Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-23
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING THE PRrsiDrNr's MESSAGE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
'it't 'IUHiIOI' 5 UWce,
Both November. 1929.

- 10th November, 1929.
ORR } our letter OF the 10th inst. propoundinp to
me certain inquiries relative TO the accounts of Tho
Navy Department, has been considered with the at
ten'ion due TO the importance of the subject with
the application ] have bestowed upou The duiics oF
tins office, cannot yet speak with that entire conf
dcnce oil Its condition which would Justify iut,ortnrt
changes, without further lights The results of INV,
observation and the opinions have formed viii
however, be communicated to you with the utmost
frankness.
Money is the snews Of power, and the souyon Of
corruption. English liberty has been considered
safe only so long the power Of grating supplies TO
the King resides III the representatives Of the pcupc
Our institutions have gone further. Here the
representatives Of the people not only grant supplies
but prescribe the objects which they shall be an
Piled, and the manner in whchihe accounts shall be
kclt.
1t is a safe, aud, think, n correct principIc tina,
the Executive cannot rghfully increase or diminish
the eInOluments OF public officers whose compensa.
ton has been fixed by law. When thew are subicc
ted to unusual expenses in the public service hc
may grant them allowances sufficient 10 cover those
expenses, but lie cannot rphtfuly undor
prctcnce Of paying their expenses, or under cover of
commututiOn other device. increase their law
iul cmolumcnts. Yet, tho pay and efnolumenfs Of
our naval officers chiefly OF Executive creation
and where the representatives Of the people have
fixed them by law, the executive has by yarious OK
pcdcnts, much increased them.
In former report, ! stated TO you, n detail the
course which had been pursued IN relation TO the
D
for all could now say in relation 10 that branch of
the subject.
But executive legislation in relation 10 the navy
proper has been even extensive, and not less in
violation, as conceive, Of the true principles of our
government.
m act Of Congress, passed February 18th, 1929.
fixes the pay and Cmylumcns Of the Captains com
mnnding ships Of thirty two guns and upwards, ut
500 per month and eight ratIons, pc day and al
lows the commander Of squadron eight rutions i'm
addition. The ration his been conmutcd at twenty
five cents. Hence The lawful allowance Of O com
mandcr Of "a squadron is 1890 per year. 70 increase
their income, tho executive formerly allowed them a
commission Of y per cent on al bills drawn for the
support Of their squadron, and more recently $1,000
per year m Lou Of commissions, with 40 per month
or $500 per year for cabin furniture Here are 1890
allowed BY law, and $1,000 by the executive, making
their whole emolum 'nts drducting only what they
actually pay for furniture, $4,000. do not say this
- too much, considering the expenses they necessa
rly ncur III supporting the honor Of our navy in dis.
ant seas and foreign ports but might not tho oxecu-
two, with equal right, increase it 10 $4,000? Would
y rot DC betlcr-would not the commanders feel
better 10 receiving il, aud the cxeculvs in paying H.
were q an allowance made by hwS Tie commute
TIN pfeoci tho Cacc's roCns IS twenty-five cchts;