The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-02
The War Department. and ats Finances.

ct Pestchester.
The War Department and ats Finances.
We thought we had shown conclusively
that the appropriations for the support of the
army for the current year are entirely made
quate. The Union, however, attempts to
prove that this is a mistake. We should be
very much gratifed, and so we are sure would
be the Secretary of War, if this fact could be
established but unfortunately the figures tell
us the contrary.
The basis of the whole argument in yester-
days Union is, that the head of the Depart
ment has a right to ''lump" all the appropria-
tons for the year, and that when one of them
falls short he may supply the deficiency from
another. 1t says:
'We know very well that appropriations we're
not made in gross; but we know that the heads OF
Departments, finding that the appropriation for
one branch of expenditure insufficient, while for
another the appropriation was more than sufficient.
equalized matters by taking from the item too lib
orally provided for, so TO benefit the item III
want"
Now, if this were true, to what purpose are
separate estimates required2 What is the
use of Congress specifying the objects to
which appropriations shall be applied if the
head of a Department can, at his plea
sure, in the language Of the Union, 'fequal-
lie matters" by taking from one appro
priation and giving to another which may
be in want2 The Union is in error in sup
posing that any such practice exists among
the heads of Departments. Money appropri-
ated by Congress must be applied strictly to
the purpose for which the appropriation was
made. The Executive has no authority to di-
vert it from the purpose for which it was in
tended, to apply it to another, however useful
Ut necessary that other might De. There is, it
is true, a law which declares 'fthat whenever
the sum appropriated for any object shall be
found more than sufficient to meet the ex
Pense thereby contemplated, the surplus may
be applied to supply the deficiency in any
other item in the same Department" In
order, however, for the exercise of the power
vested in the heads of Departments by this
law, it is necessary that the objects for which
the appropriations were made should be COM
pleted, or at least nearly SO that the probable
existence of a surplus can be ascertained.
But how can appropriations ever be trans
ferred under this law before the year for which
they were made had expired, or the subject for
which they were intended been accomplished?
Let us see how the balances on hand on the
lst of July could be transferred under this law.
These balances consisted of appropriations
/. For surveys light houses, roads, rivers harbors
and similar works. ............ S2S5,92I so
g For expenses of the Mexican and
Indian wars, northern frontier trou-
bles, &C., (being old appropria-
tions liable for claims now under
settlement and still coming inn. 1855 1852 I9
3. For Notifications, magazines, ar
senals, and other works Of a per-
manent character, and for the
manufacture of arms, cannon, &c. AS, 9O3 81
a. For the Military Academy S4,752 on
Now, the surveys, &C., mentioned in the
first item, and the Notifications, arsenals, sc
in the second, are still in progress, uncompleted;
there cannot, therefore, at present, be any sur
plus to transfer from these appropriations
As regards the third item of appropriations,
for expenses of the Mexican and Indian wars.
&c., the accounts for these expenditures
are still unsettled. 1t is believed that sur
plus will remain after satisfying all admitted
claims, and the Department, acting upon re-
ports to this effect, transferred portion of one
Of the appropriations included in this item, sub
ject TO be refunded in case it should be needed
10 carry out the law. The sum above stated is
the balance remaining after deducting that
transfer, and it would not be thought prudent
at present to authorize the transfer of any part
of this balance. As regards the appropriations
for the Military Academy, it is clear there can
be no surplus.
We think this explanation must satisfy the
Union that no portion Of these balances could be
applied to the support of the army.
As regards the items of appropriations for the
army proper, they are liable to be drawn upon by
the accounting officers in the settlement of the
accounts of disbursing officers and agents, and
to meet outstanding claims, which frequently
are not presented for many months after the close
of the fiscal year. Until, therefore, all accounts
for the expenditures of the year are adjusted. il
is impossible to say whether any surplus will
remain.
The Union says, however, that the present
Secretary Of War has himself exercised this
power. Mr.. CONRAD has done precisely what
the law allows, and no more He has trans
ferred unexpended balances of appropriations of
former years, when the appropriations had been
found more than sufficient for their objects to
The expenditures of the current year