Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-05

else manner as the terms and spirit oil the re-
solution appear to demand. Their reports
have been made accordingly, and nave the
honor to enclose them herewith, numbered
from to 10 inclusive
Regarding the business Of the chief office OF
the Department, that Of the Secretary, X Is my
opinion that no retrenchmen,s can be mace,
with advantage TO the public. On the contra.
ry, take leave respectfully TO state, that
think the public interest requires that there
should be another principal clerkship estao'
lished in IL. Besides lis own proper duties,
which are Of daily detail, as well as OF exen-
sive range, its duty of supern'endence over
other offices of the Department is constant.
Hence, whilst each of the other Executive De-
partmen,s has had one principal clerk allowed
to it, it has been the past policy OF the Govern
ment to allow to the Secretary OF the Treasury
two, from the more mul,ifarous structure OF
the Treasury Department. The old act OF
1872 made provision Tor two principal clerks
in the Secre,a-y's Office. Two were also al
lowed during the incumbeacy OF Mr.. Gpilatin,
each Of whom, at The close of that officers SER
vice received a compensa ion OF TWO thousand
dollars per annum. Under the conviction that
the business of the Office would go on more to
the public advantage in all respects, and espe-
cally as regards erompttude and method, by
having two principal clerks instead OF one,
asked the Committee Of Ways and Means for
an appropriation for Two, in 1926. The appro.
pliation was not granted. The whole number
Of clerks in ,be Secretary ctfiee at present, is
nine. The number was six during the whole
Of the first period OF time Indicated above,
when the average annual revenue OF the nation
was but a fraction more that one fourth OF its
/ tnEf ha
Rod, the offi@e alsashad attached to it an AS
sisrant Secretary. The act of the 7lh Of May,
1922, which provided tina, all moneys appro-
prated for the use of the War and Navy De-
partments, should be drawn from The Treasu-
ny by warrants Of tn Secretary; under special
acquisitions, in every case, from those D. part
menrs instead of being drawn directly upon the
rr, a,urer in Capacity Of Agent Of those two
Departmer IS, as had been the case before, cre>
a,ed of Itself considerable increase OF clercie al
labor in the office Of The S. crttary of the Trea-
s.ry, apart from the fourfold increase Of reve>
nue..
Ii belongs 10 the communication 10 add, that,
besides the recommendations Tor creating new
Offices aud new Department, Contained is the
report to n, Senate by Ihe Heads oil til" d II r,
rent Executive Depattm, n,s, in 1916, and
the act of 1917, as before men,ioued. Mr.
Secretary Crawford, il distinct report 10 the
same branch of The Legislature, in January,
1918, recommended The appointment OF So
hci;or 10 the Treasury, IN the stronges, and
mes, uncquivocal terms. Hence, feel The
more fortified in the opinion presume 10 gle,
that there are no unnecessary officers in the
Treasury now, by referring to oiher opinions,
which have pronounced Con full examination
more Than ten years ago. on augmentation
of the present number cxpt dent
have not supposed that the resolution OF
the committee was designed 10 embrace officers
at distance, who are under :he direction Of
the Department. as the organ of The Pres dent
in executing the laws. mean "fi ers OF the
Customs, and other officers engaged in Tie ool-
lection of the public revenue in all the States
and Territories of the Union II it in.
tended to give 10 the resolution this scope,
reply 10 it would Call for n'estig atoms, the re-
suits Of which could not be obtained and di-
gested, so as 10 present them in shape that
would hold out any hope Of being satisfactory
or useful during the present session OF Con.
gress. Ii may be sufficient 10 remark, thai
these officers have all been created, their duties
assigned, and their comprnSa'ions liked, d.
rect!y or indirectly, by The Legislative power OF
the country; and that am not, under the ex-
is,ng information and lights before the De-
partment prepared 10 express an opinion ha'
any of them could be dispensed with, or their
compensations, or official expenditures, be a
bridge consistently with the principles stated
by the committee. IN the extensive ram hca.
tons Of official duty, to.whlch the collection OF
a laree revenue under numerous and compllca-
ted laws gives rise, it is far from impossible
that abuses may exist, calling for retrench-
men,s a, points that thorough and searching
examination might disclose. The SIN" k'nd
of examination might lead TO he knowledge o!
cases where the pubic intercs', and justice 10
the individual would perhaps sugges, The en-
ploymenl Of more officers, and with compen-
salons more adequate to the labor performed
by them. On the last head, there have been
both complaints and designations OF laIe years
allude more particularly to the Receivers oil
Public Moneys, and he Registers, III the land
dstric S; class Of officers exposed 10 much
labor and responsibility, and wno are some
times stationed in parts Of The country where