Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-14

dfs ana IN The Fifth AUDITORS Mr. Pieasantonl 10
dollars 10 cents.--Ihe augmentation has principa,,
occurred IN the Second (SIT I.pel ard Ponr,I, And
"' "r. Natlx'os) Offices. The contingent cx pen
SEES OF ;he Second Auditors (Mr Ieel Office was j.
1919 ic3j dollars 80 cents; M 1926 $40 dollars 81
cents; and IN 1927, 1888 dollars 90 cents But In,
most extraordinary increase has occurred IN the con
.hgent expenses of the Fourth Auditor fMr Wat
''h'.J 10 slow more clearly how these have beer
augmented, the committee submit the annual OK pend
.','e Tor The last six years:
io2e when Col. freeman was .i;h Auditor, Gt53 81
I"23, do i, 90 -
1884, Mr. Watkins came in, in Juue, GAG o.
1895, GO ",
! 1926, "a, ~
/ 1927, % 100 -
The average amount expended annually TO, The last
.hfee years, IN each Office, rs, VIZ:
Isl AUDITORS mn. Harrson) 10 CLERKS, sos So
on ON do lMr. Peasanton) ii do ia 10
! Sd Auditors Mr.. IlsgDer) ~ clerks, g72 sc
! "a do (Mr. Lee 10 DO 1851 ~
AN DO (Nr Waikins) IS DO $50 O.
IN '"ur years, there have been expended VI the
lour'h tHir Wailiins) AUDITORS Office G,726 dollar
% GEMS, Tor Office contingencies. In tie last year
me CONTINGENCIES OF TINS Office have amounted TO the
extraordinary sum of 2,l32 dollars 81 gents. The ex
t'a'huons %Lic have been afforded foe this large cx-
PeaHn"re are not considered efficiently satisfactory 10
furnish Justification for it.
/ Under the Administration Of Washington tue aver
age contingent expenses OF the Departments did not
puAt' 10 The last four years of that Administrations to
iI,ovO dollars sum very little exceeding lie amount
when was paid last year. for printing and distributing
me i'ws The average of the first four year, of MIR
emerson administration was, for all the Departments
less kan 50 900 The average for lie same Tor the
Hrst three years of MIR. hl;ason's straor.--
/ toUS'io' ''I-nreceding the war, was about 80 0OO
doita's Ihe wat introduced extranr,,ina,, expens-
tues; ard il not until some wears alter that SIC
~-''i" expect Tie contingencies return 10 iorne,
rates That time las tanlv now airiyed vet these
mere ONCE contingencies the Departments average
'f4oi dollars, and iii the last year, amouoted to the
extraordinary of 90 500 dollars This is FAR A.
/ Df Sof,
. IN Tie opinion OF your committee, is unnecessarily
/ large portion OF this augmentation is, without
doubt TO be attributed TO Ike additional Offices crea-
ted IN 1915 but much of il is o;.Do TO The absence o.
some proper check.
In relation TO Of The discretionary powers which
the Secretary OF the Treasury exercises in The appoint
uent ct examiners of the land oiccs, with or without
'ie sanction oil tie President and which amounts C
the appointment Of an officer Hi,,nu Tie advice and
consent ot the Senate, your Committee would refer o
Tie testimony Of tie Commissioner of the Genera
Land Office, Mr. Graham for lis opinions on this
sublec They satisfied that IS Dow er liza BILE &c
greet abuse that il is an employment which has some
'HHca been given TO members OF Congress during the
recess IN Violation Of tie spirit ifno The letter OF III,
constitution and the laws which prohibits nier.cu
rom holding an Office under, Anticipating 10 the
profits ct contract with the Gov ernnent during tic
feFlod Tor WHICH lie may be elected. Nor does t!it
eva stop here ii Is possible 10 suppose that this ire
sponsiole portion Of the Executive patronage ma, BE-
exercised III manner still more reprehepsbe. Ygu,
committee would therefore, recommend that tie ore
sent mode OF examining tie land cfEices be abolished
ana That SUCH examination IN future, te GC1aSionql
cot stated periods within the discretion OF the presi
cent and 10 avoid lie heavy and unnecessary exrens;
OF mieagc-that the examiners selected shall he sorcf
respectable, intelligent and items resi-
Ding IN the vicinity Of The land Office ba Inspected
AS the document recently transmitted from The rea
suFy showing The amount ~ compensation paid to e2i-
au:rcrs OF the land Offices, is pIee in coasc-
quence OF the account o John Scott Esq late mem.
Der Of Congress, from Missouri, not having been get
I He'd rt,Fr.F,i
Ce5 IN March April 1927, YOUR committee have for
borne an examination of the statement as to the ger
eiaI disbursements for these services, in none q
these accounts DID the amount paid to land Office ox
anineFs generally appear although. BY the evidence
ri Nj GIa ham. II is proved that Il Scott has Iecc
, we'd four buOdied dollars and drawn a bill not yet
Pai'i, foT FIVE hundred dollars Dprc. Cd account of m
services
and charts, as well IS For other small con.nnarc.ss
seem iatsr and unnecessary, ard IN the opinion q
you' committee, might be diminished wiitCG o;ury I,
the public interest.
1OGr committee, in conclusion on te r., easur, No
paiGnent, would remark, tha thcy consider ;ha ,,,c
have recommended in the organization o. tiis ia,
paTi!nent, which they have proposed "a more eff civ
system uC accountability and FOR tie collection Of q,
public dness" Which viii likewise operate an cssen,ia
reduction OF expense III The general disbursement O
I hrs Department. For all these purposes, ihey asi
leave to report bill
/ %. NAVY DEPART,IENT.
! -" Tat reductions Of expense can be made in "a
Navy Department. IN tic clerks and officers now act
ing subordnately TO the Secretary of the Navy"
Your committee. not dcetning il as any part Of Won
Instructions that thcy should examine the appfopria
tons 10! what may be called the Navy j,yopCy dat
To say, the permanent portion of this most valuable e.
iablishmcnt rs fixed 10y law have confined hcir affen
ton almost exciu'yeiy TO contingencies syn the q IS
cfetion {" Tie Secretary and these tfcv are una
bic To scan with the requisite nelliccncc ag rnany
'"e' fetae TO corporations for services purely oG
professional character They therefore ails',rn iron
making either an examination OF, co'nucu'rur on
sundTy allowances to ihe officers iic Ray, ioi * r
duty and expenses: many of item appear to bc i,rre
ana somewhat extraordinary Tuc contingencies d
INC naval service ought to he sCruinacd annually &
TIC COMMITTEE ON Naval Expenditures with The y,
most care; as II IS well known that IS 10 this braue l.
the service, the greatest abuses have crep INTO a.
navy Of Great Britain, 10 Which there much scor
Tor cXtraYagance and favOriiisn.
! Ihere IS, however class Of contingencies a.,
examination Of which has struck vour committee "
some tGrce; aud that the amount expended for Court
MARTIAL, which N is Tn x 80 go