Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-02

mon centre, every item of revenue and OK
pendlture rs brought.
How fur all the details of business in the |
several. offices of the Department might be
carried on without detriment to the public
interests, after dispensing with the services
OF any portion OF the clerks at present en-
ployed III them, or how far the salaries of
any might be reduced, consistently with JUS
tee and propriety; or, in general, whether
the expenses incident to any of them could
be reduced without impairing the efficacy of
their operations, have not, on my own view,
felt able TO decide, without more opportuui-
tics OF investigation than l could command
at Tins season, or more delay than would be.
compatible with the duty of affording the
committee timely reply But called, by
letter, upon each of the officers charged by
law with the immediate direction Of the br-
sincss OF the ten Offices in question, to make
report to me under each Of the points above
specified, and to do so in as full and precise
Il manner as the terms and spirit of the res
olnflon appear to demand. Their reports
have been made accordingly, ard have the
honor to enclose them, herewith numbered
from to 10, inclusive.
Regarding the business of the chief Office
of the Department. that Of the Secretary, il
lis my opinion that no rctrcnchmcnts can be
made, with advantage to the public On
the contrary, take lca-e respectfully TO
state, that | think the public interest re-
quircs that there should be another princi-
pal clerkship established in it. Besides its
own proper duties, which are ofdaily detail,
/ is well as extensive range, its duty of super
attendance over other offices of the Depart
incnt is constant. Hence, whilst each of
the other Executive Departments has had
Il Il Ill i l.
the past policy of the Government to allow
to the Secretary of the Treasury two, from
the more mu!tifarious and complicated struc-
ture of the Treasury Department The old
act Of 1872 made provision for two principal
clerks for the Secretary Office Two were
also allowed during the incumbcncy Of AR.
Galatin; each of whom, at tho close of that
officers service, received compensation Of
two thousand dollars per annuEl. Under
the conviction that the business ofthc office
would go on more 10 the public advantage
IN all respects, and especially as regards
promptitude and method, by having two
principal clerks, instead, Of one. I asked the
Committee of Ways and Means for an ap-
Precipitation for two, in 1926. Tho appro-
Ipriation was not granted. The whole num-
her ofthe clerks in the Secretafy's office at
present., is nine. The number vas six du-
ring the whole Of the first period of time in
dictated above, When the average annual
revenue of the nation was but fraction
more than one-fourth of It's present amount
During part of the first period, the office
also had attached to ii an Assistant Secreta-
rv. The act OF the 9TH Of May, 1922, which
provided that all moneys appropriated for
the use Of thc War and Navy Departments,
should be drawn from the Treasury by war
NFt HnS -
tons, IN every case, from those Departments,
instead of being drawn upon the Treasurer
in capacity of Agent 81 those two Depart-
nlents, as had been the case before, created
ofitsef considerable increase of clerical la
Dor in the Office Of the Secretary of the Trca-
sury, apart from the fourfold increase of
revenue.
| 1t belongs to this communication 10 add,
that. besides the recommendations for crca-
ting new Offices and new Department,
contained in the report to the Senate by the
Heads of the different Executive Depart
ments, in 1916, and which was carried into
effect in part only by the act of1817, as be-
fore mentioned, Mr. Secretary Crawford, in
distinct report to the same branch of the
Legislature, in January, 1878, recommended
the appointment of Solicitor to the Trea-
Isury, in the strongest and most unequivoeal
terms. Hence, feel the more fortified in
the opinion presume to give, that thcg.o are
no unnecessary officers in the Treasury now.
by referring 70 opinions. which have pro
nonnced ION full examination more than ten
years ago) an augmentation Of the present
number cxpedcnt.
have not supposed that the resolution OF
the committee was designed to embrace oil
GERS at a distance, who are under the dircc-
ton of the Department, as the organ Of the
President in executing the laws. ] mean Of
ficers Of the Customs, and all other officers
engaged i'll the collection OF the public reve-
nue. in all the States and Territories of
the Union. If it were intended to give to
the resolution this scope, reply to it
would call for Investigations the results Of
which could not be obtained and digested,
so as to present them in a shape that would