Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-08-06


1t may be added that the expenditure of
the present year, for which only S89 $50 are
appropriated will probably fall as low as that
OF the lowest years i'll the foregoing cata-
loguc. II will also be observed stated in
the letter ofthe Secretary, that the apparent
expenditure of 1927 is swellcd above It's real
amount, by sum OF money renttcd to
Europe, tor winch the rcquisition was grant
! TED IN Dec. 1927, for the foreign service of
1923.
! With regard TO the expenses of tho Dc
partlnent OF State proper, the small increase
OF expenditure in the present administration
over that OF the last is fairly reicrriblc, in
| part, to the natural increase of business, and
10 the known accumulation of some extra
items OF necessary expenditure. Thus the
! transcription of the immensely volulnin Gus
g; papers relatircto the nortll-eastcrn boundary,
which 1t has been necessary to make twice.
would of itself account for Il considerable
part of the increase. The preparation of
the schedule Of American clainls on foreign
powers, was also an exceedingly lahorious
and expensive task, imposed on the Depart
mcnt OF StGte by a resolution of the House
OF Representatives. The TRANSPORTING of the
T! papers relative to the claims OH France, prior
! to 800, IN obedience to resolution OF the
Senate, under the last administrations but
winch It was impossible 70 comply with till
the year 1926, Diapers filling a printed vo-
iulne OF $40 pages was also Il heavy item OF
extra expenditure. The Increased expense
OF special messengers grows out Of the cx-
tension OF our intercourse with those parts Of
the world where suitable opportunities for
conveyance, in the usual channels of com
mcrcIal intercourse, ca mode Of TRANSPORTING
inf VI
oblcctlon,) do not often present themselves.
and the increased number Of treaties and
conventions which have been negotiated and
transmitted. The invariablc usage of the
Government, and the manifest proprietv of
the thing require that conventions and trea
ties, general instructions of great importance
transmitted to the foreign ministers, and
confidential dispatches, should be entrusted
to special messengers; aud the minority of
the Committee have not found that these
have been employed in any case not rcquir-
Cd by tho publiS service.
fhc following IL ccry Of tue letter Of
the Secretary OF State referred to.
This letter has been published i'll the
Whig)
Before proceeding to comment eli sepa-
rate items OF expenditure, the minority Of
the Committee would observe, that there IS
one general point i'll relation to the cxpcnd-
tUTcS OF the Department of State, upon
which objection has becr made, and on
which, Tor that reason, a remark will be offer
ed. 1t isthe mode of disbursing the MONEYS
Tor the contingent expenses of the Depart
nlent. The disbursements are made BY the
agency OF designated clerk, who, for that
purpose. IS entrusted with moderate snms,
which he deposits in Bank, and draws. from
time to tiEnc, as small payments arc made,
accounting for the expenditures in the same
manner ~ other accountants.
20 this course no well grounded obicc-
ton appears to the majority Of the Commit
tee. 1t IS that which is adopted by individ-
ua!s who have large concerts. \ cash
keeper IN counting house, and an account
OF petty cash, are familiar to every body, as
things not merely OF convenience, but o. ne
cesSty.
This plan, however, is not ncy, nor has it
been unknown to Congress- In the year
1872, the then Secretary Of State, now Pre- |
sident Of the United States, addressed n let
Ter dated the 18th April, 1929 to the Com
niitec of this House on the Expenditures of
the Department Of State, in Which he states |
this practice to have existed before his com, |
ing INTO the Department. That letter is on
the flies OF this House, and a copy was laid |
before this committee With the letter of the |
present Secretary Of State. The commit |
tee OF 1922 (Reports Number 1867 reported |
az follows: ''Thc expenditure of the moneys |
appropriated for the contingent expenses of
tie Department Is Contded to one of the /
clerks OF the Department. '9'he commit
tee have examined the accounts of these OK
pendrturos, with the vouchers for the SAID
accounts, as far as they Judged necessary.
The Objects of expenditure appear to be |
such as arc necessary to the execution of the |.
duties OF the Department.; and must, there
fore, be authorized by lazy. The cxpendi- |
lurc IS within the appropriation, and is sup
ported by sufficient vouchers. The accounts
are regularly Kept; the expenditures appear |
TO be made with fidelity and economy; and
the committee arc unable to suggest any sub
jeGt OF retrenchmcnt compatible with the i
public service
1t is natural now to inquire, what better
mode can be suggested or adeptc,Y or i'll