The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-04

REPORT OF THE INFRINGEMENT
COMMITTEE

REPORT OF THE RETRENCHMENT
COMMITTEE
Nh. EDITOR Allow me TO inquire, through
your journal, why there have been no extra
numbers Of the very able and interesting report
OF the "Select Committee on Retrenchment"
published? From hasty glance over few
pages of this report loaned to me for a few mo-
ments special favor, am convinced that it
contains matter OF grave importance, in which
the public are deeply interested. Members OF
Congress could in no way more essentially obige
their constituents than by circulating eight or ten
thousand Of these reports among them.
would answer for it, that they would not COM
plain of the expense.
shall not undertake to give any analysis OF
the report, but cannot forbear furnishing an ex-
tract or two, hastily pencilled as glanced over
1t, that the public may have some notion of
some portion of its contents.
After examining The condition of the Depart
ments, the committee adopt the following series
of resolutions, which will enable the public to
judge pretty fairly of the result of their labors
l. Resolved That it is expedent to require the Pre-
sldent of the United States in all of removal
from Office, to communicate the reason or cause for
each removal to the Senate.
2 Resolved, That it is expedent either to dispense
with the Offices of the Second and Third Auditors or
with the several bureaus attached to the War De-
Partment, so far as they employed in the exam-
nation OF claims or accounts, otherwise, ac-
counting agencies IN connection with the Treasury
s. Resolved That it is expedient to abolish the Of
hce of the Board of Navy Commissioners.
4. RESOLVED, That it is expedient to abolish the of
flee of Commissary General of Purchases
D Resolved, That it is expedent to abolish the Of
tce of Solicitor of the Land Office
s. Resolusd, That it is expedient to abolish the Of
hce OF Recorder of the Land Office.
L. Rssolred, That is expedient to repeal so much
Of the act Of Sd March, 1885, authorizes officers
OF the Navy, temporarily performing the duties be-
longing to them of higher grade, to receive the
compensation allowed to such grade.
3 Resolved, That the public service will admit of
reduction in the number and salaries of clerks en-
poyed in the Departments at the seat of Govern
ment.
g. Resolusd That it is expedien to reduce the num-
Der OF clerks attached to the office of Commissioner
OF Public Lands, that they shall not exceed sixty
There are now eighty
~. Rssolped, That the number of clerks attached
to the Office of Commissioner of Indian Affairs will
admit of reduction, SO as not to exceed eight [now
twelve so soon as, with proper attention. the
49, r. V-p''' p'o0
am not aware of any ''reasons of state"
why this Important report and accompanying
papers should be withholden from the public,
and reserved specially for the benefit of mem
bers of Congress. To refuse to print an extra
number of such document, would very natu-
rally create a suspicion that it was desirable to
suppress knowledge of its contents, which the
People are as deeply interested in as their Re-
presentatives.
The House need be under no apprehensions
that the People will complain of the expense of
printing few extra thousand, of this report.
They never complain Of any expense incurred
for spreading before them important infor
nation, especially when relating to the conduc
of their public servants.
Besides much matter of general interest,
there are many matters of special interest
which ifcirculated among the People, would tend
no little to their edi6cation (and perhaps to theil
astonishment,) on several Incidental branches
of political economy, such as bookkeeping
banking, stock-jobbing, &C., of which the fol
lowing are few examples, by way of illustra
ton:
(INDIAN BUREAU.)
Question by Mr.. Gmer. Is any other of the
$1,000 clerks charged with duties like those belonging
to your chief clerk
Answer. Besides the chief clerk one clerk at 81
600 keeps appropriation account, by which thu
precise condition of all appropriations is at
very important duty, &c. page $50
o. s. Hall appeared
QUESTION by Chairman. Will you let the sep
arae books in which you say the accounts of tn
Chickasaw tribe are kept2
(The books were broughtin.)
Question by the Will you copy the accoun
here entered page 81, with Daniel Kurtz disburs
ing agent?