The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08

States against what he conceived to be improper demands
Dose even ne heads Of departments. to these Influences
and temptations in matters OF account or ciam.
Such board as this would shield them, one
and all. from such temptations and al would SUP
nit readily and without suspicion to decisions gwen
by board thus constituted and souioanded Wy al
the circumstances which considered TO secure JUDI
ca fairness. This board would probably amlnsn me
number Of contested cases. by giving uniformity and har
mony TO the decisions in the departments upon matters
OF law and partition regulation instead Of having as
many appellate tribunals as hefe are neaas OF depart
menis we should have but one, giving harmonious
and consistent body of decisions Sitting constantly, and
devoted as they would be objects oil this character
they would be enabled 70 act speedily upon contested
cases and we should not hear OF marshas collectors
waiting weeks and perhaps months Tor settlement OF
their accounts. And last but not least the establish
men Of such board would relieve the heads Of depart
ments from labors often OF disagreeable and very
onerous character and for which they may have PEI
cuar qualifications although they may be good executive
officers 10 all that relates TO duties strictly administrative.
advantageousy felt by the Secretary OF the Treasury,
who has enough to tax all his energies in the executive
duties OF his department, without being troubled with
matters OF contested accoupt judicial Investigations
OF private claims which often sent TO him by Con.
gress without due consideration But there is another
duty 10 be discharged by this board in the departments
from which important advantages may be expected
They are required TO examine quarterly into the accounts
OF the departments and not only report their condition,
but also to recommend su,h changes in the existing
methods as they may think proper Some such invests
CATION as this TO be made by competent persons, and
often enough to insure the detection OF abuses before
they are Of long standing, would have most sautary
effect upon the officers in those departments and also
upon the system OF itself Ii would be of great
service to the clerks and the heads OF bureaus TO know
that searching and an intelligent eye is upon them
ess and inefficient would either mend their ways or pre-
psre to leave. Go to what bureau you may and you will
probably find two classes Of officers the good and
the faithful, and the worthless and inefficent--the
latter sometimes getting the larger salaries, and the for
mer doing all the work II sometimes happens that the
former class have 10 labor night and day, to calls
% who neaaSs 81 e
whilst the others draw fun salaries for work which they
90 not perform The evil Is remedies because these
ence, and will continue TO hold them through the same
means, until some body is established sku enough TO
detect and independent enough TO deare these abuses
where they exist know we have committees oil Con-
gress appointed for the express purpose Of looking into
these matters but you might well appoint John Doe
lions would require more time, more experience, and
more knowledge Of our complicated system OF public
accounts than any committee OF Congress can bring to the
task The appointment Of such committees is mere
"brutum funlen-a sort OF well. meaning fiction, which
might have answered some useful before its utter
neficiency discovered Buthe investigation Of such
board proposed here, would have very salutary
effect upon all concerned in the departments Had such
board existed we should have been warned of the
emulation OF business in the Third Auditors Office be-
presented and were waiting Tor action. Ii there were
not clerks enough or if those employed inefficient,
the fact would have been reported by those whose voice
would have been respected and the evil would have been
remedied. do not mention this by way OF blaming the
present Auditor, who found this accumulation of bust
ness when he entered into the Office and who, as be-
eye is good officer. Nor do suppose that his prede
cessor was in fault There probably want OF eff
Gent force in the office but the evil, whatever it may
have been, ought to have been examined into and the
remedy ought to have been applied. have rea-
to believe that such investigation as this bill
proposes might lead to valuable changes in the system
Of accounts itself. believe, sir, that important and
valuable changes might be made in system OF pub
lie accounts by such board is here proposed,
ssng OF experienced and intelligent persons, whose lives
devoted to the study OF such subjects Indeed, 1t
would require great deal Of knowledge of the sub
ecl to point out serious faults IN the existing system
might REFER il there time TO enter into it, 10 the two
sets Of accounts OF which represented money known
10 be in the treasury and the other money which was
technically so and upon the Registers books. might
point TO the complicated system OF keeping the treasury.
note account As far back the establishment OF the
Home Department, in the debate upon the evils to be
Temedied in the Treasury Department, mentioned the
fact that money collected sometimes did not appear upon
the Registers books until months after; and money
ceved from customs in year was often represented IN
the public the OF another year, owing
10 the delays in entering these amounts upon the Regis
ters books. The fault here was not as believe, IN the
officers who kept the books, but in the system OF ac
counts The evil, as understand, has been remedled
since, to extent, by requiring weekly statements
from all the collectors at important points But, Mr.
President, do not pretend to know what reforms are
necessary would not undertake 10 suggest them with
my limited knowledge and experience Of such subjects
believe, however, that know enough TO justify the
opinion that these matters require invesigaoaby compe-
tent and impartial persons II is 10 such board this
that we might look for reforms in system OF public
accounts with far than to the heads OF de-
partments These gentlemen may have high administra-
tive taent they may be well informed in general politics
and the great principles upon which public affairs should
be administered, and yet have but little knowledge
OF accounts as system, and but small portion oil
that special information which necessary enable them
10 understand what Is necessary in order 10 reform the
evils and nsufhcencies Of existing methods. Such a
board as this however, would make the subject their
study and would be competent to suggest and supenend
the necessary reforms. Nor, sir, is this experiment.
without example in the history OF the world similar
institution is 10 be found in France, whose financial
chneyU do not say whose financial SYSTEM is, perhaps
the best in the world II is striking TO have at.
ation Of her nsuar neighbors report on this sub
ec, made 10 the lords commissioners OF the British treas
ury, by John Bowring in 1884, will be found to be
document worthy the study OF all who take interest m
such subjects He says that NJ LATTE assured him
that the system was scarcely susceptible oil ameora.
its correctness he cited the striking fact "hat in the
counts OF ls2s examined and reported by the court
OF accounts. and amounting altogether to four hundred
millions sterling, the annual transactions OF all the de-
paments united and comprehendng every fact OF
Ter. debit and credit the only detected did not
have been audited since my former report was pre-.
sened, show error Of amount OF only cat s5c., or
about eighteen sbings sterling" This system, so
nearly perfect and complete, ts origin, like many
other admirable things 10 France 10 the creative genius
and love OF system Of the great Emperor He i was
after year. and reign after and reign, with much skill
and until the machinery attained