Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-04
0WhO Heard Hunter speak, and what
DId Hunter 10 TA

Did Hunter Sayp %s H
We call the attention of Congress, and the
country, and the heads of the executive depart
ments, to the remarks of Senator Hunter upon the
subject of reorganization of the Departments, and
the equalization of the salaries of clerks upon
more just and equitable footing. We have again
and again adverted to this subject as forming
not onlya legitimate subject of legislation, but
one which pressingly demands the consideration
of Congress; and we are happy when we find
statesman of sufficient boldness, independence,
humanity, and justice speaking out openly and
honestly for the right, rising above mere party
considerations, and looking to the good of the
country as well as to the well-being Of those i'm
portant agents of the government. Why the
heads of departments have not responded to the
resolution of the Senator we cannot, of course,
pretend to say; but now that he again calls for
the necessary data to enable Congress to legisate
intelligently upon the subject, we trust there will
be no further unnecessary procrastination on
their part
/" Who heard Hunter speak, and achat did Hunte,
say? ?" are questions placarded upon the corners
of our streets, and re-echoed in our private cir
ces yet no one has seen fit to crafty public or
private curiosity by responding thereto. But they
related to some other Hunter. Senator Hunter has
spoken; and MS we have waited thus long-now
almost three weeks--for some other friend of that
gentleman to enlghten the country respecting
what he has said, we subjoin, for that purpose,
portion Of his speech concerning this great and
necessary work of reform. After speaking of
the confusion in the Third Auditors Office, and
want of accuracy in the Quartermasters' accounts,
arising from want of efficiency, in part, of a
portion of the force in his department, and in
part from the fact that his clerical force is too
small, he continues
"But why is it that these quartermasters' ac-
counts are in arrears in the Third Auditors Of
fee since the year 1847? know that Auditor to
be an honest, industrious, Woodworking man,
and that he found the accounts in arrears when
he came in, and has not had force enough since
to enable him to bring them up. He told me
that it was useless to give him any additional
force, unless he could have that kind of expe-
rience which was required to make out these &C
counts. How can we know what force to add, or
where to add it, unless we have some assistance
from the executive department 1t is now more
than year since the Senate, on my motion,
OTueTcu d Gull upOu Lle Executive 10 present
some plan for equalizng the salaries in the same
grade of service, and for reorganizing the clerks
in the several departments, for the purpose of
making the force more efficient; and up to this
day we have had no answer to the CALL although
these facts and others were staring them in the
face.
81 know something about the clerks in the
executive departments. Some of them, know,
have genius, and talent, and character enough to
fill any post in those departments, from the high
est to the lowest. / know that incompetent and
idle men are also TO be found there-men who
incumber the departments and live as useless
pensioners upon government. Good men are
laboring there, toiling sometimes by night well
as by day, under the Notwithstanding conscious
ness that no degree Of merit can insure them
promotion, or always preserve the places which
they already fill, but that idle and incompetent
men may be placed over them merely because
they can command more political influence. If
these departments were reorganized-if their
modes of transacting business were more system
atized and the machinery so adjusted as to show
by its working both the competent and incompe-
tent hands which it employed-and, above all, if
this organization held out proper prospect of
reward and promotion to merit-the public bust
ness would be better performed, and by fewer
persons and at less expense
''Sir, let the clerks know that merit will be
rewarded, and that idleness will be punished, and
you will soon see another and different spirit
them. There is talent enough in these
departments, if they were properly organized to
make them such models of business establishments
as any Secretary who presided over them might
well contemplate with pride and pleasure. But,
sir to effect this desirable end these departments
must be so organized as to do justice; the en-
ployes must know, as every American citizen in
any other occupation knows, that the road to pro-
motion is open to them, if they are industrious
and honest and capable; and that if worthless
and incompetent, they must leave the places for
better men to supply In doing this we would
not only insure, at less than the present cost,
a much more efficient service, but we should
elevate the character and responsibility, and
increase the happiness of the corps of clerks
themselves; and l submit if this be any small
object? Is not q corps of efficient and expe-
rienced clerks as essential to the good govern
ment of our country as army or n navy >? And
yet, sir Notwithstanding these circumstances,
which appeal so strongly not only to the sense of
policy, but to the humanity of those who admin
lister the government, the call to which have
referred has been sumbering in the executive
departments for more than year, and no answer
has been given to it as yet. Sir, surely the con-
dition of these departments calls for some amend
ment and reform. The Third Auditor requires
some additional force, and we ought to give him
force enough to settle the current accounts
promptly as they come in, and to bring up the
old arrearages of accounts as rapidly as can well
be done. 1t is q shame that with an overlooking
treasury we cannot state what is its true condi-
ton, or settle promptly the accounts of our pub
lie servants What is so likely to demoralize the
public service as the want of strict and PROMPT
accountability on the part of the agents Of gov
ernment?"
Why Don't He Speak,