The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-19


am al a loss to know what contingent expenses,
incurred by him. could Justly be charged to The unied
States.
There appears, also to have been paid 70 John r.
Clay, in 1886, rs, 3el Al, as compensation Tor
certain diplomatic services" This gentleman, at
that time hell the place OF Secretary Of Legation al
81. Peiersburgh, with salary of - 600 year and
the payment TO him Of the further sum OF 1881 Al
may be Justly questioned
Other items, indicative of extrayagance or iayor-
itsm, may be seen in this contingent expense ac-
count Of foreign missions, but will not stop 10 spe-
city them
Ii win also be found that in the days Of this
searching operation" and !" reform" the Standing
committees OF this House on the expenditures oil the
several departments attended TO their vocation. But,
very soon after General Jackson came into power,
these committees became so much matter OF mere
form that the chairman OF one OF them declared
here during the last Congress, he had never even
thought il worth his while to his committee,
and he appeared quite surprised or at all events
amused, that any inquiry was expected 70 % maa9 ~
regard TO the expenses of these departmentsH ms
state oflhings forms strong contrast with the report
made here in April, 1923, by MIR. Blair OF Tennes.
see chairman OF the COMMITTEES on Public Accounts
and Expenditures in the State Department. de, you
know MIR. Speaker, was Jackson reformer ! Ike
the Select Committee, he found every thing wrong
and promised 10 correct il. The purchase Of books
the employment Of librarian, and many other
things, were censured--even the right toPurchase
print or likeness of Gen. Washington 10 be suspend
ed in the Department was questioned How stands
The matter nowi why, large sums Of money are
yearly expended for the library Of the State Depart
ment, and many books purchased, which are certain
I ly unnecessary
Besides the purchase OF books, periodicals, and
newspapers made for this Department by It's disburs
| ing agent al home, there was expended in London,
during last year for similar objects, nearly SoUo
that paid 10 the Librarian OF the great public library
Of Congress All this too, sir under the auspices Of
gentleman who said that this part OF the expenses or
IL h.
pensed with, as all the officers Of the Government
could well avail themselves Of The public library at
the Capitol E
But, Mr., Speaker, the times changed, and MIR, Van
Burenand Mr.. Forsyth changed with them The Stale
Department is now laid of into grand divisions
When MIR. Clay had charge Of il, the Blue Book
exhibited list OF dozen names, all under the head
Of clerks One OF these acted as translator for the
Department, and his salary was $3.50; another paid
out the funds and was charged with the contingent
expense accounts, and he received 81 $50 year
How is all this simplicity and economy forgottenl
The Blue Book of last year divides this Department
into " Diplomatic Bureau Consular Bureau"
Home Bureau" a /" Translator whose salary is
Sl76O, a Disbursng Agent whose salary is $685.
Librarian" whose salary is $3.50, Keeper
Of the Archives" whose salary is $l54O, and gives
one man $3.50 year for packing filing, arranging
and preserving newspapers and printed documents"
This is done by that boosted " democratic party"
which affects such holy horror at any appearance Of
what they call arisocra,ic grandeur II the Turk,
display Of Bureaus" in the State Department, he
would have been better justified in his admiration at
!" the grand and magnificent scale on which these
Americans transact their business" But have yet
to add, that those who questioned the right OF the
State Department to purchase print of the immor-
tai Washington, have used the money of the People
to buy prints Of General Jackson and now of Mar
tin Van Buren,, for almost every room IN each 81 The
Departmental!
MIR Speaker during this searching operation" and
captious fanl-hndng every petty expense OF the seve-
raj Departments looked upon with open ccnsure
well remember that item OF some few dollars, paid
laborer for destroying the grass which growing be-
tween the bricks Of the paved walk leading the State
Department, held up to pull lie view as piece OF
arstocratc extravagance Now, sir, suppose were to
cite you many similar and equally ( not more) obec-
tonable charges in the present accounts OF these De-
psrtments-such cash paid for clearing the snow of
the payements so that MI. Forsyth need not wet his
feet $50 quarter for labor" S54 for sundres,
l6 for work, without stating what labor or work II
might have been for killing grass, raising vegetables
for the Secretary. The term "sundres" may conceal
the same things and the curious might inquire what use
was made Of the fre-proof paint for which $7s were
paid by the Secretary OF State But the money well
laid out, it will preserve the edihce And II is to be
regretted that the Secretary OF the Treasury and the
Postmaster General had made similar purchases IN
time to save their respective buildings Pcnkhves and
scissors by the dozen and half Dozen purchased for
the Secretary of State who also pays clerk to 60 to
Baltimore collect draft. An item Of 800 paid by
the secretary OF the transportation OIL
money; but how much money, or from whence or
where transported, we know not This last charge
kind Of foreaste OF the hard money ubTreasury sys-
tenn, by which, instead Of transmitting the funds Of the
Government by means OF the cheap, SAFE and rapid sys
of exchange, which prevailed before tho banks we're
"debauched" by Mr.. Kendall! the money is now to be
wagoned over the country at great expense and hazard,
and always with delay
The late eminent and virtuous Attorney General,
William Writ, did not escape the censure Of these in
defagable reformers He had rendered profession
al services, which the United States interested,
but which not such his official station charged
upon him. For this service nconslderahe
paid 10 him, but its proprlety questioned. The
larry of the Attorney General then SO 500, and he
allowed $500 for clerk. How stands the
now! The salary Of Mr. Benjamin F. Butler, the pre-
sent Attorney General, is $4 1000, and in 1894 he
paid "a $50 10 for compensation, besides being allowed
$500 for clerk and messenger and $500 for the
tingent expenses of his office. Tho additional
allowance and charge amounting together to $1,000 is
made in 1885 Independent othe increased salary and
the enlarged provision for messenger, whence comes
Mr.. Buffers right to charge excess Of $3.50 10 for
compensation, besides $500 for contingent expenses
In the year 1886 heard nothing Of contingent ex-
penses but provision Of Sl407 made for his clerk
aud messenger, and for Mr. Buffers compensation that
year he received IA 1872, when his salary only
$4,000. Why this Of 1892 paid 10 him !
He appears to have been used a sort of Caleb Quo
TEN. He has been allowed to enjoy the salary Of his
Office and that of the Secretary OF War at and
the same time, being at the rate of $l0,O00pe year.
pursuing TOO his profession, aud receiving It's enolu-
ments No wonder in him |" the complying law
officer Of the crown" When did he give opinion
contrary to the wish Of the President, il he knew what
that was Let me give illustration As the story
is told, when the Baltimore rail road was about to be
located at its termination in this city the company con-
suited Mr. Butler point as to this right OF way
under their charter After full deliberations his profess
sonal opinion was obtained in writing. 1t happened
that General Jackson felt some about the loca