Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1802-04-19

wftHih tee hmUs OF iucn an appropriation eXceptin
deed, upon the impra6icabIe idea OF minutely fep-
arating and diftiueuilhing he items which form
the aggregate ot fine general head of expenditure
II J. lkeWiie material 70 have II we'll underftood,
that generally iPeaking. The diflrSton between the
appropriations FOR different objects, can onlv be
tri3lY obirtvvd at me Trsafury ittelf which can
sohly fake care that more money fhall not 60 out
fer any puFpofe, .h7n is authorized by law and
cen fee thar MS money is fairly expended by the
proper cfhcer, conformity with the general fpir-
il OF the appropriation prelcrbed by the law. But
81 is 10 mott cafes mpcflble for the officer, charg.
cd with particular branch of the public fervice,
10 itpafate nicely, in the details Of expenditure
the different funds which may have been placed il
MS hands Thus, (ftill drawing our EXAMPLES
from the military department, where the danger
of Multiplication is always the gTeateh) If few
tra iunfs be placed in the hands of the Quarter
Matter General for different objects, be mutt Of
peceility, diltribute large proportion Of them
mong his principal deputies, and ihefe again among
subordinate agents. UGefs this dnrihution be
purified through the remoteff ramifcations, down
20 the moment Of hnal expenditure, it is evident
that il muit fail throughout and il is no lefS evil
cent that cannot be 10 far purified. The mere
accountantihip would be an inuperable obfzcle;
II would require 10 every the mott inferior agent
a profound knowledge of accounts, and would in
pofe both on principals and fpbortinates the duly
of keeping fuCh multiplicity of accounts, as If ev.
On practicable, would exhauh the funds ilfued for
the public f5rVice, in mere clerklhp. Another
mott miichievous c0niequence would enfue.
The exigencIes OF the public fervics arc often 70
variable, that buPic agent would frequently find
bimteiF full-handed for one PrrPofe empty hand,
cd for another and it forbidden TO make atrsnsfer
not only the fervce would :ufer, but an opporturi
~, with very ftT0ng temptation, would re given TO
trahc 18th the public money for private gain
While Tie buhnefs q CsFernnent would be llaeaat-
Cd BY the niudicious and atfurd impedimsnts az an
that the principle Of dihuct appropriations for fcDa.
rate objects houd be carried through all the details
The enental ends nf Il ahwered, If il be arllv
puriued, in the iAung Of money from the trcalury
and If this department be careful hat the principal
laes Of determination nor tr4nigrefed
he theory Of the mehags plainly ountem plates that
in cafe fhsi the Gt9a4i DeHey sppert4 ming ore
fund, be expended for the purPoie Of another though
each fund may be luhcient for its Object and Though
there cray be On aPPropriAtufe for each object Tbs
is another exccls OF theory which with fYI frg,y
would often dnabis the govern from fulfilling IT.
nts, and from carrying on the public hui-
neis. To execute this plan confidently with the ext
gencies Of national expenditure would probably re-
uue IN ordinary a trLicstion OF the revenues or a
capital ntcefary The whole amount Of N az expen
d ture ard would very often lock up from circulation
large fums hch might be Of great Importance % the
activity Of trade and indufry Such are the endlers
blthines TO be expected from the notable Themes Of
phioophic prgor nrict 20 fault, where relaxation
Is necefary lax vice where ltr6tnes 10 eftptjau
Assto" educing the underlined field Of contingencies
and eircgmlcrhing Discretionary powers over money
observations fmlar to thoe which have been already
made occur. The term rsdssi4g implies that the thing
nui have already exiifed degree and indeed ID
msnfe that all the minute eafualities of e1pendi-
tire Especially in the nGvA and military departments
cannot be foTtfeen and defined. The gueilion then
mutt Be has not the limit been sufficiently narrow for
the Guation Of the Government in the fcsncs through
which il has paGed; oomprehending for a great part
OF the time Indian and foreign holilties Ger
fanny, Il viewed proPortonabIe leae, the extent
appears 10 have been moderate could have been
deFed and 10 blame ulily attach to the adminf
tration this aceuuut.
AS TO bri4Firg back 10 a fugle department an se-
countabili;ies for money, there has been de-
Walton from thar lyftem. he Department OF the
'Treafury has uniformly preferred Ygant luperin-
tendance over All sccouCtabtes Tor public money
particular accountant indeed has been appointed il
the War and Navy Departments. but he has been
subordinate 70 the TrealuTy Department, which has
preicrbcd regulations for his conduct, and has con-
hanty revtd bis proceedings. l. is true, that bv his
connection with the particular department for which
he Is accountant, there cafes ia which he to be
guided by TIE dire Ons OF the Head Of that depart
.nent but though thefe directions, ii plainly con
irarv to the rules prelcrbed by the Treaury would
exempt him from reiponhbty, the directions them
felves pals under the review Of the esurY az check
upon the head OF the department TO which he Is at
tsched and IN CAFE OF aOutes they would tctvc 70 c
tabliih responsibility Of the principal To FAY that
this interercs with prompt examination OF accounts
Is 10 affirm that dvi6on of Iator is injurious to dT
patch petition contrary 10 all experience. The
fact, without doubt, that contributes eentialIy 10
dfpatch anu that whatever modification may be
adopted, either the of the other departments
will never keep pace with the of buGnefs IL
times of activity that modification nun adhete TO
the principle OF employing dlind organs.
II it be the deGgn exclude, in every cafe the in
terventon Of the head Of the particular department
lome or al ofthee evils viii 70 low The lervce thst
department will fuffer, by undu;y rericting its head
in cafes in hich he mutt be the moi competent Judge
and by oblging him, in order avoid eventua diff
cutes, refoft in the 6rif nlt4nce another de-
partmens, les alive than hmlef the exgencies of
his own, for cautious and aow, perhaps reluctant
scqneicenee in arrangements which require prompt
nss if in the fpirit Of confidence and accommodation
the officers of the trealury yield ready compliance
with the whites Of the head Of lueh department they
may inadvertently cooperate in mesfures which they
wohd have difapproved aud corrected on deliberate
and impartial revson. II this lpir be not lhewn, NOT
only the immediate irrvice Of the department may be
improperly impeded put lonations unfriendy to the
due harmony Of the different members az the admnil
trstion, may be cngendered. ColulOn itands on one
dilcord On the othtr Tide Of The dilemma.
The exiting plan teers a middle and prudent
frrfsr f,, h. he,l e