Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
SEPoRT OF THE MINORITY OF THE CONSTR
TEE ON RETRENCHDENT.
(C~0ntinued.)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

NJ EN- L W y Il 4 T..
in proceeding TO inquire into the condition OF
Tue several Departments, III reference 10 the dis
bursements OF the public money, the minority q:
the Committee first direct their attention to the
Department OF State. On tie organization of the
Committee, a letter OF general inquiry was address
eddy the Chairman to the Heads of the severa,
Departments, s. answers, accompanied with docu-
ments, were received from them ali. The answer
oil The. Secretary OF State presents a view Of the
coalition OF his Department, fully sustained BIZ
Tie official documents from his own and the Re
gister's Office, and highly satisfactory. From this
view, which the minority OF the Committee will
presently lay before the House, it appears tina.
there has been a continued economy in the expcn.
diture of the Department. While the minority Of
the Committee make this remark, however, they
would not be understood as sanctioning the % in
ciple, that the greater or less disbursement made
N a Department is the only measure of the sue
cess aud fidelity with which il has been admins
tered. In the Department of State, particularly,
the expenditures necessary 10 be made depend, in
part. on our relations with foreign powers, and on
t%rcjdents on our Intercourse with other nations,
which this Government is unable either TO toresee
or control. In some respects, an increased ex-
peDditure indicates abroad an extension Of friend
~ relations with foreign powers, and at home, an
increase OF public business, arising out Of the aug
iDented population, multiplying pursuits, and grow
iis prosperity OF the country.
As 1t Is in the foreign affairs Of the country, that
The greatest fuctuation is likely to arise, SO it is in
the appropriations for this branch Of the service
Alidt lHe SiedteSt NiFt'Sty GAIStS III enc year, COIN
pared with others.
III INC zee: 1929, THO appropriations
were ,oinittiHG par;s
Of dollar, Sl5i,syy
1924, 500 $50
1925, 336, $50
1925, 800, ei2
1927, $50 $50
1923, 20, $50
Che great inferior.y o? the appropriation of 1923,
alises from the fact, that the sum OF one hundred
thousand dollars, appropriated in 1922, for the ex.
pense OF the missions tc the new American Gov.
rrfncnts, was not expended during that year, and
WIS, accordingly at the service OF the Departn ent,
;or the next. The great iuieriority of the appro-
pIiation for 1927, and particularly that for 1923, is
owing TO economical savings in the application o
former appropriations, and TO reductions in some Of
Of the missions TO the new Governments in South
America, as is more fully explained in the note OIL
the Secretary.
If the expenditure q lie three years Of this Ad-
ADMINISTRATION be compared with that Of the three
preceding, some incl -asc viii appear. To this in
creased expenditure the remark above made ap.
plies with full force. IL has grown out Of the ex.
tension OF Our relations with foreign powers, aud
o,her causes connected with the growing prosperi-
~ Of the country. The same variation from year
10 year will here also be found; showing that, with
the same officers at the head Of the Department.
and with the same individuals composing a Con.
gress OF successive sessions, 1T is impossible 20 briug
tne expenditures in this branch OF the public
service 10 an uniform condition, either Of increase
or diminution.
IN the year 1922, Die expenditure
was Sl72,579
1879. 2lf E8I