Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-22

COR tie comp ,.oas.G u pi.lens u. lis tea s.oots
OF war authorized 10 be bull, by law of Sd March
1879, ma which wi. he prepared for sea In the
course OF this year This sum is not rronerly
charseabie TO the current expenses of the NAVY,
and wbenit - deducted, the present estimates wall
be found TO be SlI2,455 IL less than the lat,
They embrace the supper, OF the several Naval
establishments on shore and preservation of the
ships in ordinary-of one ship of the line. six
trga,es, twelve soors, and four scloopers in con-
mission. and with all Increase the number of
officers now in service.
II ispresumed that the number Of Naval estab>
hshments wall not be diminished. Although i, is
nianifssiy the true policy, 20 far as economy and
efficiency are concerned TO limit, as far as tnssi
bic the number Of our large Dock Yards, twhicI,
every species OF labor connected with our ship
ping, IL To De periermed yet other consideration
have heretofse operated, and will doubtless con.
'inue TO operste, to keep up the number now in
existence. They have therefore been embraced
in the estimates. OF the vessels proposed TO be
keft IN commission, none can, with plopriety, be
dispensed with
The small addition TO the number of officers a.
rises from wbs; is supposed TO be the absolute
necessity OF the service I, 10 ore Of absence,
Prira'ion and exposure. In ,ch service, i,
must always be expected, that abou; one-third or
ones!our,h will be unable to attend 10 active duty.
Sickness and other causes will always operate TO
that extent and when this deduction is made, it
VIII be found that several of our classes OF off
GERS are 100 small. This is especially the case in
the Medical branch, for with every exsrtion
which the Department could make, it has some
tunes happened, during the past as in former
years, that sufficient medical aid could not be az
iorced 10 all our vessels, while at sea- and 10 all
cur establishments shore.
The form Of the estimates is such as the deci-
sons of Congress require. There are one or two
% Enty I, 4.
proper again 10 notice inasmuch they continue
TO operate with severity, and occasion not only
inconvenience bu, loss of public money
The estimates and appropriations are made
Tor the year commencing and ending on the LIST
January. The appropriation laws are never
passed until after that period. the Department
Is therefore left sometimes for six weeks or two
months, without funds for the use of the Navy
We're our chips, officers and men within the coun-
try this circumstance, although very injurious,
would be less felt; but they are absent at great
distances, 1t creates serious Inconvenience, aud
sometimes loss of both credit and money They
must have funds for their support and must there
fore procure them, if they can, by drawing bills
upon the Department, and these are sometimes
protested Tor want OF the means OF payment
The consequences too palpable - require
comment. The remedy is simple 10 make the
appropriation, in the first instance for year and
qusiter, and let those for subsequent wears COM
approved and adopted by Congress, an addition of
one fourth must be made to the estimates for
the quarter ending on the LIST April, 1920 All
subsequent appropriations would be for year
only.
II Specific sums appropriated for specific
objects, which is undoubtedly the best, and safest
mode, but the form i'll which il is done creates diff
Gculiy.
The estimates made by the navy commits.
sioners with the skill and accuracy which expert
ence and intelligence give, and the amount
which will probably be wanted, for each object of
pay, subsistence, SEC. Is stated. But II is impos.
sible 10 estimste those things, with the precision
which can readily be secured, where the expendi-
ture is 10 be made in our country, and uudsr the
more immediate control OF the Department. Hence
it is found, that although the appropriation is sul
cient fcr ;he genera! object, yet there is some
times surplus under one head, and deficiency
under another. Aware that this difficulty would
occur, Congress, by the laws OF Sd March 1909
and fret May 1920. authorized the President 10
make transfers under few enumerated Items
These items have been siGcs changed in the ap,
preparation laws, and the power of transfer rem
der ed useless. This Inconvenience is increased by
the fact that large portion OF the money tra syn
for and expended by Pur-er- and Navy Agents
abroad, who are often unsvoiab!y ignorant OF The
terms of tie law under which the expenditure is 20
be made, end therefore draw and expend the n o,
ney under item, when they should Go il upAer
another. As an example, they draw under ydy of
The Nary whatever is 10 be paid to The officers
and men; although large portion of il is for
their provisions and subsistence, and is estimated
Tor under those heats. The head of pay is conse.
1uen,ly exhausted, before tbs end of the year. that
Of provision s not. So of other items and there
is no remedy. The President cannot make trans
fer, founded on the knowledge that this unavoidable
error has been committed, nor the accognt-
inS officer, tiom the absence ofthe og-nt, correct
it,, in season, in The settlement Of his accounts
1t is respectfully submitted, that remedy ma,
be found withoui haz riding The proper expenditures
of public money by of two modes.
lst Authorizing the President TO make, in syri
ting, transfers from and TO certain enumerated
items, SO as to effect the ohjecl which Congress
had in passing the laws OF 3sd March, 1909 and
lie, May 1920 or
End. BY requiring the estimates to b. made, as
they are, for each specific item, so that their
prcprieiS be readily tested by Congress
bu, em5r cling the amount OF several of them ,.,l
der one head in the appropriation bills
The annusi examination by the committee of
congress into the expenditures for the NAVY.
would still be made, with eqaa! ease, and afford
,qual security,
There is another evil which duty requires should
be brought 10 your notice by rigid enforce
ment OF the law the discussing officers within the
United States, are compelled TO make periodical
settlements, and so far they ezpenl the public
money, tie accounting departments can furnish
statements showing whether it has been property
expended, and whether the appropriations have
been sufficient for the Objects Bat this is not the
Gaze with the large number Of disbursing officers
who are out Of the Unirei States, and who are
often absent two or three years, at The distance OF
thousands OF miles. In their absence, their &C.
counts cannot be settled, nor can it be known.
whether they have expended the money properly
or the appropriations Of the year are exhausted
From the same and oher causes, many claims