Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-25
RETRE.NCHMENT.

NCHsHEJNI.
In reply to the Circular address by the Chair
man of the Committee on Retrenchment the fol-
lowing reply was made by the secretary OF the
Treasury: 800,
Treasury Department, March 3, 1928.
SIR: | had the honor % receive, on the 18th OF
last month. your letter of the 18th addressed to me,
m pursuance Of a resolution OF the Committee on
Rerenchment, of the House of Rep esentatives,
requesting to be informed whether, IN my opinion,
there be any officers in the Department whose
services may be dispensed with, without detnment
10 the public interest, or II the salaries OF any Of
them can be reduced, consistently with justice and
propnetv; and, in general, whether any OF the
expenses incident 10 rhis Department can be re-
duced, without impairing the efficacy OF its ope-
riiioLs-
In roply beg leave to state, that there are, at
present, ten officers annexed 10 tins department.
w: The Comptroller s. the Treasurer 5, the Au-
titors, the Register s, that Of the Commissioner
ofthe General Land Office, the Second COmptrOl-
Ter s. the Second Auditor S, the Third Auditor S,
the Fourth Auditors, aud the Fifth Auditor
There have, heretofore, existed, as dppendages
TO the Department, the offices of Assistant Secre-
tiry Of the Treasury, Commissioner OF Revenue,
accountant of the War Department, Purveyor Of
meut. and Additional Accountant of the War De-
1artment-aIl of which have been abolished.
Vi ,hc ten subssting officers, first above emu
meratcd, six nave been coeval, or nearly So ei-
i.c,. ihOugn not under the same names, with the
finest establishments ofth Government. Those
Oi t.s ten that were created last, VIZ, the Second
yonpr1lier S. Second, Third Fourth, and Fifth
Au4i,or, were created by the act of March the
5lst loI under a special report, embodyng the
reasons ,0r me same, made TO the Senate, IN Pres
ident Madison time, december To- 1850 by
ne Heads OF the Executive Departments. by The
slme act the officers OF Accountant and Additions
ID Accountant of the War Department, and Ac-
coultdnt of the Navy Department, were abolished,
Hne further recommendation of mat repOrt, To es-
,abIi,n dn entire new Executive Department, 10 be
Ienominated the Home Department, aud d solicit
to,snp 10 tho Treasury, were not adopted by
CunsTess.
Vi the officers, therefore, who are now auxiliary
10 Tie business Of this Department there are, III
my opiutou none that can be ddvantageously dis
pelsed with. or whose salaries can be reduced,
consistently with justice ANA propriety. They
nave ali been created by Congress, OH full delibe-
ration. Dividing The lime since tie formation of
inc PIES ut government mo three periods, the
hrsl from the 4th Of March, 1893, TO the close Of
l.Jl; The second rom the ISt OF January, 1901,
10 ,he close of 1ol4; the third from the lst Of
January, lel5, 10 the close of lS27, and the ave-
aye annual Revenue Of the nation for the first pc
Rod STA JJJ 100 Tor the third period, 22,277 9U3.
Inc average annual expenditure for the nrst
yeriOJ stands at $500 ,c3J; tor tie second, at
SIsJIl,4 54; and for the third, at 1895, 400
dollars. The various loans obtained >lnce the for
mtlon OF the Government are not included IN the
lecei1.s of revenue. The expendiu res embrace
all pay ments on account OF the deb, as well Revo
uuondry as that contracted since lhe purchase Of
Louisiana and Florida, md other heavy payments
for objects not belonging 10 the ordinary and annu
al expenses Of Government This progressive III
crease n ,he public revenue and expenditure, lie
Result Of tne increase III the population wealth and
general business OF the nation, marks the necessity
OF progr. ssige increase IN tile establishments OF
tlns Deplrment under The review Of which, as
TO d common entire, every item OF revenue und
expeudi ure IS Brought.
How iir ID the details of business IN the several
offices OF me Dep4meut might be carried on
without detnmcnt 10 thgpu0nc interests, after dis
penslng win TIE ser ices OF any portion Of the
clerks AZ present employed M them, OF how far
the suaries % m might be reduced, consistently
with justice Or r)priery; or III general, whether
duced without mp hiring the efficacy Of then OPP
creations, have not, on my own view, felt able to
decide Without more OppOrtmi les o fmveslgailOn
than could command at this season, OF more de-
lay than would be compatible with the duty ofai-
tOrling tie committee timely reply. But cali
ed, b. letter, upon each Of the officers charged by
law with the immediate di ection of the business
of the ten offices n question to make report 10 me
under eacI Of lne points above specified, and to
do SO IN a. tut nd precise manner rs the terms
and spi1t OF he resolution appear 10 demand
Their repors hive been made accordingly, and
have the honor TO enclose them, herewith, num-
bered from l 10 I'D, inclusive.
Regarding the business of the chief Office Of
the Department that Of the Secretary. II Is my
opinion that no reTenchmeuts can be made, with
advantage to the public On the contrary, take
leave respectfully 10 state, that think the public
Interest requires that there should be another pr-
cipal ceraship established in it. Besides It's own
proper duties, which are Of daily detail, as well
as Of exien I've range, its duty Of superintendence
over other offices Of the Department Is Constant.
Hence, whilst elch ofthe other Executive Depari-
ments has had one principal clerk allowed 10 II.
u has been Tie past pcicy Of the Government 10
allow 10 the Secretary Of the Treasury two, from
the more muiffarious structure of the Treasury
Department. The old act Of 1892 made provision
for two principal clerks for the Secrefar,' Office
Two were also allowed during the incunbencv Of
Alr. GallaiIr each Of whom at the elise of that
othceE' s Service received ; comPensstioo Of Two