Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-13

the service retained, Its increase in numhsrs
dered unnecessary,its old associations p,es.,n..
and much greater economy, HARMONY, and ANY,,
infused into its operations, without deroy,,;Dg
all from the responsibility and usefulness 49,
corps Should the system recommended IN Ss
document annexed b. fully adopted. the s,,; N
IS estimated at W.r $40. 600 annually. Ra.s
that event, the officers not needed .houd ~
tice. be transferred 70 the army. and tho yu$
to the Government would then fail shout If a
amount. la its hospital and staff d,par,ms'S.
alone, change OF less extent As to Off c.s vooI,
save to the public mure than SIC, 900 aonn,n"
and portion of the expensive call for new h..
racks, presented in the estimates Of the nrss 1
year. would be rendered unnecessary. Hs,a
preparation at the last session, for those at pbat
delnhia, was SO expressed that the officer, If 4.
Trca snrv did not feel authorized to allow tbs s'
pend re.
The 'di'ion Of the navy pension and n,y,
hospi'r Is. they being under the char.e 3
other otiic In connexiun with the Secret,r, y
the NAVY. .ill be made the subject of di,iiDr
report by the commissioners. with view To ,rs,,
and. in my opnion.very salutary changes in ,b,i,
future mana 'nent. The state Of the priv,ss.
pension fund the past year is disclosed in the,S
nexed report.
The large supply Of lead in the hands Of fl.
Government, as rents from the public mines, hs.
ing three or four millions Of pounds beyond wL,,
has been used by The War Department, and Il.
great quantity needed in the navy being anpu,
", for ten years past. about fifty thousand pound
induce me to recommend that from those rents,
quantity equal to our naval wants be yearly %,
apart. and placed at the disposal OF this Depart
ment
The deaths, dismissions, and designations, Ii.
past year, are detailed in the lists annexed.
The general estimates for the ensuing yearsr.
presented in the document before referred to-
In these an attempt has been made, in conform
ty to what is believed to be the true spirit Of OH
institutions and the repeated wishes Of Congress,
to enable the legislative authorities to render The
appropriations more specific, and to place tn,
enumerated contingent fund in condition 10
meet more nearly and promptly those demand,
upon it so indispensable to the eIhcen, operation.
Of the navy Although the whole expenses Of
the last year may not equal the whole appropr.
atoms and balances on hand for the naval service,
vet the enumerated contingent, as in former
years, has proved insufficient. The remedy here.
after suggested to supply all past Deficiencies, is
considered preferable to any former practice Of
resorting to other specific appropriations.
In the mode of keeping accounts with person;
responsible to this Department, SO great latitude
was, at one time, INDUCED in the transfer Of ap.
preparation, from one object to anothers that the
disburslng officers stand charged with large and
almost incredible sums under some heads. and
credited with almost equal sums under Other
heads; but which balances cannot be legally SCI
tied without the authority Of Congress. As this
difficulty has generally originated more from care
lessness than dishonesty, aud, though censurabl.
in principle, has caused no essential jury to the
public, ii seems judicious TO allow, under the
usual guards against imposition and loss, tn.
privilege of an adjustment to the persons inter.
es,ed. No other course is perceived which will
enable the accounting officers connected with this
Department ever to close these transactions on
their books, and to introduce, with full effect an
accurate and improved system. These unsettled
balances now exceed seven millions OF dollars.
Again. by carrying the balances not expended
from the contingent appropriations to the surplus
fund, instead of reservins them. as in the case oil
pay, provisions, SC. to meet future CLAIMS ana
in the necessities Ut the service abroad these
claims cannot always be early received and ad'
iusted,) the demands of those contingent aPPro
priations in some former years have not on eS
ceeded their amount, but cannot now be dsthars,
ed from any surplus of other years. Nor should
the deficiency be taken, as done at some prlC'
periods. from different heads of appropriation
without an express legal provision: nor can 1t be
taken from any existing appropriation Tor arrea'
ages, as none has been made the last lew years
10 settle these just demands, it will therefore De
necessary to appropriate to the object the DaaI ian
ces of all former years carried to the surplus Iunu
or to make new appropriation OF about 5So'ooo
This latter course is the more definite, and seems
due to all the claimants. and especially to the mr.
ritorious officers of the navy 10 ob''ate l',
difficulty in future. it will only be necessary thai
the appropriations for contingencies should assume
the form Of those for pay and subsistence, "'.n
out any increase of their whole amount; that 'hes'
appropriations in other respects should cor'.',
pond with the estimates for the present year. v
throwing some of the enumerated items uPC'
other and specific heads, and thus lesscn'ng y"
gross nominal sum for contingencies over blVh,
900; and that due vigilance be exercised I'D 'h'
Department to cOnfine the demands on these ~
preparations within the limits Of the sums Pro'"'
ed. There will probably be on the llrst OF JAW
ary next an uncx pended balance from all '0e sP
propriations of last year to the navy Of nea"'
twenty times this $4,000; but 1t may all W s.
ouired when the whole accounts Tor the yed' aI