The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-06-15

| the standing committees OF TINS House on
! the expenditures of 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 chairmarrof one Of
them declared here, during the LIST Con.
! gress, he had never.eysn thought It worth
his while to convene his committee, and he
appeared quite surprised, ct at ali events
amused, that any enquiry was expected TO
be made in regard to the expenses Of these
departments ! This state of things forms
strong contrast with the report made
here in April 1928, by MIR. Blair, of Ten
nessee, chairman OF the Committee on Pub.
lie Accounts and Expenditures in the State
Department. He, you know Mr.. Speaker,
was Jackson retormer; like the Select
Committee, he found every thing wrong,
and promised ts correct IT. The purchase
of books, the employment of librarian,
and many other things, were censured--
even the right TO PURCHASE print or like.
moss OF Gen. Washington, to be suspended
in the Department, was questioned. How
stands the matter now? Why. large sums
of money are yearly expended for the libra.
ry of the State Department, and many books
purchased, which are certainly unnecessary.
Besides the purchase Of books, period.
Gals, and Newspapers, made for this De.
partmeIt by It's disbursIng agent at home,
there were expended in London, during las.
year, for similar objects, nearly 5000.
A Librarian is employed at a salary Of
81 $40, equal 10 that paid 10 the Israrian
Of the great library of Congress. All this
too, sir, under the auspices OF gentlemen
who said that this part OF the expenses of
that Department was censurabe, and ought
to be dispensed with, as all the public eff
GERS of the Government could well avail
themselves of the public library at the
Capitol. But, Mr.. Speaker, the times have
changed, and Mr.. Van Buren, ADD MIR.
Forsyth changed with them. The State
Department is now laid of INTO grand d.
visions. When Mr.. Clay had charge of it,
the Blue Book exhibited lis, of dozen
names, under the head Of clerks. Que OF
these acted as translator for the D,part.
meni, and his salary was 81 $50; auother
paid cut the funds, was charged the con-
tIngent expense accounts and he received
81 $50 Year. How sosu is all this sim.
ple,y and economy forgotten The Blue
Book of last year divides this Department.
INTO diplomatic Bureau" 8 Transla-
tor" whose salary is Sl,76o, a g Dsburs-
ing Agent" whose salary is sl,955,
I" Librarian" whose salary is 81 $40, and
gives one man $500 year for packing,
Alag, arranging, and preserving newspa-
pers and printed documents" This is dons
by that boasted democratic party" whch
affects such holy horror at any appearance
Of what they call aristocratic grandeur"
If the Turk, whose letters are to be found
10 Salmagund, had seen this display of
" Bureaus" in the State Department, he
would have been better justified in his ad-
mration at "the grand and magnificent
scale Oh which these Americans transact
their business" But | have vet To add.
that those who questioned the RICH; of The
State Department 10 purchase print of tho
immortal Washington have used the mo-
uey Of the people to buy prints of General
jackson, and now of Martin Van Buren,, for
almost every reom Of each Of the Depart.
ments 7! MIR. Speaker, during this search
ing operation" and captlous fault finding,
every petty expense Of the several Depart
ments was looked upon with open censure.
| well remember that an item of some few
dollars, paid laborer for DESTROY ing the
grass which was growing between the
bricks of the paved walk leading 10 the
State Department, was held up to public
view as piece Of aristocratic extravaganza.
Now. sir suppose were TO cite 10 you ma
ny similar and equally (f moi more) ebjsc-
tIonable charges IN the present accounts of
these Departments-such as cash paid for
clearing the snow off the pavemeRts, so that
Mr.. Forsyth need noNet his feet; 800
a quarter fer labor" Ss53 for sundries,'
$50 for work." without stating what la.
Dor or work. II might have been for kil.<
ling grass, or raising vegetables for the
Secretary. The term of " sundres NAV
conceal the same things, and the curious
might enquire what use was made of tho
fire preof paint for which s7S were paid
by the Secretary of State. But the money
is well laid out, If il will preserve the sdi-
flee And 1t is to be regretted that the
Secretary of the Treasury and the POST
master General had no, made similar pur-
chases in time to save their respective
buildings. Penknlves aud scissors, BY the
dozen. and by the half dozeo, are pur-
chased for the Secretary of State, Who al-
so pays clerk to 60 to Baltimore to coIlec,
draft. An item of 800 paid by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury for the transporta.