The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-05-19

Mr.. MLlkl ~ l. liEkt from tue ION
millec on Public Expenditures, submitted
the following
REPORT:
Tie Committee On Public Expenditures, on
whom IS imposed tie duty "to exemiue
into the state Of the several public De
paitmenis, aud particularly into laws
making appropriations OF moneys, and
to report whether lie moneys have been
disbursed conlormably with such laws
aud also 10 report, fiom time 10 time,
such provisions aud arrangements as may
DO necessary to add to the economy OF
the departments, and the accountability
Of lheir officers, beg leave to report, N
part:
That, from the immense appropriations
which have been made for the last seven
years, aud The large amounts Of money ex
pended uater them during that .,mc, Il
would DO utterly impossible ior commit.
tee Of this House, with the short time daily
allowed them, to make any thing lllc dc
ta.led examination, Gs contemplated By The
rulo dcGuing their duties. They are Is.
sauousy engaged 10 the investigation Of
the ,npor,au, disbursements, and shall, from
tine 10 time, present It's results, 10 ylow OF
securing economy N tbs management Of The
Goyornm u, aud Of preserving strict &C.
counttL.lily of officers who are charged
with The management, Of tho public money.
+ Taxes, whether direct or indirect, arc OF
best but Il necessary evil, IN all Govern
meuts. Ihoy are burdens upon the INDUS
Inv Of the country aud that Government
is tie wises, and most Iast which leyIcs
them 10 WOW only Of meeting its absolute
aud Indispensable wants, and, when thus
levied. their disbursement should be made
under q system OF the most risid and strict
economy. To secure this end, the officers
charged wilh tho disbursements should be
held accountable not only for the opphca
cation O. the money 10 the object Tor which
Il was appropriated. but for tie economy H.
the mode ol ITS duplication. And whenever
any expenditure Is made, which maus'es's
a departure from this salu,ary rule, 1t IS the
duty Of those charged With tho manage
mcul OF the public money forthwith TO op.
ply { corrective ; which, II II should fail TO
relieve ugaus, past ubusc, will OF least
serve to prevent its recurrence 10 future.
The Government Gust necessarily coulde
10 the discretion OF It's officers and when
ever HAT is exercised 10 is prejudice II IS
criminal, en- tie part Of those who can
avoid its repetition, to PERM, tho PosslblIl
~ OF It's again happening. The commit.
too regret 10 say hat, 10 many oi the eN
penulturcs of the Government, these prIn-
cipcs seem TO have been lost sight Ct alto
getnor. Without InquirIng into the pro
prieiy Of appropriations, winch they have
no rrcht 10 do, they arc satisfied that OK
lrayagaucc Of the most wIituI character has
sauandored the public money under them
and that no efforts seem 10 have been made
by those who possessed the power, 10 pro
vent il. The acts fad accounts OF con
trncliug and disbursing officers appear tc
have passed the scrutiny of those entitled tc
demand accountability, if clad IN the mere
forms OF law, upon no higher evidence thar
that Of tho agent "ho performs the deed
that no has acted in good faith, noiwih
, standing his very act creates presumpiiof
to the contrary and even this evidence, tra
, as it il, has not been demanded 10 The vas
variety Of cases. Until this system shall
, be changed, and with tho Executive depart
I ment Of the Government alone rests TN
power Of change the people need never hope
, for faithful and prudent management oil th'
finances Of the Government.
/, In each department, aud throughout ih'
B various ramidcatous Of II, whether civil
e military, whenever there was money TO b
o expended, tue most willul extravaganza
f seems to have followed the administrator
f oil tho law, until The public interests hov
G been sacrificed by its influence. In illus
4 tration of this, the committee will present
J.. few of the many cases which have occurred
;. In tho year 1897, Congress appropriate
the sum Of $4,000 to remove ohsruc
d lions from tho mouth of tho Mlsslss'pf
d river, Mr.. A. Talcott was detailed by IN
y Engineer department for tho suPcrlnleu
Z donce of the work. In November, 1859
g no reports: "When entered upon ih'
d duty, in the spring of 1887, tho Englnee
!. department. had decided upon trying the G
/, feet OF dredging the bars, as promising u
n most speedy result if cticacious, InvolvIn
n the least expenditure" &c AT the date
,. the las, report, nothing further had bee
>. done towards this Improvement than
:, commence the construction of tho machine
IS ry for dredging" For this purpose, :"
10 became necessary to place the dredgiu
,e machinery upon large and suhs'an,
n boat. "The arrangement. Of .he machi'