New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-04
Attempt to Mystify the Accounts OF the Ex-
peuditure on War.

Auempt to Mystify the Accounts OF the Ex-
penditure on War
One great and growing evil In the iegislatIon oil
Congress is, that very little can be known by the
People relative 10 the public expenditure. Hith
srto the Speaker and Committees Of Audit have
usually been men indicated, as it were, by the
Heads of Departments who collect and expend
the National Revenue.
When Loco Foco Presidents asked twenty or
thirty millions Of dollars and certified the stated
Gums 70 be abundant for the years services, they
had their creatures in and about Congress who
took care that other ten or fifteen millions, not asked
for. were voted and then they wrote approved
TO the bills that were sent them, on the dishonest
pretext that their oath did not require them to
check any revenue extravaganza however enor
NOUS in character and amount, even on their own
,howing. Their vetses they reserved for Harbor
Improvement bills.
Tie effect of this corrupt and corupting chi
capery il that contracts Of enormous amount ere
made. allowances of hundreds Of thousands are
guietiv aided, and Congress-, instead OF being an
eiscer. check upon Executive prohigacy, becomes
4 partner in "the spells which, az Secretary
Marcy has significantly told us, belong TO the polit
ical victo-s. Elijah Mix or Rip Raps Contracts
are not seldom the order of the day and committees
of reference have sometimes been a sort OF a con
stitutionsl Formally, to cover the intrigues by
which fortunes are made as il by magic, and keen
covetous political sharpers pushed into popular
nominating conventions to bargain for their friends
and secure thereby the proper sort OF executive
working tools.
On this principle, or something near akin TO 1t,
We learn by the Richmond Wig Of yesterday,
that the original estimates for the Quartermasters
DEPARTMENT, as placed before Congress- and which
amounted 10 about twenty seven millions oil dollars
have been reduced IN compliance 'o'th orders, TO
sls.le7 ooo or less than one half! The effect may
be to throw the odium of the additional millions
that really will be required, upon Congress Messrs'
Polk, Marcy, Walker Buchanan and johnson, will
turn round, in the long run, and say I'VE asked
$4,000 900 and you gave Us 100000. You forced
the money upon us."
Tho Alexandria Gazette is fulfilling dificult
and really important duty, in its efforts to probe
and expose this State juggling. Without meddllns
with tho question Of the justice OF the war, 1t be-
gins TO look into the way in which it is managed.
Tho Washington correspondent OF the baltimore
american wrote on the 2sth ult. as follows:
sThsre s likely to be some warm discussion In Con-
ess regard to the erroneous estimates submitted by
the Hesds OF Departments IL appears, think, in one OF
the documents that the secretary OF war required re-
duoen from Mr.. Commissary Gibsons estimate Of nearly
or oue 20 900 men, The ecer consented TO be thus cut
down emily fact that Congress would be In ses
sion before the expiration OF the next fiscal and could
then remedy any error so In regard 10 Iauons when
we're estimated for at fifteen cents and while every one OF
thsm at the In Mexico cost the United
states IS each. Knowing that to be the ae inc
Department continues its under estimates for rauons-
These and thousand facts like them, afford the true
secrst why Congress money than 10 asked for
IN the annual estimates. As soon as Congress Is IN ses.
uop letters and appeals sent TO the committees ana
the money reported which Is aterward voted by the TWO
Hoasss"
given by Commssary Gibson. In relation to existing oen
enciss in the for subsistence for the pres
snt fiscal year. led 1t TO examine the estimates Tor me
coming nsca year and II finds that the same causes VIII
again exist certain extent Al least ana .ns'
clspces At is next session. I'VE nd (says the GateHe
tina, allowance made for the additional troops ased
or-0o00 regulars and 900 vounteersneither Is
allowance made for wAstines or damsge TO provsons'
which must necessarily occur
The Gassas then gives the following very curious In
formation II shows the dread the Administration feels In
rsvealns 10 the people the immense cost OF the in
which are engaged and the amount OF DEBT and FAX
~ which the people to be ssdded With.
I'VE DO not attach any blame to the meritoreus off,
csrs having charge of the branches of the service
relating to pay, subsistence and transportation for these
deficiencies In their estimates for Ts knor ey are aeng
under TIE orersof TIE President or Secretary Of War and
Aors been compelled 10 cut dorm their es1saies belor he
actual Of the service. ~ obedience 10 such On ds
That this policy OF Hnderesatng which has been adopt.
q BY the Administration 10 conceal the enormous cost OF
the from the people does not meet the approval OF the
ocs above alluded TO, Is very evident from the follow
ing letter to Mr.. Marcy, Secretary Of War; accompanying
the estimates
WASHINGTON CITY. Nov. u.s. lsa7.
Sin: The estimates which submitted for your con-
alteration on the 4h instant for the service Of the next
fiscal year. made out from data derived nom the ex
persnce Of the last year. In compliance with your ss
eestoas. have carefully reexamined every item and IN
all. depending any degree upon my own action or ths'
Of the officers Of the Department. have made consicera
bio reductions Whether those reductions be jndicous
time determine. would not have ventured 10 make
them bat for the fact that two sessions OF congress VIII
have terminated before the expiration OF the fiscal year
for which the estimates now submitted have been made
The asked for arrearsges for the present sca year
are not more, am persuaded, than will be required
am. however. making every effort to reduce expenditures
OF every description 10 the lowest point possible:
have, sc. THOMAS JESCP, Or. Mr. Gen.
1t seems that Gen. Jesup does not like this ask
Ing for but thirteen millions, where about twenty
seven are to be voted
The Alexandria Gazette thus continues its in.
structive commentary;
From an inspection OF the estimates we ind ths, no
allowance 10 made In any u the departments OF the ser
vice, for the additional troops called Tor III seems inc
policy Of the Administration to ask ior troops nrs AND
when hey have obtained point, they come forwad
Congress and say, "You have given US more ne'' now
you must give more more money.
I'VE much mistaken in our opinion OF susn men As
Mr.. vnton Mr. Toombs, and some others who arc mem
osn Of the Committee OF Ways and Means In the House
Representatives they viii permit such s'afoT poney
~ this 70 b adopted We presume they VIII not ou'
rather that they wiz demand OF the Executive thar ine
men and the money shA be asked for together In order
thai the people nay how much II 10 10 cost them IL
the estimates are fairy made out II would add 81 least
sn9 nsoas 10 those which have bean presented, and
swell the expenditure OF nsx, fiscal year to upward OF
sevs~fy me Bsstsoas q doaarsr
There are Wing politicians who advocate the
policy Of letting the Administration have their
own way, giving them rope enough, a. the saying
10, and thus throwing ALL the responsibility on the
Executive and It's officers.
But can this be done 7 Would it be homes, ii i,
eoaldf IL not honesty the best policy for States
well a indisidualsi Are not the Wings in the
majority In the popular branch OF the Legislature
IL It not their boanden duty to investigate every
item Of the public revenue and expenditure, and
49, ~. dor he