Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-20

Bogota, but which were never deliver
ed. The sickness Of MIR. Peasants
furnished no palIiation, in the minds oil
the reformcrs, for the payment made
to him, though he caused his despatch
es 10 be safely delivered. Yet those
same gentlemen find ample prelext' 10
the alleged shipwreck of Mr.. Early, to
paw him 1911 35 for expenses, S527-
81 for clothing, bedding, and books,
lost or abandoned by him, S7l4 for
one hundred and nineteen days com
pensation, at 80 per day, though his
dispatches were never delivered
At this same time, too, Mr.. Early
appears to have been receiving saia.
~ of $1,000 a yenr as Librarian Of
the House Of Representatives 1t
would seem that Mr.. Secretary For
sv,h is not stranger to this "conve-
nient mode Of sending favoritcs abroad,
| to travel for their pleasure, health, or
instruction, out Of the public Golfers
also find that $2,5l5 are charged
for contingent expenses Of William l..
Barry, late Minister to Spain. Now,
sir, il is well known that Mr.. Barry
| never reached Spain, but died on his
way there. He, of course, received
the usual salary and outfit; and am
at loss TO know what contingent ex-
penses, incurred by him, could justly
be charged to the United States.
There appears, also, to have been
paid to John r. Clay, in 1886, 49,
3sI al, as compensation for certain
diplomatic services" The gentleman,
at that time, held the place OF Secreta-
ry of Legation at st. Petersburg, with
a salary Of $4,000 year, and the
payment to him Of the further sum OF
$3, 1881 Al may be Justly questioned.
Other items, indicative to extrava-
gance of favorilsm, may be seen IN
this contingent expense account OF for
cign missions, but | will not stop to
specify them.
II will also BIO found that, in the
DAYS ofthis searching operation" and
f" reform" the standing committees OF
this House on the expenditures OF the
several departments attended to their
vocation. But, very soon alter Gehe-
raj 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, no had never even thought
il worth his while TO convene his com
mittee, and he appeared quite surPrl-
sed, or at all events amused, that any
inquiry was expected TO be made IN
regard to The expenses of these depart
nents!! This state of things forms
strong contrast with the report made
,ere in April, 1928, by Mr.. Blair, OF
Tennessee, Chairman of the Commit
zee on Public Accounts and Expendl-
ures in the State Department. lie
you know, Mr.. Speaker, vas jack
ION reformer like the Select Commit
ee, he found every thing wrong, and
promised to correct it. The purchase
If books, the employment of llbrarl-
IN, and many other things, were Gen.
,ured, even tho right TO purchase
print or likeness of Gen. Washington,
% be suspended in the Department,
was questioned. How stands the mat
ter now? Why large sums OF money
are yearly expended for the library OF
the State Department, and many books
purchased which are certainly unne-
cessary.
Besides the purchase of books, peri
odicals, and newspapers, made Tor tins
Department by its discussing agent at
home, there was expended IN London,
during the last year, for similar OBJ
jscts, nearly $500. A Librarian IS
at a salary of 81 $40, equal
to that paid to the Librarian OF the
great public library of Congress. All
this too, sir, under the auspices oil gen
tlemen who said that this part OF the
expenses of that Department was cen
surable and ough: to be dispensed with,
as all the officers Of the Government
could well avail themselves OF the pub
lie library at the Capital. But, MI
Speaker, tho times changed, and Mr.:
Van Buren, and MIR. Forsyth changed
with them. The State Department is
now laid off into grand divisions
When Mr. Clay had charge OF 1t, 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 ST.
$50; another paid out the funds, and
was charged with the contingent ex-
pense accounts, and he received ST.
$50 year. How soon is all this
simplicity and economy forgotten -
The Blue Book of last year divides
this Department into Diplomatic
Bureau" "Consular Bureau, a
Home Bureau Translator,
whose salary is l,760, a " Discussing
Agent" whose salary is $l,595, a