Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-06

The augmentation has principally occurred in the
second (Mr. Leg and Fourth Auditors MIR.
Watkins) Offices The contingent cxpens es OF the
Second Auditors (Mr. Leg Office was, in 1925,
l,O9S dollars So cents; in 1926, go dollars 56
cents; and in 1927, 1893 dollars SO cents But
the most extraordinary increase has occurred in
lMr Watiins.) To show clearly bow these
nave been augmented, the committee submit the
annual expenditure for the last six years:
1922, when Col. Freeman
Fourth Auditor, $ 453 81
1928, do do do $50 10
1924, Mr.. Watkins came in, in
June, 1856 OF
1873, 1925 OIL
1926, 1872 81
1877, 2,l32 27
The average amount expended annually, for the
last three years, in each office, is, viz:
LIST Auditors (Mr. Harrison) 10
9Th DO tsIr. P,easantonl
=. Sd Auditors OAR. HagneD II
clerks, 972 56
81 do (Mr. Lee) ID % I,,5l 10
4th do (AIr.W atkins Is do 1880 %
In four years, there have been expended, in the
Fourth (Alr. Watkins) Auditors Office, G,72G dol
lars 81 cents, tor office contingencies. In the
last year, the contingencies OF this office have
amounted to the extraordinary of 2,l32 dol
lars ~ cents. The explanations which have
been afforded for this large expenditure not
considered sufficiently satisfactory TO furnish
justification for it.
Under the Admins: ration OF Washington. the
average contingent expenses of all the Depart
nents did not amount, in the last four years Of
that Administration, TO Il, 900 dollars; sum very
little exceeding the amount which paid, last
year, Tor printing and distributing the laws. The
average OF the first four years Of Mr.. Jc.lersons
administrator was, for al! the Departments, less
than $4,000. The average tor the same, for ;he
first three years of Mr.. Madisons administration
-lSo9, 10, 'll-preceding the war; WAS about
4
expenditures; and it was until some years at
ter that we could expect the contingencies 10
turn TO former rates. That time has certainly
now arrived: yet these mere oiiice contingencies
OF the Departments average n, t54 dollars, and,
IN the last year, amounted 10 the extraordinary
sum OF S2,S09 dollars This is far above the en-
Penditure oil former periods of peace, and, in the
opinion OF your committee, is unnecessarily large.
portion OF this augmentation is, without doubt,
TO be attributed to the additional Offices created in
! 1917; but much OF it is owing 10 the absence OF
some proper check.
In relation to one OF the discretionary powers
which the Secretary vt the Treasury exercises in
the appointment OF examiners Of the land Offices,
with or without the sanction of the President, and
which amounts 10 the appointment OF an officer
without the advice and consent of the Senate,
your committee would refer 10 the testimony oil the
Commissioner Of the General Land Office (Air
Graham,) Tor his opinions this subject. They
are satisfied that 1t is power liable great abuse:
that 1t ls an employment which has sometimes
been gwen 10 members of Congress, during the
recess III violation OF the spirit II the letter OF
the constitutions and the laws which prohibits q
member from holding Office under, or partici-
patlng IN the profits OF contract with, the Gov
ernInent, during the period for which he may be
elected. Nor does the evil stop here. 1t is posi-
bic to suppose that this Irresponsible portion Of the
Executive patronage may be exercised in a man
ner still more rcprehensibIe. Your committee
would therefore, recommend that the present mode
of examining the land Offices be abolished: and that
such examination, in future, be at occasional, not
stated periods within the discretion of the Presi-
dent; and to avoid the heavy and unnecessary ex-
pense OF mileage-that the examiners selected
shall be respectable, intelligent, and dsinter-
esed citizens, residing IN the vicinity Of TIE Land
Office TO be inspected.
As the document recently transmitted from the
| Treasury, showing the amount of compensat ton
paid to examiners OF land Offices is complete,
in consequence OF the account OF John Scott, Esq
late member OF Congress, from Missouri, not hav
ing been settled who was appointed an examiner
OF the land offices in March or April, 1927, your
committee have torborne an examination Of the
| statement, TO the general disbursements Tor
these services, in Of these accounts did the
Il amount paid to land Office examiners generally
appear, although, by the evidence Of Mr.. Graham
II is proved that MIR. Scott has received four hun
dred dollars, and drawn bill, not yet paid for Eve
hundred dollars more, account of his services
The expenditures in the Treasury tor books,
maps, and charts, well for other small contin
gencics, seem large and unnecessary and in the
without injury TO the public interest.
| Your committee in conclusion the Treasury
| Department, would remark, that they consiJer
that they have recommended in the ne w organiza-
ton OF this Department, which they have propos-
| ed, sc a more effective system OF accountability
and for the collection Of the public ues,' which
will likewise operate essential reduction of ex-
pense in the general disbursement Of this Depart
men'. For all these purposes, they ask leave to
report bill.
Sd. NAVY DEPARTMENT.
| What reductions OF expense can be made in
the Navy Department, in the clerks and officers
now acting subordinaiely to the Secretary Of the
Navy"
/ Your committee, not de9ming il any part of
your instructions, that they should examine the
| appropriations for what may be called the Navy
proper that s TO say, the permanent portion Of this
most valuable establishment, as fixed by layy have
confined their attention almost exclusively 10 con-
tingencies within the discretion Of the Secretary:
and even these they are unable to scan with the
requisite intelligence, many OF them relate to
cOmpensations for services purely OF professional
character. They therefore abstain from making
either an examination of, commenting on sun.
dry allowances 20 the officers Of the Navy Tor ex-
ira duty and expenses: many Of them appear TO be
| large, and somewhat extraordinary. The contin-
goncies Of the naval service ought to be scrutiniz
cd annually, by the Committee on Naval Expend-
lures, with the utmost care; az il Ia well known
that it IS in this branch of the service the greatest
abuses have crept into the navy Of Great Britain,
| IN which there is so much scope for extrdFdgance
and iavorilisin.
There is, however, one class Of contingencies
tho examination Of which has struck your commit
tee with some force; and tina; j.. the amount eS-
pended for Courts Martial, which sum is equal 10