Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-25

&c.t Ills answer 10 that rcso) uuon was daicd the
3lst January, 1926 aud he sent with il Ss' Of pa
pers and books, TO which il is not known that any
objection was at that or any subsequent time made
by Congress. The practice is, therefore, supposed
TO be sanctioned.
But, as to newspapers, there is an obvious pro-
priety, and even necessity, for furnishing To the
Department the information they contain, for cur
rent use, and also, for future reference to the files
OF them preserved in the Office. Some increase
has been owing to the practice Of taking copy OF
two newspapers for each squadron at distance
from the United States; practice, it must be all
mitted, conducive to the good Of the service. and
very grateful to the officers in their long absent
from home.
AS to books, it is not understood that they are
objected to. but question seems to he made, to
some Of them, whether they precisely appro-
pirate to the use Of the Department. This is very
much matter Of taste and opinion; and there is
no way in which it could be precisely regulated,
unless Congress to prescribe the books to be
purchased. The books recently bought do not
seem to vary materially in character, from those
contained in the list presented by the late Secreta-
ry III January, 1928 There no books that, in
the opinion OF the committee, fall properly within
the description OF sc fashionable literature" Two
reviews have been taken, The American Quarter
ly Review, aud The Western Review. But re-
views were taken before. And as to reviews, it
must be remarked, that they no longer devot-
ci TO criticism, but have become, as every one
knows, essays upon various topics of interest, and
contains great body of useful knowledge upon al
most every subject a Secretary may derive Use
tul Information: .rom them. One work particularly
alluded to is the work Of Surgeon in the Navy,
connected with the profession ct medicine, aud
therefore, with one branch of the service. There
IS remark, however, to he made upon this sub
Ject, which may serve TO shew how incorrect il il
10 suppose thai the small libraries OF the Depart
, ments can be 50 precisely limited. II four years
ago. work on silk worms, had been found in the
Treasury Department., it might have been thought
very inappropriate toihe Office; yet, the Secretary
has been directed to prepare compilation OH that
subject, and what he has caused 20 be complied has
been printed by order Of the House.
In regard to this Department, there is nothing
else requiring 10 be noticed. The contingencies
oil the SERVICE are, as far possible, enumerat-
ed IN the appropriation bills, and the amount, upon
which any discretion can be exercised, is very
! small. Abstracts of them were furnished 10 the
| Committee, and. If particular information had been
required, 1t might have been had. They therefore
require no rcmark And, for further information,
they refer to the letter of the Secretary to the
Tho minority OF the Committee arc satisfied
that the concerns OF this interesting branch of
service have been managed with fidelity, and its
expenditures with due regard 10 efficiency and
economy.
COURTS MARTIAL.
Not supposng that this subject would be in
troduccd into the report. in the minority of the
Committee have not prepared their statements up
on it. Reserving TO themselves, however, the
power, At future time, OF submitting their views,
and referring 10 communication made by the
Secretary to the House, in the year 1925, i'll
which he proposes TO systema ;e this branch oil SER
vice, and reduce its expense; and aiso adverting
TO the TACT that the indentical account object
ed TO has been Tor several years, before the House,
without objection from Congress 10 the public
they are prepared 10 show, by comparison with
former courts, Uhe accounts of some OF which are
on the files Of this fIOuse,) well as from an ex-
animation OF the particular courts i'll question, that
there has been due attention TO economy as far as
public service would permit, and that, in this par
ticular there has been as much Improvement as it
was in the power of the Secretary without aid of
Congress to make.
The nee essity of these courts 1t is perceived is
not disputed. They were required by the service
The greater part Of the expenses are regulated by
law, or by established usage. The ouy item, per
hapS that isOppn, that oicompensation the Judge
Advocate. In the absence Of any provision by law
the Secretary is obliged to employ the requisite
PROBES sional talents aud for these he must nav ac-
cording TO the usual scale of compensation TO pro-
fessiona men. In this respect the expenditure is less
than in former instances, as the reference aboyes
mentioned will show.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT..
few statements will be sufficient TO exhibit
the facts AID the differences from them will be We
ry obvious.
Taking three periods embracing four years each,
so as to include two long and two short sessions
when the members were respectively 65, I05, and
2l3, and the Senators were from 26 to 49, the state
nent will be as follows:
Here follows detailed table of the expenses
OF the Legislature from the commencement OF the
Government 10 the 3d March, 1921
From this statement il will appear, that the a.
mount paid to Senators has increased from the first
to the last period, in the proportion of about T3 to
~, or lila to one; the amount paid to Repre- /
sentatiyes, in the proportion of about 3I2 to ID or
2-S 10 l; the pay OF the officers OF the two Hous-
es, in the proportion Of 81 to 9, Or 49 TO L. and
the contingent expenses in the proportion OF SO TO-
8, or 9 10 10 1.
The pay and mileage Of Senators and members, |
have been augmented by two Causes; the increase
OF their numbers, aud the increase Of their pay
The latter is fourth of the whole, being the a.
mount added by the act of 1918, which advanced |
the pay from So day 10 dollars day. As
applied to the average Of the four last years |
therefore. the total pay and mileage being $780,
'To ~, the advance Of the pay by the act Of 1915
made an additional annual charge to the Treasury,
Or the Legislative Department, of S97,744 81.
The increase OF pay of officers and clerks of both
Houses is not more than might have been xpect-
I'd from the necessary increase OF their numbers &
iuties. 1t seems moderate.
The contingent expenses OF the Legislature IL
will he seen, have increased in the proportion OF
, 7-9ths TO l. This is great augmentation, and
ar beyond the increase Of any other department Of
he Government. The contingent expenses of the
Departments, in the same period have
increased in the proportion Of about 4 IL to I, or
ess than one half of the increase in the Legis!a-
i've Department II the contingent expenses of
he Legislature had only increased in the same RAJ
10 as the contingent expenses of the Executive,
hey would have been less than As, 200 dollars in
tead OF being So, 25I dollars SO cents. IT, ON the
'ther hand, The Executive expenses had increased
n the same ratio the expenses Of the Legsla-
ure they would now have boon more than double