Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-17
No. 3.
EEpARTnfEH- o. STATE.

WASHINGTON, 29th February, 1928.
.SIE: have received the letter which, as Chair
nan Of The Committee of the House Of Rcprcscn-
taivss OH Rctrcnchmen, you did me the honor
10 address to me the 18th instant, transmitting a
copy of a resolution which had been adopted by the
.mmittee; and having given the subject embraced
IN the resolution attentive examination, and the
most respectful consideration, / beg leave now 10
communicate my answer, TO be laid before the
committee. The resolution in substance, calls for
The expression of my opinion first, whether there
i've any officers in the Department of State, whose
services may be dispensed WITH without detrine mt
70 the public interest," secondly, whether the saa-
rfes of any OF them can be reduced consistently
with justice and propriety; and thirdly in general,
whether any OF the expenses incident TO this De-
partment Can be reduced, without impairing the
efficacy Of its operations.
AS 10 the two first objects Of inquiry aboyemen-
toned my opinion is, that there car be reduc-
zion in tile number OF the officers employed in the
Department of State, without detrilnent to the
public interest; nor in the salaries Of any Of them,
without injustice or improperly. Within few
years past, there has been great increase in the
general business Of this Department, arising from
the progressive increase Of the wealth and popu-
Iation of the country, and from the establishment of
Independent Governments upon this continent
The number OF permanent American missions,
which we send from this country, is equal TO
The number that we send to continental Europe
And the public interest has required the creation Of
yatious consular and other commercial agencies in
Ibis hemisphere, but not in the proportion.
Although those missions were authorized, and
reral of them had proceeded TO their residences
during the preceding Administration, most Of them
have left the u. States and much the greater part
Of the other appointments referred TO, have been
Inadc during the present Administration. These
i1regn agencies have greatly extended the cores
Vondence Of the Department, created necessity
Tor numerous TRANSACTIONS from foreign languages,
required much additional copying, and otherwise
a1ded to the labors of the Department. The com
IIittec will readily comprehend that the new du-
tics AR. ing from the above causes, have rendered
Indispensable additional assistants to perform them;
but the number Of persons employed in the De-
partment has not been increased in any thing like
90 equal proportion with the increase of its bust
ness. So fur from its being cxpedient 10 discharge
any Of those persons The public service would be pro-
jnoied by some addition 10 the number Of clerks in
The Patent Office; & increase in the salary Of its
SUPERINTENDENT which has hci etolore been repeat
cdly proposed, is again respectfully recommended.
Cto, receipts in that Office quite adequate to
over every expenditure already authorized, and
any that its additional wants may require. In res
rct to those wants, beg leave 10 refer 70 letter
which the Superintendent, though confined by
long and dangerous Illness, has recently felt il his
duty 10 address 10 TO me, 9nd which, under the de-
signation Of The letter a, accompanies this cOmrnu-
1icatien.
Before proceed 20 answer The thiri and last in
rnirY Of the Committee, whether any oi the OK.
,cns.s incident 10 this Department can be reduced
Without upairing the efficacy Of lis operations,
TX permission TO present some general aud exp!a-
1atory observations IN respect 70 the Disbursements
4 the public money, which made through the
nrde ont ofeppUp lations OF two KINDS GrSt those