Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-26

forced, OF abolished. know Of but one mode of en-
o,.ns Lot conSre s,ss y. an "propr,a.;on TO-
rror to the hrst day Of January. 1880 Let every
count IN the Navy DEPARTMENT be settled TO that day,
and all balances due paid Of that spPropra ion. Let
careful estimates b. made for expense. accSuIs in
1880, and no part OF the monsy spprop lated for that
year to be paid 90 any account securing prior to ,hae
year. Compel every discussing officer to make
iui estimate. OF th. amounts needed by him under
each bs,d; forbid HI. paying on, money for Other pur
poses man 'osse ir Wh'co n ~ sent TO hn' aud refuse
him credits Tor all ovsr-paymepts. Let transfers
be made except in thse,hsrgepcy aud in the nanner
prescribed By law; ans let snch may be made, be
reported Congress the law requires, that the de-
hciency may he supplied
With 'uc'Ls.s snsL-srsrity IN execuiing the law
think 'he present SystsW practicable. But il il COM
nicates and difficult and, Ia some respects, unsafe
Let any member If Consrss-, or other person, howe
yer talented and intelligent enter this Office aud at
tempt to ascertain for what purposes the public money
mas been paid during the last tour years Where will
ne look Tor the inormaton! Will he 10 the books
| fhcy will give him none, The entries are all in gem
sra term', under each he all and give no clue 10 the
real character Of the vouchers. viii he ask he Clerks,
Their rccoliections iDdstinci and unsatisfactory
lie an procure what he wants, only by personal in
specton of the ten thousands OF vouchers thousands
OF accounts, which !, would take months 10 examine
have bcen in this Office about six months, and all
know at past transactions, has been obtainsd by ascf
dent in the necessary routine of business 10 tedous
Investigations What there may be conce aled in tha
numerous boxes and files Of papers, which ill the pas
xe, 'ho shslve- and the pgeon-ho:s OF tho Office.
kho" not; nor can ever Know, without opening and
carefully inspecting the contents Of every bundle
Without long research. we Cant tell what tie build
ing or hitting out Of any ship has cost thing else
oil those hundred iems Of information, which are all
ways Interesting, and often useful. The various items
arr scattered through 'hchooks OF the ocs under
rious heads oil appropriation; from which H. r,;sys
dih suit, and sometimes impossible TO Gull and coste
them These head. OF sp ropration, they appear in
the books OF this cice are k. splendid abstractops
more beautiful la theory than H.eCu in Practice.
~ 'ppra~s to ., al The BEN fits now derived from
.pechc appropriations might be reslzrd without their
inconvenience by requiring the Departments pre-
sen, spechc esmofesby aapropri.,ing Ia gross
Tor the supno>t OF the Navy-and by requiring tn Sc
cretary to account annually f the sun: expended ur-
der each hesq OF biz estimates To ent rec tho pre-
sent system, liberal estimates must be made under each
head, 10 meet unexpected tgencies because ono
mead cannot dcp' nd for relief another: hut upon The
plan suggested, general allowance emeig-ncies
wou' lie sunici-nt--and the agsregae amount of APP
propr atone, need not he great. To enforce the
present system, Il will also b. necessary to keep bal
ance under each head in the h,n of every disburs-
ing o'lcer, thereby maghisting the aggregate al his
sro'iiion, aud multiplying the chances for fraud and
dedication. Un-r the plan suggested, the money in
'her hands would constitute general fund, applicable
to all naval purposes, aud the whole sum continually
entrusted 10 nlem, need not be so large
Whether the system be changed not, the inferno
son OF Congress is absolutely necessary Without it.
that which i. now confused, must become wofse con-
founded III they will but give US the Of paying
up arearages, and not compel draw spon tue ap-
preparations OF 1880 10 pay debts sccruing in all pre-
ceding years, we can do much ourselves towards ex
'ricaing the accounts of the Department from their
'hing; unless, indeed, TO pay all such &C.
counts and refer them {, Congress, which would ba
great injustice 10 Tue creditors OF the pubiic
My soleiIude On th' subject is great None app, airs
10 me mors to need deserve the sonside aiion of
Congr -. system Of pay and emollmen's and re-
form IN the mode OF keeping the accounts, would place
u on high ground. want no discretion. wish 10 bo
ibie TO turn TO law law l re for every
allowance am called on to make. I with TO make
every Transaction OF this office plain ia al every
member oil Congress, ard any OF common can aci.
" IN The county, can understand il. There are no
mysteries IN good government. To manage the af-
air' oil the American people, IL is necessary 10 do
ceve and blind them. Honesty in Off aI duties and
truth in disclosing all that is done, will Tivet the gov
eminent IN The affections OF the o2e, aud make our
UIi'n 80 hrm az our mountains
From MY want OF experience, DO not natter nv
SELL mat any great value ought to be attached TO nv
suggestions IL they shall lead 10 inve sons which
shall give efficiency TO the Navy, aud place the add
n'nis'rati'n OF its sH'r. the basis Of the CoDstu-
on shali be more than comp 'aed for The trouble
OF making 'hem Very respectfully,
Your ole lent ssrvant,
AMOS KENDALL
JoHS BRANcH. E'q Secretary OF the Navy