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ces being situated at a distance from the department, it is not easy to ascertain, satisfactorily, at all times, the way in which they are managed, and it is chiefly by comparing those that are best known, and known to be well conducted, with the others, that an approximation of fairness can be made in allowances of this kind to assessors. To make these comparisons the Comptroller and Commissioner of Internal Revenue joined with me in appointing three experienced clerks, one from each of our respective offices, most fully acquainted with the returns and with the duties of assessors, who, with great care and deliberation, considered the whole subject, made an examination of the returns and reports of every district in the country, and recommended changes which, while proposing an increase in a few districts, would make an aggregate saving of forty thousand seven hundred and thirty-one dollars ($40,731) for the current year. This schedule has been adopted with but little alteration. With a disposition upon the part of assessors to second this effort, I believe no permanent injustice will come to any one, while a sum worth the undertaking will be saved to the treasury. It is probable that, upon further investigation, by personal examination of the several offices by competent persons, even a further reduction may be effected.

The power of the accounting officers of the Treasury to thus regulate the expenditure for clerk-hire was practically nullified by the custom of assessors in many districts, who detailed more or less of their assistant assessors to perform clerical work in the assessor's office, and whose bills for strictly clerical labor were approved and paid to them in their capacity as assistant assessors. How far this abuse has extended is not known, but in some districts there is evidence to show that a greater sum was expended for clerical services than the amount that had been granted as a regular allowance for clerk hire in the same districts. It is not supposed that this was done, in all cases, to defraud the government, but being manifestly in violation of the law, and a convenient cover for frauds, if any were intended, notice was issued from this office, with the approval of the Comptroller of the Treasury indorsed thereon, to all collectors and assessors to discontinue the practice, and payment was stopped on all bills of that character incurred after the notice had been served. This has also contributed materially to reduce the expense of assessor's offices since the 1st of July last.

The cost of advertising notices issued by assessors and collectors of internal revenue, not appearing to be regulated by any rule, but being subject to the varying ideas of different assessors and collectors, as to the proper amount to be expended, had, in many instances, become excessive. In conjunction with the First Comptroller, I have issued directions to those officers to confine their advertising to the notices required by law to be published, and to the number of papers expressed in the act. This order could not go into operation until the commencement of the current fiscal year, and the results will not be manifest until the accounts shall have been adjusted for this year; but I am confident that the diminution in many districts will be at least one-half of the former annual sum. The total cost of this kind of advertising for the last year was, it will be seen by the annexed schedule H, seventeen thousand five hundred and sixty-two dollars and eighteen cents, ($17,562 18.)

Our business is now so large that it is impossible for the Auditor to examine details, and he must often sign official papers and documents without thorough personal knowledge of their contents, and which are executed solely on trust, and in confidence in the capacity, discernment,

and fidelity of some of his elerks. The office, at present, is not so organized as to meet the demands of the service, and I have to respectfully recommend, in lieu of the present force and division of clerks, the following schedule, which I am confident will secure a better administration of the duties devolving upon it:

One chief clerk.

Four heads of divisions.
Four clerks of class four.
Eight clerks of class three.
Eight clerks of class two.
Seven clerks of class one.
Seven female copyists.

One messenger.

One assistant messenger.

Two laborers.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Hon. GEORGE S. BOUTWELL,

HENRY D. BARRON, Auditor.

Secretary of the Treasury.

10 Ab

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H.--Statement showing the expenses of collecting the internal revenue taxes in the several collection districts, including the commissions, salaries, and extra allowances of the collector; the office expenses which are paid out of the commissions and extra allowances, and the assessments and collections from July 1, 1867, to June 30, 1868.

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First district.

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Second district.

Fourth district.

Fifth district..

Sixth district.

Seventh district.

Eighth district.

Ninth district. Tenth district..

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H.-Statement showing the expenses of collecting the internal revenue taxes, &c.-Continued.

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