Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-09-30

yifable not to fpeclfy and fuch certid-
| cafes ATE to be taken as fuAicient vouch-
ers, for the fums exprefed to have been
expended. The policys of this law
the committee do not intend to queRien,
bur it is clear, that il extends only to
CAFES Of compensation, for what are ufu-
ally called "/efret /ervicss," that may
be rendered to the United States, in their
intercourse with foreign nations. The
fiction above recited, has been ingrafted
into two laws, pailed in the REFLECTIVE
years 1898 and 1900, but in every law
on the Iubjett, it ma, been expressly con-
fined TO foreign intercou,le; and in the
ACT Of 1900, is further limited to the
Contingent expences only Of foreign inter
cougle. l. has not therefore been with
OUT comfortable furpr:te that the commit
tee have ieen the fame principle applied TO
the expenditures Of the war department..
In the inl}tuetions given by the ie-
cretary of war to the accountant of the
war department., in his letter OF the 18Th
Of December, 1897, herewith reported and
marked (L.) arule is pcfSiseiy laid down,
that expenditures for fecret fervices, rem
dered in relation to the duties Of the war
department, are to be admitted. And on
the 10th Gay Of December, in the year
1899, the lecretary of the tsealury made
report on this fubjett, TO the PRECEDENT
OF thu United States, tlubjoined and mark
ed M in which The principle is again
recognized, as applicable to the depart
men,s of fate, war and the navy. On
thc fubfequent day the PRECEDENT accord
irsly, hgned two certificates, as vouchers
Tor monies, fad 10 have been expeoded,
in relation to the duties of the war depart
lncnt, which certificates are annexed to
this report, and are marked N. and o.
The COMMITTEE entertain no doubt, as 70
The Illegally Of this r,eafufe, as i: is au-
thoriied by TO law wkaIfoeyer, and they
had AatJsred shemlelves that the federal
government required no lervices of any
nature, which ought to De concealed from
the IegiilaIure. They conider the fast
coming properly under the head of ex-
penditutes, not authorized by law
/ do rot poi3eis copy Of the letter Of
the iecretay of war, but recollett that
the accountant Of the war department,
declined complying with requiation OF
| the iecretary OF war, respecting an e1pen.
d;ture of confidential nature that
representation of the cafe was made to the
prelldent, who required my opinion III
writing. The following is copy OF NY
report 10 the PRECEDENT.
The fecretafy OF the trea(ury in ODE
dicnce to the command of the preiident OF
,he Uni!ed States, has corfdered the
letter Of the Secretary Of war, dated No
! vember 20, 1899, and threenpen Goff ref
petiiuliy tu0mlts the following report
That by an act CT congres PaGsd on
The 9th offehruary, 1898 It IS declared,
Thai in aAeaje5 7vblre any/au or/sms ef
money havr bern i1aed or AaAbtyegfter i.
/m from Tie reqluy, frtbe fnrpse IN.
yeoayf or ns0J qrHb fcngn aAtiSas in
~ maues At any la7,, The py56dfntNaA be
and he Is bere5y aafbOryfd 10 cane TIE /ame
to be daLy Jenled qOifb The accounting #
fters # the he4/ayy in manner feHszvjng,
that is to Jay, BY eanfag Tie JANE II be
dSly accounted f5r, SPECIFICALLY IN all
Maances qvberein The expenditure kbereg
my, in bisjadgmraf, BE MADE PUBLIC
or BY makinga certificate or certificates,
or caring fbe /ecretay of .fafs 10 make
certificate ar CERTIFICATES oftbe AMOUNT g
Lueb ex3eaditnrts as he nay think it ad-
UjGdk NOT TO SPECIFY, and eVey Juc6
certificate @0H be deemed a ./!1feient
| .voafbsr for HE /um ar /zms therein es-
5veDSd TO hare been expsnaed.
| !" The foregoing express proviiion by
law, contains, as it is believed, a fafe
and proper rule for controlling The ex-
-. &c ~ -,,.,;,o !. II FOR C.oret