The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED SPEECHES.
liz SENATE-Saturday. March 3-Eueniag s

oil The Interior, on which Mr.. HUNTER had the floor
MIR HUNTER took the floor. Mr. President, for
the purpose OF replying 10 argument which seems TO
have some weight here much more weight, think than
due toi 1t is said that the Secretary of the Treasury
will be unable to discharge all the duties of his Office
unless we adopt some measure OF tins kind that it will
be impossible Tor him to undergo the labor that will be
required of him, unless he shall be relieved from some of
the duties OF his office. Now, ask. to what extent
will this bill relieve the Secretary of the Treasury Ii
will be found, upon examination of it, that the
greater portion Of the business of this Minister of the In
terror is 10 be transferred not from the treasury but from
the other departments OF the government First he
have charge OF the Indian Affairs, which is transfer
from me war Department to which, as was stated by the
senator from South Carolina very properly belongs in
asmuch as they involve matters OF and peace with the
Indian tribes The next subject to be transferred the
Minister of the Interior is that of Patents, which is
from the State Department. The only subject transferred
from the Treasury Department is the control OF the public
lands SO lar as relates 10 the right to decide in certain
supervision OF the public property in land Now
a!ion to this one of two things exist If the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury is to be relieved from all the bust
ness connected with the public lands then it must follow
that the Minister OF the Interior make the collections
and disbursements OF the income from that office. But
that not the business which is TO be given to him for
if it were, what would result? That we should have two
reasuries under the Secretary OF the Treasury as
at present. for the receipt and disbursement of the income
the INTERIOR Tor the management and disbursement of the
income derived from the public lands In what manner
would the affairs OF this government be administered if
we should thus disturb the harmony and unity of the
Treasury Department? Well, them if il is not intended
by this bill, as believe it not, to transfer the collection
of revenue from public lands to this Minister of the
INTERIOR how is it that we relieve the Secretary Of the
Treasury by its enactment Why, we relieve him only
Of the decision of appeals from the Commissioner of Pub
of the public property in lands Ii understand it, the
purpose IS to transfer only the power of deciding
certain judicial cases arising in the Land Office together
with the supervision of the public lands, source of
revenue that 49, to commit to his discretion the manner
in which they shall be brough, into the market. Now
this last duty manesy belongs the Secretary OF the
hp rpra I'M
OF public revenue from whatever derived 1t
mistake to suppose that this is Tor the relief of
ment TO far greater extent taking from it, az it does
the Indian affairs and also the pensions. |, relieves the
STATE Dspament Ito to greater extent in taking from
tary OF the Treasury from very little; and from that of
which he might be relieved by merely increasing the
power of the Commissioner of the Land Office If
have succeeded in what intended, think have shown
that this BILL far the public lands are concerned
affords ne relief to the Secretary of the Treasury which
small extent the power OF the Commissioner of the
Land Ofhce and that all beyond giving the Commits
soneI the power OF appeal is improper to be given to
The control OF the mode of bringing the public lands
into market as source OF revenue, maniiesty belongs
him. AS proof of this, we find that this very Bill
of the whole machinery for collecting and sbursng the
proceeds from the sales OF the public lands Why not
leave 10 his dscetlon then the mode which they are
to be brought into market?
But is said that the department find great relief
the OF Assistant Secretary the Treas
ury. This assistance is fallacous il possible than
the other which have just been combating What por-
ton OF the abors of the Secretary is he 10 take? Allow
me read the power that given to him. He is 10 eX
anime all letters, contracts and warrants prepared for
the signature OF the Secretary of the Treasury and to
perform certain duties now discharged by clerks What
duty here imposed upon him which is not already per-
formed by of the clerks of the department? Ii is not
proposed to take from the Secretary the labor OF signing
these warrants and could not be taken from him without
dsarrangng the whole machinery OF the Treasury Depart
ment and disturbing the system of checks and balances de-
pending the fact of his having to sign these warrants
This then, relieves him of nothing Nothing transfer
red from him which might not easily be performed by the
chief clerk in that department, and by enagng the du
ties of the Commissioner OF the Land Office in regard to
create additional department of the government Who
doubt that the creation of additional department
will bring with it long train of new officials and much
Mr.. President, if had no other objection to this bill
should vote against it, at this late period of the session.
because we have not had time to examine and mature i
and because such bill would stand in the way hereafter
of proper reform of the Treasury Department Sir, in
my opinion, that reform will not be found consist in
multiplying departments and bureaus, and in increasing
patronage No, the abors of that Secretary are to
essened and the department itself reformed, not by in
creasing IFS officers but by Introducing better system
of book keeping and more Judicious arrangement of
the duties of the offices which already exist The offices
should be cassed and the accounts so arranged
that each in its sphere should contribute to present The
process OF receipt and disbursement not detached por
tions but whole, whose parts could be traced in
minute detail through all the Offices which stated the par
tlCulaTS general derived In
other words, the retorm OF method in this department will
be found here as 1t has been found elsewhere to consist
in Introducing fully and completely the system of book
keeping by double entry The forms of public account
should be prescribed and the officers so classified in
conformity to that arrangement that each should perform
part and but single part in ascending from minute de-
tails to the simple and general results OF the ledger with the
accuracy OF balance sheet and the same periodical
rests which distinguish awe keptprivate counting house
system approxmatng to this degree of excellence has
been matured in France, and mg ht be created here if
TO take the proper pains, and guide ourselves
by the lights OF experience Ii such reform were once
adopted here believe that secretary of fair financial
ability could discharge all the duties now imposed upon
the Department of the Treasury without being over
asked. know, sir. that the senator from Mississippi
has admonished that the labors OF the department.
any Secretary who undertakes them. They are great
know lar greater than they need be, if the proper sys
tenn introduced, and the proper degree of respon
siblity enforced. But the remedy proposed this bill
does not touch the evil 1t the system OF accounts
and mode in which they kept which produces con
fusion and embarrassment Why, sir, was surprised to
find that money derived from customs often not
partment for months after its receipt and that revenue
stated treasury reports the receipt OF one was
often in part the product OF another Sir, could 20 fur
thcr into this matter of the mode in which public
accounts are kept if there time for it, thorough
investigation instituted into the Treasury Depart
men think the embarrassments of the Secretary would
be found to arise much from the number of sub
iecs placed under his control as from the manner and
mode in which they managed
But the senator from Mississippi has almonished me
that the present Secretary OF the Treasury is far better
informed on all such subjects than | can possibly be
Sir admit the fact, but do know that il should de-
bar me from forming AMI expressing opinion of my