Lincoln telegraph., 1838-05-24
MORE EXTRAVAGANCE AND
CORRUPTION.


Committee composed of political friends OF
General jackson, reported against some
alleged abuses and improper expenditures
ofthe public money, and recommended
'sretrenchment and reform" Let us now
examine how their practice has correspon-
ded with thair Trecepts. Mr.. Bond IN his
able speech, remarks
The committee reported that "the pry'-
lege of newspapers to the members ought
to be abrogated;" and ''that the practice
TOO often INDUCED in by the House of vo-
ting to themselves copies of books. ought
10 be discontinued. The privilege and
practice continue and without restraint.
Pqecept THE contingent expenses Of
this House were reported to be extrava-
CANT During the year 1923, the last OF
MIR. Adams Administration, they amount
ed to $50,
Practite.-During the year 1896. the
last year of the Jackson reform Admins
tration, this item was $4,000 0! And dur
ing the year 1887, being the first year Of
the successor" who promises 10 "tread
in the footsteps Of his iIlustrious predeces-
or" these expenses are $2lO, 600! This
must be the 'magicans way" of working
IN the rule of reduction---it was certainly
unknown TO old Thomas Dworth.
Ps.ecept. The committee. of which. ] a
gain repeat the gentlemallfrom New York
(Mr Cambreleng) was member, reported
that they had obtained information by
which they were satisfied "that by ju-
dicious system ofreform, instituted by the
Executive officers themselves, at least one
third of the (then) present number of clerks
in the department might be reduced with
safety to the public interest"
Practice. number of clerks has
not been reduced in any one of the depart
ments, but, on the contrary, there has been
considerable increase. will prove it,
The State Department, in the year 1923,
included the Patent Office, and the whole
number of clerks was sixteen; the salary
and compensation ofthe Secretary and all
his clerks and messengers, amounted to
$97, 75O..
The whole number of clerks now en-
ployed in the State Department and the
Patent Office is forty The Joint salaries
and compensation amount to SJG ,5l5 !! !
nged by Superintendent, with salary of
81 500 and two clerks and q messenger,
whose joint compensation was $3, 700. 1t
is now under the charge of one Of the Re-
formers; the tits of Superintendent is
exchanged for that of ''Commissioner;
and with the change of titles comes the
change of salary from 81 500 to So 600!
The number of clerks is increased from
two to- twenty four, and the compensa
ton from 81 800 to 2100; and, not con-
tent with one messenger, and his old sala-
ry of $400, they provide salary of $840
for messenger, and then give him an assis-
tant, to whom is also paid SIS per month.
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in the
year 1928, employed eight clerks and two
messengers. His salary, and the compen-
sation of the clerks aud messengers, al
mounted to S1S,6O0
The present Secretary of that Depart
ment and he was taken from the body of
reformers, who made proclamation from
the Senate Chamber) employs fifteen clerks
and two messengers. His salary, and their
compensation, amount to S27, 1901! A
similar result will be found in comparing
the present with the former state OF the
several subdivisions of the Treasury De-
partment. ---But, by way Of introducing
economy and despatch in the Treasury
Department, the committee proposed to
simplify the forms Of business. and to re-
orgnize its subordinate branches, so as to
dispense with one-iourth, if not e-third,
Of the officers in the Treasury" Now,
sir, no Reorganization Of the Department
has yet been attempted. Instead OF redu-
cling they have increased the number of
officers +; and the forms of business, under
The new mode of simplifying, have become
so complicated, that the gentlemen from
New York, (Mr Cambreeng,) now Chair
man of the Committee of Ways and
Means, declared here during the last spe
cial session, that, after fifteen years expe-
rience as member ofthis House, he found
it difficulty TO understand these Treasury
accounts, and the manner in which the
Secretary's Annual Report on the Finan-
ces is stated
MISSISSIPPI.