIS, (dem.) of Va, introduced bin for
the payment OF claimants lor property destroyed
during the war OF the rebellion by the authority OF
the United States.
BOBBING FOR THE CANAL GUDGEON.
Mr.. MoREy, (rep.) OF La. offered a resolution
calling on the Secretary OF War for information as
TO the probable cost OF ship canal from the Mis-
slssippi River its mouth, to deep water in
the Gulf OF Mexico, &c. Adopted.
Mr.. DAWES, trep.l OF Mass, from the Committee
OF Ways and Means, reported a bin aboshing the
Offices or
ASSESSOR AND ASSISTANT ASSESSOR
OF internal revenue, and transferring their duties
to collectors and deputy collectors.
After the bill, which is vOuminous in its details
was read,
Mr.. DAWES offered an amendment King the time
for it to 60 into operation on the 1st OF July next,
and proceeded to explain the bill. He said that
the law OF the 9th OF January, 1872, directed the
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue TO reduce, on
or before the LIST of January next, the whole num-
Der of collection districts to eighty and to dis
charge all the collectors and assessors except one
in each OF the eighty districts. The bill now pro-
posed a substitute for that provision, because
1t was evident that the reduction of collection dis
trcts to one-thrd OF the existing number would
enlarge the area OF the districts thrceiOd, and
would, with the diminished number OF the officers,
present too great temptation to frauds upon the
revenue.
He yielded to Mr.. SAWYER, who offered a resolu-
tion recting the tclegraphic account OF the acci-
dent on the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad last evening,
among the victims OF winch were w. w. DantZ, an
employe OF the House, his wife and child, and
directing that arrangements be made to transport
their bodies back to their late home at Princeton
Wis.,, and have them inferred at the expense
OF the House. Adopted.
Mr. DAWES resumed his remarks and stated that
by the passage OF this bill the saving which would
pe effected over the plan provided by the law OF
June last would be 81, 100000, and over the existing
system OF $4,000 900.
Mr.. l.. MAYERs, (rep.) OF Pa called attcn-
tion TO the fact t1at this bill would turn ont
OF Office all the sssessors-men VINO had the most
administrative experience in connection with the
internal revenue-and retain all the collectors. lie
thought the government should be authorized TO
select from both classes OF officials; and therefore
he gave notice OF an amendment which he would
0er eg!slating out OF Office all the assessors and
collectors, and providing for the subsequent ap-
pointment OF men as collectors. This he said would
give the department the chance to select its best
officials
Mr. WOOD, (dem) OF N. Y, said that on examina-
tion OF the bill and after listening attentively to
the remarks OF Mr.. Dawes he was really puzzled TO
know where the economy and reform came in. 1t
seems that assessors were TO be discontinued
when their terms OF office shall have expired.
Some OF them had been appointed within the iast
sixty days, and II they were entitled to a four
years teLm many 2! them might continue in Office
Mr.. BECK, tdem.) OF KY, explained that all the
Offices OF assessors and assistant assessors were
to be discontinued on the lst OF July 1873 but that
the commissioner might discontinue some OF them
before that time. IL was to meet that contingency
that the language referred to was einpi6ye1.
Mr.. WooD-in other words, the power to dismiss
these officers IS ieIt entirely to the discretion Of the
Commissioner
Mr.. BEcg-Yes, np to the lat OF July next bu, he
must dismiss them all on that day.
Mir. WooD-It Is % very singular fact that the
amount proposed 10 be appropriated for the IN
tcrnal Revenue Bureau Tor the next fiscal wear IA
greater than tie amount appropriated loy lie
present year. ph,s year he amount was $4,000