Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-06-21

The question was then presented WnctncT " was V
proper to commence the repairs upon the only
rlan which promised tho requisite strength and y
durability, but the cost of which woulh ar exceed
the appropriation made by Congress, and which, 0
it was known TO the Department, was supposed TO
bo ample for the object, or wait the sanction OF
that body at the approaching session. Inc great
convenience and importance OF the bridge al ths
point, and tho strong interest felt by the chzens oil
this District that the repairs should not DO deay-
cd, urged the immediate commencement OF inc
work. while its questionable proprlely, unuer me
prospect of nh immediate session OF congress,
decided the Department to postpone iirthor op
craons until that body should have an "pporluhl,
ty of acting upon the subject. The utllity anu
importance of this bridge not only TO the citizens
of this city and District, but 10 the carrying OF the
public mall and to the Southern travel nj 'hc sea-
son Of the yenr when the river Is INSTRUCTED ny
ice arc 30 generally felt and acknowledged, That
need not say moro to recommend INC ad'li'
toual appropriation required; or t'at me saic-
ton of Congress he given IN some otcr i"fin, nj
mn early day &c the session, 10 the making OF the
necessary repairs upon tho only sale aud durable
plan which presents itself
Another public work Of great interest committed
to the care Of this Department deserves somc no
tce ut this time. The sum Of $4,000 WINS uppro- |
priate at the Int session OF Congress for clearing
out the Red river raft. The large suns of money !
heretofore expended OH this object, the high cx-
icctaion INDUCED, after The first Successful cxpcr-
mrnt, Of the praciicability eff citing II, the sub
scqupnt accumulation and continuance ct partial |
distractions aud the consequent disappointment |
oftle public, CAUSED the Department to give IT'S
early and serious attention To the sulJer'' BE-
lirving that Congress, in making this apPropra-
! ton, INDUCED the hope that it would be nIi maj
would l,n required for The nuilrinn OF the work
the Department resolved that the hi hest degree
of perninnnucG and Utility utialnabC 10y The use
Of the means placed ut its disposal should he nc
cOmplish,d dir cited that an oil Ger OF the highest
! credit for skill aud Judgment should proceed Will
out delay IL ascertain tie nature extent, aud call-
of tie distractions which interrupt tie naviga-
| lion of that river, aud to submit plan for Their
removal That officer has NOT yet reported to the
Department. 1t is intended that the steam AMI
sag boats, after being repaired, shall ascend Up
Red river. while it continues in n uavigabio state,
TO the point Of obstruction /; but it is not designed
TO enlrr upon the work until autumn. This poi
icy, MS will fully appear from the report OF the
Chief of the Typographical Engineers, mud the
accompanying letter Of The superintendent, was
dictated 10y sound economy, fnot Ivy the ne
ccsSiiy of the case
a Imac,ice has prevailed in the Indian Depart
incut Of making payments from moneys drawn
from The Treasury under appropriations by Con-
gress without regarding in all cases tho objects
OF the appropriations specified in the law.
This practice virtually dtieNs that provision OF
the Constitution which declares Mat no money
shall he drawn from the Treasury except under
appropriations Ivy Congress for the object of this
!. provision must have been nat merely that money
$ shall not he drawn from the Treasury without he
ng duly Appropriated, but TINT it shall he paid on
! Iy for objects specified in the acts OF approria-
ton.
e The practice of making payments under sucl
C Crcuuslancts- is, OF taking money draw
from the Treasury under All appropriation for one
uherI, ard applying it To the payments ct nc
i counts, and for objects for which no nppropria
ton has been made = Tenders the reports of The
condition of the Treasury entirely fallacous ant
4 .l.str in lp
J. condition of the Treasury, Of its liabilities, i
!, not and cannot be presented under such prac
# tee.
:. The Indian Department has favored itself il
rs the means OF practising this rregulnriiy by m
II ether usage, directly in cOntraventiOn OF the Law
e. OF Congress requiring that unexpenhed balance
NJ of appropriations nj the expiration of two years
s. shall revert 10 the Treasury. II has been custom
ne ary, before the expiration of the Two gears 4
s. withdraw from the Treasury the balances not &c
Is tually required for disbursement within the spe
of cited period; and these balances have been place
" in the hands of dishurs.ng agents. forming yer
At lnrgn FIND, from which payments have been mad
III from time TO time for objects for which no mp
i'll preparation has been ma,lo by Congress. The Il
I'd mount of funds in the hands nf $, ecia agents
ie The Department has ranged on an average, iroi
e. Two three hund Ell thousand dollars for the lh'
of seven eight years, and this has been general
DEPOSITED in banks selected at The discretion o TN
X agent himself.
Under these circumstances, the dsbursng
of gents, having received moneys under authorize
T. heads Of appropriation which have been apple
ne TO objects not sanctioned 10y las, have had the
r. accounts brOush; into such a condition rs will M
- allow of their settlement the Treasury wiho'
IS special appropriation by Congress; and hrnt
Ia. there are ,,is"irsing agents who have been nnab
IT. to obtain settlement during several years, al
Ie whose accounts are still open, NOTWITHSTANDING
w the act of Congress, most sautary in its ohyer
T. requiring settlement annually OH the first OF "
of iober
of As one rregnlarity is orcn the parent Of nnot
err 50, under tie usage of tho Indian Bureau, !
u. which large amounts Of money have been held
C. disbursng agents, which should have reverted
TO- the Treasury, those agents have had the means
We loaning, and have actually loaned, large sun
nd within the last few years, 10 meet the necessity
in The Treasury in other del arimcnts OF The 90
NJ crrmeni or other aud distinct branches OF the
en- dian department aud, in this manner, syste
ire of accommodation has Obtained without respol
Tor sibiiy and unknown 10 the law.
.ss The evils OF the practice, the subject OF Inc
ng remarks, will sufficiently appear when il is co
,nt sidcrcd tia, they ccseiy those which II "
IL the object of the provision in The ConslItutio
ile prescribing the mode OF drawing money from I!
til. Treasury, 10 guard against; aud these also wh
an were intended be prohibited by the law OF 20
rs gress requiring That unexpected balances shall
Of vert to the Treasury u. the expiration OF "
DIS years.
yes In the present condition Of the accounts Of d
no bursting agents, il is impossible to ascertain I
ION precise amount OF payments requiring nppropr
,n, lions by Congress for their final adjustment at
veil Treasury. Int the amount is Known, thus lar,
ns exceed S20000 AID it will probably requ
lief $250000 aud possibly $:I''0000
be 1t would he easy 10 multiply remarks upon
improperly of tins practice of The Departure
ing The objections To it are numsrous mud weigh
lar- and SOME of them founded so deeply in Vi
crs principles to deserve some further notice in II
per report
de- All officers hold their powers in trust uni
C Of the obligation Of fulfilling the objects Tor viii
M IlInse nnMnrs were rInnied. CONGRESS- is culriI