The North-Carolina standard., 1845-05-07
RETRENCHMENT AND REFORM.

We have had no President since the foundation
tho government, who. has gone more systemat-
icalIy than Mr. Polk to the great work of reform
ing the Departments and retrcnching their expfn-
ses, The following Circular, just issued by him
10 the Heads Of the Departments at Washington,
is Il good and sufficient answer to whole volumes
Of Whig talk Read it and preserve it:
WAsa1Ha TON CrrY, ,A2rll 1lth, 1915.
Sir: In executing the laws, there is no duty
which appears TO me more imperative than to take
care that officers who receive 1he public money
shall promptly and fully perform the duties for
which the law appropriates their respective sala-
res Justice to the public, and proper regard for
The clearly expressed will Of Congress- require that
tbi< shall be done. Those who come TO the seat
Of Government on public business, should not be
unnecessarily delayed BY the neq gence or mat
tention Of Heads Of Bureaus, or Clerks connected
with the Executive Departments. therefore, in
Vi!e your attention the lhrteenth section of the
act of Congress approved on the 26th of August
1912. entitled q An act legalising and making aP-
propFIalions for such necessary objects as have
been usually included in the general appropriation
bills, without authority of law, and 6x au pte-
vide for certain incidental expenses-ef the Depart
men and for other purPoses,h and TO the 18th sec
tion of the - Act 10 recognize the General Land
Office" approved on the 4th of July; 1896. = =
- desire that you will cause the monthly reports
required by the act Of 1912, to De regularly made,
and that you Will transmit them TO me. - y
The law conenpIates that the distribution of La
Dor amongst the clerks shall bear a fair proportions
to their compensation, and it is unjust that the
mertorious and faithful should have to perform
the duties of such as may be found to beDegligent
idle or incompetent To prevent this injustice, it
is essential that each clerk shah attend Regularly
IN his office, and discharge his own appr, pirate
duties. 1t isrdesired that each Head eff Bureau
shalL-cad tozbe kept'a daily statement, showing
the absence Of each clerk from his doty during of.
fee hoars-the causes of such absence; as far as
he may be able 10 ascertain them, and that this
statement accompany the monthly reports.
IalsodesiTe, that you will accom- pany the monthly
reports with statement of any complaints which
may be made TO yon of any. clerk in -yourAOHice
who may have contacted debts sinceh appoint
ment, and does not pay them agfeeably to his con-
tract. Disclaimins any rfghtto interfere with the
private affairs of officers Of Government, am yet
unwilling thatihey shall be embarrassed in The
performance of their public duties by the JUSTIN
portunies of disappointed creditors. who trusted
them on the faith Of their compensation from the
Treasury. -
Believing that the duties required Of the officers
and clerks employed in ihe several Executive De-
parIments are by means unreasonable, and. i'm
pressed with the importance of prompt and eff
cent despatch of the public business, desire that
you will take the measures for the due execution
Of the laws to which have called your attention.
= Respectfully, yours.