New-York tribune., 1841-06-09
VOL. L. NO. 52.

IN the rspor Of MAJOR Tu.nbu It is Obvious iha, the m
S' i done opon tAe paa which formed the basis of the
.stiaLe 1poA "hch tae appropriation made could not
stand through SINGLE season Of frcshet or c, The oe
on WAS then presented, whether il was pper 10 commence
the repairs upon the only plan which pro,;<4d Tho ;;,
strength and durability, but ae cost of which v,,1 sr m
coed the appropriation msde by Congress and which il was
known the Department. supposed 10 h, o,,nI m tho
object "a the sanction Of that body at tbs onrrosc;n
session The great convenience and importance s the
bridge this point and The strong interest felt hy rho ,;t;
OF this District nat the repairs should not be- DELAYED
urged the Immediate of the work while ts
questionable propney nGor the prospect OF immediate
session OF Congress, decided the Department to POSTPONE
further operations l that body oud have opportunity
OF acting upon the subject The utility and importance of
TINS bridge, only the citizens of tins city and District
but TO tie carrying OF the pubc mall aad the Southern
travel the o the year when the obstruc,ed
by ce, generally felt and acknowledged that need
say reco3aed the additional appropriation re-
qGied a the sanction OF Congress he given in some
other form early day the session to the making of
the necessary repairs upon The only safe and durable plan
which presents itself.
Another public wori OF great interest committed to the
care Ct this Department deserves at this time
The sum of $4,000 appropriated the late session of
Congress ioF clearing the Red River Raft The large
sums OF money heretofore expended this object high
expectations ndulge after the first succcsSf. experiments
OF the practcaby OF ciectng it. the subsequent accumua
ton and continuance Of partial distractions and the conse-
quent disappointment OF the public, caused the Department
TO glye rs early and serious attention the sublec Be-
liegni that Congress making this appropriation inIulged
The hope that would be all that would be required the
completion OF the work the Department. resolved that the
highest degree Of pernancncc and utility atainabe by
o he means placed at his disposal should be accomplished,
directed that officer of the highest credit for skin and
Judgement should proceed without delay ascertain the
tire extent and OF the distractions which iaerrupt
the navigation OF tha; ryo and submit plan for their
removal That officer has yet reported the Depart
mcnt. /; Is intended that the and snag boats after
being repaired, shall ascend Red River while continues
navabe state to the point OF ebstruction but is
inir. ID,
will fully appear from the report the Chief of the Topo-
graphical Engineers and the accompanying letter of the
perntcndent dictated by sound economy, by the
necessity OF the
practice has prevailed in the Indian Department of ma
king payments from moneys drawn from the Treasury under
appropriations By Congress, without regarding in all
the objects Of the appropriations specified in the law
lh practice virtually defeats that provision of the Const
tuition which declares ;at money shall be Withdrawn
tue Treasury except under appropriations by Congress for
the object Of tis provision have been merely that
nouey shall be drawn from the Treasury without being
duly appropriated but that shall be paid only objects
specified in the of appropriation.
The practice OF making payments under such circumstances
that IS of taking money drawn from the Treasury under
appropriation for object and applying it the payment
OF accounts, and for objects for which appropriation has
been madccndes the reports OF the condition of the rea-
suy entirely alacou> and utterly destroys all confidence
them The condition OF the Treasury, of its labi
ties and be presented under such practice.
The Indian Department has favored itself in the of
practising this cgulary by another usage, directly con-
raycnton of the law OF Congress requiring that unexpended
balances Of appropriations the expiration of years shall
the Treasury. II has been customary before the
expiration o the years to Withdraw from the Treasury
the balances actually required for disbursement within
the specified period and these balances have been placed in
the hands OF dsbursng agents forming ver large fund,
from which payments have been made from time time for
objects tor which appropriations have been made by Con-
SeSs he amount ot funds in the hands of these especial
agents OF the Department has ranged average from
three hundred thousand dollars for the last seven
at ne discretion of the agent himself.
Under these circun> anccs the dsbusng agents. having
received moneys under authorised heads OF appropriation
which have been applied objects sanctioned by law,
have had their brought such condition as will
allow their settlement the Treasury without special
appropriation by Congress- and hence there dbursing
who have been unable obtain settlement durisg
several years, and whose still open notwh-
standing the Of Congress- sauury its object re-
quirins setteme&t annually on the first of October.
Us rrcguarty oiien the parent OF another so,
der the usage Of the Indian Bureau by wh"h large
o money have been held by dis5urns agents. which should
have reverted tue Treasury these agents have had the
of oanng and have actually loaned large within
the last few years the necessities of Treasury in
other departments of the Government other and distinct
branches of the Indian Department; and in this manner,
system accommodation has obtained without responsibility
and unknown 10 the law.
The evils of the practicable subject Of these remarks
will sufficiently appear when is considered that they
precisely those which the object of the provision in
the Constitution, prescribing the mode of drawing money
from the Treasury, guard against and those also which
intended to be ounteaced by the Law of Congress
qung that unexpended balances shall the Treasury
at the expiration of two years.
In the present condition Of the of disbursing
agents impossible ascertain the precise of
payments requiring appropriations by Congress for their final
adjustment the Treasury but the is known, thus
exceed s2OO6Oo and will probably require s250ooo,
and possibly 100000
1t would be easy mnltply remarks upon the mpropric-
u Of this practice OF the Department The objections to it
and weghty, and of them founded
deeply in <ita principles deserve further no
'icc IN this report.
All officers hold their power, under the obligation
of fulfilling the objects for which those powers were grant
ed. Congress Is entrusted with the power o. granting
ze for objects 10 be accomplhed by fxecutve agrnt- II
the agents divert the money ofhrr oaeet- here IS
b,each Of trust But all the officers of he ''yfFl'e"'
are presumed 20 have IN view the common eo' ii
-. - .nl;as ,,nnn th. Exccstiye agent- 70 llucase