§ MR. BLAKEsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is expected that many Officers of Customs and. Excise will lose their situations in consequence of recent reductions and abolition of Duties; and whether it is intends ed that such officers shall be re-employed in the above and other departments according as vacancies require to be filled up in preference to persons not heretofore employed under Government?
§ MR. LAINGreplied, he was not aware of any reduction of duties in the Excise, or that they were likely to part with many officers in that department. In the Customs there were very considerable reductions in the number of the establishment. These were made as far as possible by anticipating the period of superannuation of old officers approaching their period of retirement, and the object of the Government was, as far as possible, to re-employ 1527 those reduced by stopping the admission to new places, that patronage having been entirely suspended both in the Customs and Excise for some time. He had every reason to hope that the greater number of men parted with in these departments would find employment elsewhere.