The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-29

only TO say that even though the increase proposed
by the pay master general was necessary alone dur
ing state Of war, order for their discontinuanee
Immediately at It's close unusual IN the practice
Of things may then exist. As the service may de-
ene or the necessity for the existence Of these
officers, the practice Of the government has been
that they have been discontinued
Mr.. RATHBUN, lin his seat) When
Mr., HARALSON. The number Of officers Of the
army was reduced twice. The last act by which
they were reduced passed in 1912
Mr., RATHBUN inquired whether the number OF
paymasters now recommended was not the same as
existed during the war of 1912.
Mr.. HARRISON did not think it was. He was
able however, TO answer the gentleman precisely on
this point. He would see
Mr., BURT (Mr. III. yielding) begged leave to
reply to the inquiries Of the gentleman from New
York IL would not have the effect he said
The number Of paymasters at present was one paw
master general and fifteen assistant paymasters
During the war Of 1912 and 1913 the department
consisted Of the following officers: The paymaster
general Of the army, deputy paymsster general, two
assistant deputy pay master generals, and twenty-five
assistant paymasters.
Mr.. HARRISON (resumins) said it would be
perceived, then, as he had stated that this bill did
not make at all nor intend to make the number in
the paymasters department equal to what il was 10
1872. IL proposed but very small increase and
the document read, and which it seemed must i'm
press conviction on the mind of every man in this
House, especially as, by our solemn act, we had re-
cognlsed the existence Of war with Mexico, and
had authorized the raising Of $4,000 volunteers to
prosecute that
Mr.. A. JOHNSON said il the amendment of
the gentleman from New York-of whose object
he apProyed-did not succeed he should move to
strike out the second section of the bill, which
repealed the law which limits the appointment Of
paymssters 10 four years. IL would appear from
the report Of the Psymaster General that he entered
into an argument 10 show that these officers ought
10 be continued "duTing good behavior" which
meant during life. An lndiudua receiving a salary,
Of course, would advocate extension Of his term
Of service to life. But because we had lIttle
breeze with MeXco-whIch no individual whig
or democrat, believed would continue four Years
he would not go for fastening large number Of
additional officers upon the treasury for life He
thought they ought TO hold on TO the principle Of ro-
taton IN office. IL was correct one, especially
with the officer that has the receiving and dlsbursing
Of money; the greatest guaranty we could hsve for
the faithful discharge Of their duties was to make
short settlements with them. By-and-by would
come peace, and then we could NOT get clear Of
these officers, II we now removed his limitation
Of their term 10 four years; and we should have
them fastened the treasury for life. Every indi-
yIdual on this floor knew how hard il was to knock
them off when once they were fixed in their
Office, unless il was by some such provision, as this
Limitation Of their term, made al the time Of their APP
polntment.
Mr. HARRISON said, on the subject brought
to the consideration Of the committee by the gentle.
man from Tennessee, he had few words TO saw
The gentleman was certainly aboring under mis-
take.
Mr.. G. DAVIS interposed with certain inquiries
directed to Mr.. III. as TO the relative number Of the
army and OF the paymaster's department IN the last
war and at present.
Mr.. HARRISON replied that the strength Of the
army during the last war was 65 600 men, and Of
paymasters las stated by the gentleman from South
Carolina Mr. BURT) &C. now we had authorized
TO be called out force Of so 900 volunteers which,
added to our regular army Of Is 900, made $1,000
again. and the number OF the paymaster's depart
ment l6
Recurring to the remarks Of Mr. JOHNSON, Mr..
H., for the better understanding OF the committee
caused to be read the section Of the act of May
1920, which this second section of the bill nnder
consideration proposes to repeal far relates to
paymasters. 1t would be perceived the sad) that
paymasers were included in this section with Gus
tom house officers, district attorneys, navy agents.
receivers Of public money for public lands, &c.-al
Of whom, except the paymasers, might be said to
be of a stationary character. The Paymaster Gen
eral informed them that Notwithstanding the exist
ence OF this law there was not an instance Of reno
val record but the repeal of this provision Of the
law was necessary in his view Of the subjecs Ifthe
officer had faithfully discharged his duty, perhaps
he might be at his post on the Rio Grande, perhaps
in the distant sections Of the West, when his four
years expire; he would then be under the necessity
ofabandoning his post and his duties, and coming
TO the interior for the sake Of procuring security
But again the paymasters, like every other Off
Ger Of the government were supplied from the treas
ury on the requisltion Of the Paymaster General,
with funds necessary to disburse at his post or
wherever the army was stationed, and to make
quarterly returns of his vouchers. In addition the
President under the bill reported was required to
inquire into the security of their bonds as often as
once in four years. They were therefore complete
y within his control, and if their duties were not
faithfully discharged, and the moneys placed in their
hands not properly dIsbursed, he could call them to
account and remove them at once.
The continuance, therefore, OF this Limitation
made the security Of the faithful discharge of their
duties no greater, and it would subject the army to
great inconvenience, and the service perhaps to
great detrlment. He certainly was as much dis
posed as any other man TO rotation in Office; but
under the law Of 1920 which gentlemen favored
with such pertlnacity on the plea of rotation in
office. The Paymaser General informed us that
there had not been instance where the officer de-
sired renewal of his Commission that it has not
been done. IL Is then so far its practical opera
ton Is concerned mere nulty for the department
under the obligations which it owed TO the public
service when man had discharged his duties faith
to'y, "o''u NV ptooaoiy run INC rish oI turning
him out, and putting another in his stead He,
therefore, was in favor Of complying with the re-
commentator of the Paymaster General, and Of
avoiding the sub letting these officers to great ncon-
venence, and the service to great derment and the
government to great expense without accomplish
ing any good thereby.
Mr. .HUNGERF'ORD modified his amendment
SO that assumed the following form:
That in six months after the termination orthe war with
Mexico the psymaser department shahe reduced to One
Paymaster General, and fifteen assistant aymasters"
Mr.. RATHBUN had no objection to this increase
of the paymoser's department of the army because
it was altogether probable that it was necessary,
and he had no desire to withhold any necessary
force to enable the government to carry on this war
with Mexico with all the energy and all the spirit ne
cessary to bring tito speedy termination. But he
was opposed TO this permanent increase of the off
GERS or Prlvates of the army, without providing in
the same bill for return to the peace establishment
when the exigcncy for which it was created shall
have gone by
They were told by the chairman of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, Mr.. HARALsoN,] that all
the paymas'ers had been continued in office from