The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-22


excess or deficit undetermined for long period
after the goods had gone into consumption. We
strongly condemn this practice, put uhoe's'"no
IL has been discontinued.
oAsuIYa OF THE PAY-RoIIs
We also desire to signify to the honorable SEQ
rotary our disapproval Of the practice OF Drawing
funds for the ~ yments on account OF expenses
for collecting the revenues" In bulk. ana distfip-
utipg them In currency, from the CASHIER . oiocs
on memorsnda furnished by J. ne auoltor' IL
seems that this plan was authorized py tne ae-
nartnent upon representations made that IT was
\ hardship Tor an employe to go mile TO the
United States sub-treasury to draw his money,
and dangerous from ~, the ,a anpposeat "M
the Immediate vicinity Of the treasury. One or
two detailed men have, however, drawn the
money regularly in Blu k, as above Indicated, ana
brought II safely TO the Custom House. THESE
draftp on the Snb-Treasurer have been made as
carly as the Goth Of the month preceding the day
of payment--peldom later than the 18th; and,
though the testimony before Us is TO the effect
that the money has lain undstnrbed In the Gus
tom. House eafe for eight ten days every month.
Il is evident thst this irregular mode of paving
the employ offers facilities for an improper use
Of government money, aud should DO dscon-
tinued.
INSECURITY or THE CUSTOM HOUSE BUILDING.
Tho commission have observed. during their
sessions. that the corridors and approaches TO
made use OF as loaiog place by idlers and persons
having no business with either department. The
public records arc not even safe from the raids
Of these worthless persons, as, by means OF pas
sage through the building, on the ground hoor,
from which starways lead to the upper floors,
access may BIO had to the public offices unseen by
the watohmen ut the main entrances. According
TO statements made in the public press,
advantage has been taken OF this
insecurity OF tho Custom-House build
ing--iirst, TO improperly secrete within the
building, aud, subsequently,, to surrep .itiously
remove important archives OF the State OF Lou
isiana. The Collector was, and ia, undoubtedly
ignorant of the time and manner IN which this
most reprehensible transaction was effected; but
IL is evident that some ono in or about the build
ing must have had knowledge OF the transaction,
and may have lent helping hand. With view OF
prevent recurrence OF such improper use OF
government buildings, and to protect those hav-1
ing legitimate business with The customs
and postofice departments from obstruction aud
annoyance, we recommend that the Collector re-
uuire the passages on the ground floor to be
closed except for ingress and egress OF Postofice
and appraisers wagons, and that the chief anil
tor be directed 10 prevent the collection OF idle
and unauthorized persons In and around the
Custom. House building.
PREVENTION or SMUGGLING.
The commission have given much attention TO
the prevention OF smuggling into this port.
casual study Of the physics Of this locality will
convince any one that no place on this continent
offers greater facilities for trade In violation OF
the revenue laws than the coast OF Louisiana.
The water approaches to this port are numerous
and shielded BY swamps and forests. shallow
waters prevail In many places, and, IL smuggling
Ia not carried OIL to large extent, ii cannot be
because the facilities are not ample. The reve-
nue. cutter Dix, stationed on this coast, lie an eff
cient ship for outside work, and during the last
six months her officers have been diligent in the
performance Of their duties. They report
hat Anrtn thn a}y mn mn
ing De,ember /, 1915. and ending June
1, 1877 they boarded and examined
1892 vessels and reported 1853 for violation OF the
revenue laws; but the Dix draws too much water
tseyen feet) to permit her to enter many places
where the commission have reason TO believe
smuggling vessels are harbored, and whore snug
Cling may be carried on TO any extent. We be-
Iieve that small steam vessel schooner rigged
10 as to be used under sail or steam, not drawing
more than Ave feet, would not only be efficient.
but Is absolutely necessary to protect the inter-
ests of the government. Such boat should
mainly cruise on the Gulf coast, east snd west OF
the mouth OF the Mississippi river, among the
bayous and sounds, where larger vessel could
not BIO made useful. She should be manned by
eight or ten good men, aud be commanded by q
regular officer tf the revenue marine, to Insure
discipline, aud should be under the control OF the
Special Agent of the Treasury la charge OF this
district when required.
The commission have examined all the board
ing stations In this collection district southwark
OF New Orleans, and recommend that the rev.
enue stations at Southwest Pass, South Pass and
pass-a-rOutre be abolished, and that a station be
established ON the Mississippi river near to and
above o passage TO the Gulf, known as ''the
Jump" which lies at the head OF all the outlets
from the river, except two hereafter referred to-.
Any one Of the government buildings now In
use at the passes could be removed to the new
station without serious difficulty or expense.
There should be stationed at this point three
boarding officers, two engineers, two watohmen
nd twn mi ND hare "a
for their use steam-tug and q skiG They should
be required to board and examine every vessel
from foreign ports, whether inward or outward
bound, oil coast vessels pilot-boats, oyster
luggere, and every species OF boat passing that
station, inward bound. With this arrangement,
and an active inspector at the Rigolets, with the
usual complement of boatmen awarded 10 that
station tho only points left to DO guarded will be
the Barataria canal and Harvey's canal, which
lie opposite New Orleans, entering the Missis-
sippi, about six miles apart, aud communicate
with the Gulf of Mexico through network of
bayous. There should be an inspector stationed
ut the head OF these Canals and be should be
allowed one dollar per diem for horse, which
he should BIO required to keep so as to traverse
the distance between the two canals. This addi-
tional station could be established without in
crease of force There are at the present time four
district officers stationed at various points along
the levee in New Orleans, with comfortable
houses to shelter them, and whose duty II is to
report all arrivals aud departures and to see that
the patrols are attentive to the duties. In the
opinion OF the commission not more than two
such officers are needed. We therefore recon-
mend that two OF the buildings be sold, and the
other two removed to suitable locations near the
steamship landings, and that two Of the district
officers not needed for this service be assigned to
patrol duty. The commission are sanguine that
their recommendations with regard to the rear
rapgement and consolidation of the inspection
stations, II carried out will secure comparative
safety for the revenue from smuggers; and ii is
demonstrable that the adoption OF this plan will
save the government nearly five thousand dollars
per annum in salaries. 5sa .zgtQ
AZ Il Ii significant fact that for the year and
j half commencing January /, 1876, and ending
July L 1877, but seventy-five seizures, aggreg at
ing, in appraised valne $500, have been made in
this district. The commission, being not wholly
satisfied, considering the force Of inspectors en-
ployed here, that such an exhibit is an evidence
OF industry on their part, take this occasion to
recommend that the department require the Col
lector OF this district to impress upon those Off
GERS whose duty II is to patrol the levees that the
discovery Of lara err percentage of infri ngements
Of the revenue laws would be an indication Of