Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-17

John r. Clay, in 1886, S3,}Sl Al, as "con-
pensation for certain diplomatic services Il
This gentleman, at that time, held the place
of Secretary Of Legation at 81. Petersburgh,
with a salary Of $4,000 year, and The pay.
ment to him Of the further sum OF S3,'SI ~
may be justly questioned.
II Other items, indicative Of extravogance or
favor,ism,m may be seen in this contingent ex,
pense account OF foreign missions, but VIII
not stop to specify them.
1t will also be found that, in the days o!
this "scarchiDg operation" and "rcform," the
standing committees Of this House on the
expenditures Of the several departments at
tended to their vocation. But, very soon
after General Jackson came into power, these
comlnittces became SO much matter OF mere
form that the chairman Of one OF them do.
| clared here, during the last Congress, he had
never even thought il worth his while to con-
venc his committee, and he appeared quite
| surprised, or at all events amused, that any
| inquiry was expected to be made in regard
/ to tho expenses Of these departments !! This
state Of things forms a strong contrast with
/ the report made here in April, 1923, by Mr..
H Blair, of Tennessee, chairman of the Commit
| tee on Public Accounts and Expenditures in
the State Department. He, you know, MIR.
H Speaker, was Jackson reformcr: like the
| Select Committee, he found every thing
wrong, and promised to correct It. The
/ purchase Of books, the employment OF
II librarian, and many other things, were cen-
II sured-even the right to purchase print or
II likeness Of Gen. Westinghouse be suspended
II in the Department., was questioned. How
II stands the matter now? Why, large sums
/ of money are yearly expended for the library
| of the State Department, and many books
purchased, which are certainly unnecessary.
II Besides the purchase Of books, periodicals,
and newspapers, made for this department
| by its disbursing agent at home, there was
expended in London, during last year, for
similar objects, nearly $500 A librarian is
employed, at salary Of $3.50. equal to that
paid to the Librarian of the great public library
II Of Congress. All this too, sir, under the
auspices Of gentlemen who said that this part
Il Of tho expenses OF that Department was CEN
srrablc, and ought to be dispensed with,ns oil
II The officers Of the Government could we'll
avail themselves Of the public library at the
II Capital. But, Mr.. Speaker, the times chan
gcd, and Mr.. Van Rnren and Mr.. Forsyth
changed with them. The State Department
n is now laid off into grand divisions. When
Mr.. Clay had charge of it, the Blue Book ex-
\ hibitcd list of dozen names, oil under the
head of clerks. One Of these acted as trans
lator for the Department. and his salary was
II Sl,l50; another paid out the funds, and was
H charged with the contingent expense accounts
and he received I,I50 ayear. How soon
II is oil this simplicity aud economy forgotten |!
The Blue Book Of last year divides this De-
partment into a diplomatic Bureau" a
H Consular Bureau" alone Bureau" u
"Translator," whose salary is 81, I,7G0, "Dis-
ia N
1 "I.ibrarian," whose salary is 8 ,5i0,a "Keeper
Of the Archives" whose salary is S,l.540, and
Il gives one man 5000 year for "packng, FL
II ing, arranging, und preserving newspapers
\ and printed documents" This is done by
that beasted "denocratic party" which affects
snch holy horror at any appearance OF what
II they call "aristocratic grandeur" If the
II Turk, whose letters are found in Salmngundi,
had seen this display of Bureaus" in the
State Department, he would have been better
II justified in his admiration at 'the grand and
Il magnificent scale OH which these Amerc ans
II transact their business" But have yet to
add, that those who questioned the right Of
the State Department to purchase print OF
H the immortal Washington have used the
money of the People to buy prints Of General
Jackson, and now Of Martin Van Buren,, for
almost every room in each Of the Depart
mcntsi!
\ Mr.. Speaker, during this "scarching op-
II Grafton" and captiOus faut-fnding, every
petty expense Of the several Departments
was looked upon with open censurc. | well
remember that an item Of some few dollars,
paid n aborcr for destroying the grass which
II was growing between the bricks of the paved
walk leading to the State Department, was
held up to public view as piece of aristo
cratic extravasance. Now, sir, suppose
were 10 cite to you many similar ind equally
(ii not rnorc) Objectionable charges in the
present accounts ofthesc Departments-such
as cash paid for clearing the snow off the
pavements, so that Mr.. Forsyth need not wet
his feet 1890 quarter for labor,""S5f for
sundries," 1916 for work." without stating
what labor or work. 1t might have been for
killing grass, or raising vegetables for the
Secretary. Tho term "sundries" may con-
ceal the same things, and the curious might
II inquire what use was made Of the fire. proof
paint for which S78 were paid by the Secre-
\ iary Of State. But the money is well laid
II oct, if it will preserve the ediice And it is
H to be regretted that the Secretary Of the
II Treasury and the Postmaster General had
i not made similar purchases in time to save
their respective buildings. Penknives and
n scissors, by the dozen and half dozen, arc
pure hased for the Secretary Of State, who
also pays a clerk to 90 to Baltimore to collect
n drait. An item of 800 paid by the Secre-
tary ofthe Treasury for the transportation Of
money; but how much money, or from
whence, or where transported. we know not.
This last charge is kind of foretaste Of the
hardmoncy sub Treasury system, by which,
instead Of transmitting the funds Of the Gov
eminent by means Of the cheap, safe, and
rapid system OF exchange, which prevailed
before the banks were ''debauchcd" by MIR.
Kendall, the public money is now to be wng-
oned over the country at grent expense and
hazard, and always with delay.
II The late eminent and virtuous Attorney
General, William Writ, did not escape tho
censurc of these indefatigablc reformcrs.-
H lie had rendered some professional services,
in which the United States were interested,
but which were not such as his official station
charged upon him. For th, service an in
considerable sum was paid to him, but its
proprety was questioned. The salary ofthc
/ Attorney G Gencral was then $4,000, and he
was allowed $500 for clerk. How stands
the case now? The salary Of Mr.. Benjamin
Il +. Butler, the present Attorney. General, is
II $4,000, and in 1891 he was paid S4,l5O l9
for compensation, besides being allowed ST.
Il 300 for clerk aud messenger, and $500 for