Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21
BUSINESS n THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.

BUSINESS N THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
Those MT intimately and Familiarity acquainted
with the npde Of doing business and the amount to
be- done inne various Departments ofthe Government
at Washington, can have but very faint and imper.
feet idea pom the subject. Such people very natu.
rally woher, upon sending their business here, why
It's not isfafy dispatched, and their claims, if any
they haze, not at once either allowed or reject
ed. Ifhey could but take hold of laboring oar
in one { the bureaus, even for few days, they
would ee why delays necessarily take place-why
il is tbt they cannot have their business dispatch
ed tn instant it is presented. But as all who
i transrit claims and other matters to the Depart
ment cannot become acquainted from personal OBJ
servsion, we have thought we should do them and
the Executive officers an acceptable service by pub
Using the following letter addressed to the PREsI-
DEM by the Third Auditor, Mr.. GALLAHER, in re-
plyto complaint made to the former against the
later of an unreasonable delay. 1t fully explains
tn, condition of that bureau, and will furnish to
thse at distance, who, like the complainant,
think there is unreasonable delay in the transaction
business here, satisfactory reason therefor.
[Repubkc.
TREAsURY DEPARTMENT.,
II THIRD AUDIroR's OFFIcE, JUNE IL, 1851.
Sir You pleased to send days since let
delays in this office in the settlement Of horse claims, and
gracousy promising indulgence his part for one
month.
take this occasion respectfully to call your attention to
the condition Of affairs in this bureau.
When appointed to its duties in October, S49,
found heavy arearage Of business, arising principally from
the Mexican war. The abors Of the Office had been in
creased by that in teod proportion. My venerable
predecessor Pe.er Hagner Of whose capacity and neI-
bic honesty every days experience affords fresh proof
literally overwhelmed When he asked for aid from
Congress only partially granted to him. In ls45 and
46 eight Of his most experienced clerks were removed, and
appointed who had to species Of apprentice
ship before they could be useful.
It but the year before his retirement from the office
that he asked for further assistance and refused.
When took charge of the bureau found unsettled nearly
three thousand large accounts of quaermaste commssa
RES engineers pension agents, &C. and under tOo acts
aone-that Of June lS48, and that of March g. 1919
there presented and ree,oed nearly ten thousand claims
for expenses Of raising volunteers for the Mexican war; and
| for horses and other property lost
Need refer you sir by way Of example, TO court docket
Of this magnitude, or attempt to give an idea OF the time
would require chancellor, with thirty six commission
| es, to decide such number of cases
It is true the accomplished clerks in charge Of each branch
of business report upon the law and the facts bearing
upon each claim but Igve TO each and every report
full and special personal examination before signing it.
have had addition of toeue clerks upon accouns and
have made reasonable and satisfactory progress therein
In reference to claims there have been reports and deci
son within the last year, couerng than thousand
pages of large folio books Yet notwithstanding my steady
and perseverng efforts to dispose Of them, is difficult
lessen the docket for upon every adverse report there
effort through members of Congress and attorneys to have
rs-eramination upon testimony upon argument
TO the law and facts Nothing but payment will satisfy
claimants their attorneys and not even that in many
for there frequent attempts made to procure payment
second time Some Of the claims of thirty years
standng originating in the with Great Britain, and
sequenty requiring very careful examination Never per-
haps in the whole history of the Government have there
been such perseuerng and bold attempts to get into the
national treasury unLa,cfuly at present.
am daily besieged by camorous agents in person. and
assailed by Vituperaon and threats evTy form but
thus far endeavored to preserve the equanmy and
thence necessary faithful and honest discharge of duty
am at all times ready for the searching scrutiny into
my official conduct and have than invited
bes Of Congress (some of whom deem part of their prui-
kges to abuse public ocer) to institute investigation
into the management of this bureau fearing nothing but the
errors incident TO fallble judgment.
The practice Of attempting TO browbeat and sub
ordinate public officers By appeals to the appointing poer
has become matter of serious import An auditor is in
respects judicial officer, but he is by under
the protection against outrage and wrong He is daily
subject personal Gnnoyances and to rten deuncatio
and Insult do not expect to be exempt from the penalties
incident to my arduous position It is my fate to
fill Office which brings into constant conflict with the
interests and passions Of men, and very naturally OBJ
ec Of dislike and prejudice many of them. do not feel
myself called upon in every instance to defend motives
and official acts against every vndcve and disappointed
man VINO hnds obstacle TO MS entrance into the easu
But when the appeal is to you, sir, feel myself JUST
he'd 10 attempting to make my defence ample and conclusive.
The late act of Congress giving bounty land to officers and
soldiers has added largely tho duties OF this bureau
have twenty-five clerks employed in making out certificate.
Of service in the with England and several Indian
and have reported upon at least tUenty thousand of hest
the first of November last send to the Pension office
average of hundred and fifty daily. Pardon this pro
1y have thought the occasion not inappropriate to ad
wise you of the condition Of affairs and respectfully asl
your attention to the hurried statement presented
The accompanying page will show the character and mag
nitude Of the duties appertainng to the Office.
With great respect, your obedent,
! JNO. s. GALLAHER.
His Excelency President FILLMORE.
! . DUTIES OF THE THIRD AUDITOR.
To audit and settle the too,cing account, and claims
! l. Quarermasters' accounts.
/ @ Subsistence accounts. '..
g. Pension agents accounts.
| A. Engineers accounts. .....r
Horses and other property lost from 1912 to presen
date, act l849.
g. Miscellaneous claims under act I'd June 1s4s refund
ing expenses in raising volunteers
T. Revolutionary claims. .#
i g. Special acts of Congress. ag.s
i g. Arearages of war Of 1912. .....
10. Hafpay pensions to widows in certain cases.
IL. Bounty land act, September 49, 1850, certificates
from the rolls Of 1872 and several Indian wars
The ,ohok number of clerks employed in this bureau
seventy-two.
: JNO. 8. GALLAHER, Auditor
| THIRD AUDIroR's OFFICE, Mar 80, 1851.
STR Will you be pleased state whether appeals from