Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-16

Postmaster General at MS mere dlScfetlon, sc
lects the objects of his patronage, which he dis
penses from the revenue derived from posta-
ges. and is guided by that discretion alone in
fixing the amount of that patronage. He may
employ one printer and one travelling agent
or one hundred of each at his pleasure; and he
NAV paw each of them as much as he pleases
If by the improper exercise OF this and his 9TH
er unrestrained power, the department. becomes
bankrupt then, by the construction which he
bestows on the Constitution, he (not Congress
alone) may borrow any amount OF money,
on the credit Of the nation, to supply the
deficiency. Suboned is statement OF these
incidental expenses from the year $780,. pre-
pared by clerk, at the request OF the COM
mittee, accompanied by view Of the "contin-
gent expenses" and OF the sums appropriated
by law for the salaries of the officers of the de-
parment, which must not be COMPOUNDED with
the incidental expenses" BY this the Senate
will perceive that from sum less than two thou
sand dollars, these expenses, under former ad-
ministraions, gradually increased for many
years, there being an average annual addition
of about one thousand dollars. In 1929, they
had swelled to the sum Of $56,47l, exceeding
the sum expended in any former year; and in
the year commencing July |, 1882, embracing the
period Of the last presidential election, they
amounted to about $4,000, being a sudden in
crease Of near 20,000 over the corresponding
expenditures of any former year.
Of these expenses no detailed account is re-
quircd to be rendered to- Congress-no report
of various items which form their aggregate
amount is published. The money to defray
them constitute what may be emplatically cal
led Me secret Serrice fund.- The fund commonly
so called which is placed in the hands of the
President to defray the contingent expenses of
foreign intercourse is not so properly entitled to
the designation. That fund is limited in its
amount by the will of Congress, whose appro-
baton is requisite to its existence. TINS .fund
is unlimited by aught but the will Of him who
uses it, and is as free from the control of law as
if it were the treasure of an independent Go
vernment. That fund is also limited by the
acts of appropriation to certain object. This
has Just so many objects as the Postmaster Ge-
neral may selsct. Whatever expenses he
chooses to consider as "incidentatn to his de-
partment, he pays; and the only account which
he renders for it is confined to a line in his an
nual report, thus; "The incidental expenses
for last year were 81, 7Ol doars" The consc-
Quence of this state of things is, that while the
select service fund in the hands of the Presi-
dent is 10000 dollars, The fund expended dur
ing the current year by the Postmaster General
for the S'incidentH expenses of his department
has now increased, as appearsby the estimate
in his last annual report, to thrice that sum.
At early day of the session, one of your
committee drew the attention of the Senate to
this subject by resolution calling for an &C
count of these expenses for the period inter-
vening between the 30th September, 1881, and
the 30lh September, 1888. Months elapsed
before any answer was given to the resolution,
although, as will be seen by reference to the re-
port of the Postmaster General on this subject,
hereto annexed the whole Oft might have been
Transcribed from the post Office books in one
day. When after repeated inquiries for this
paper it was at length for the first time, COM
pofln tod 10 tha in ri
session, in company with another paper giving
an account marked confidential" On the last
paper, over which the veil Of secresy still
hangs, your committee make no comment; but
TO the paper, on which the injunction Of secre
cy does not rest, they invite the attention Of the
Senate.
While examining this document, with view
to the correction of the abuses which it disclOs
ed, the attention of your committee was arrested
by the extent of. official patronage to printers
which it developes, and the amount Of that pa
tronage as exhibited in the "Bue Book" The
resolution Of Congress of the 18th July, 1882, di-
rected that there should be included in the next
(presenD edition Of this book, q correct list Of
all printers III any rag employed by the depart
ment or officer Of the Government, within the
period between the Both of September, 1881 and
the 30th September 1888, with the compensation
allowed to each.
The resolution of Congress, to enable the Sc
cretary of State to comply with it. enjoins it up
on the "several heads of departments, direct
ing or mourning the expense, to cause the lists.
and the matter therebyrequired to be added, to be
lodged in the DEPARTMENT. Of State" The docu
ument in the Blue Book (page 1872, 3, d. entitled
List of all printers employed by the Post Office
Department, between the 30th ofSeptember, 1881,
and the 3Oth Of September, 1888, with the com
pensation Of each" is the official paper furnished
in obedience to this resolution, and is the first
publication of any portion Of the incidental ex
penses that has ever been made in obedience to
the acquisitions of law
The object of the resolution was to interpose
the check of public opinion, to arrest the abuse
of official patronage to printers, no other check
having been provided. To the end, also, that
this patronage might not be abused, without de-
lection, by employing the owners Oft e press,t
any other uray than in printing, it provided, that
the list to be furnished should embrace all prin-
tiers an any may employed, with the compensa
ton to each, no matter for what allowed ia
printer be mail contractor it was.intended by
the resolution that the fact should appear if
any one of those who control the public press,
fprx Al.