The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-04
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
7 THE INTERIOR. Y
DEPARTMENT OF THE IsTERioR, !
DECEMBER 2, 1850.

DECEMBER x, lo0U. }
Sra The duties which have been devolved
by law on the Department of the Interior, are of
the most varied and important character. As the
name of the Department would imply, they relate
to most OF the interests OF the country which are
Of domestic nature. They embrace not only a
variety of subjects, but the duties to be performed
are widely dssimilar, and partake in some degree
ola Legislative and judicial, as well as Of an exec
utye character.
To this Department is entrusted the general ST.
pervision and management of all matters connected
with the Public Domain Indian Affairs, Pensions,
Patents, Public Buildings, the Census, the Peni-
tertiary, and the expenditures of the Judiciary.
1t is the duty of the person in charge of it to see
10 the faithful administration Of the laws relating
to these several branches Of the public service and
to prescribe such regulations may be necessary
to give full effect to the legislative will. And in
addition to these functions Of executive and
legislative character, he is required by law to act
in Judicial capacity, and to decide all cases of APP
peal which may be brought before him for adjudi-
cation from any of the bureaux in his Department.
Many Of these appeals, especially from the Pen
sion, Land, and Indian Offices, are of great mpor-
lance in a pecuniary point Of view, and involve
TIE examination Of voluminous records, and the
investigation and decision Of intricate questions of
law and equity.
The act of Congress which created the Depart
ment was drawn up, probably by design, in very
general terms. Many of its provisions exceed
ingly vague, and there seems to have been no at
| tempt to define with precision the boundaries OF
its jurisdiction or the extent of its powers In the
| outset, this was probably the most juiicious
course, as experience is generally the best guide
in the adjustment Of such matters. But it would
seem TO be proper now that there should be more
definite legislation prescribing the duties and
powers Of the Department., SO that there may be
no conflict with other Departments, and little or
nothing left to the mere discretion Of the ncum-
| bent.
My predecessor, in his annual report, called
your attention to the incongruty in the law in
reference to the designation of the Department. In
the title of the act it is styled " Home De-
partment, but the body of the law provides that
it shall be called "The Department of the lne-
rior.' The late incumbent, under whose aus
pieces the Department was organized, felt himself
bound by the mandatory terms of the law to adopt
the latter designation in all his official acts, but il
is obviously proper that Congress should by sup
Elemental Legislation remove the ambiguity and
uncertainty on this subject.
| My predecessor also rec commended, for reasons
very clearly and forcibly stated by him in his re-
port, to which respectfully refer, the creation OF
the office Of Solicitor of the Department Of the In
terror, to be filled by lawyer competent to in.
vestigate and decide many of the important 9ues
| tons Of law and fact arising upon the numerous
| appeals which taken from the bureaux. My
| brief experience in the administration Of the De.
partment enables me to appreciate the wisdom OF
tlat recommendation, ana 10 urge It's speedy adop-
ton by Congress. In all cases, however, the &C.
ton Of the Solicitor should be subject to the revi
sion of the head Of the Department. for nothing
should be done to diminish in the slightest degree
| his official responsibility.
AS the reports of the heads Of the several bu.
reauX will give full information in regard to their
condition and wants respectively, and as have
not been long enough in Office to make myself
thoroughly acquainted with all the details of their
organization and functions, do not deem it either
necessary or proper, at this time, to give more
than general review Of their operations, with
such explanations and suggestions as the public
interests seem to require.
AS preliminary to this review, respectfully
submit, in tabular form, a summary Of the esti-
mates for each branch Of the public service within
the jurisdiction Of this Office. In distinct column,
and opposite to each item, is a statement OF the
estimate for the present fiscal year for similar SER
vices. This comparison seems to be proper, as it
will exhibit to the representatives Of the people at
a single glance, view Of the whole subject, and
at the time afford me tie opportunity of pre-
senting, by succnct commentary on each item,
such explanations as desire to offer,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Estimates for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852
compared ,cih those for the present fiscal year.