Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

aware at the time made the CALL that the Secretary had
made any communication to the Military Committee in
relation TO that matter.
Mr. PEARcE. At all events, the Secretary deserves
credit for having brought the matter TO the attention Of
the proper organs of the Senate and the House OF Repre-
sentves before caught the attention Of the Senator
from Virginia do not suppose that tie Senator from
virginia intended any injustice to the Secretary. did
not so understand him but want to show that the Sec
rotary was quite vgilan anybody else think he
is entitled to that much credit The Secretary has been
and has suggested in both Of his reports to Con-
gress that abuses probably existed in the administration
OF the army He endeavoring to find them out, and
he suggested the of preventing such of these abuses
as he had clearly ascertained to exist.
Another suggestion Of his was, that there should be
complete reorganization of the Quartermasters depart
ment. understand that communications upon that sub
eet have been submitted by the Secretary Of War to the
Committees Military Affairs both of the Senate and
the House of Representatives and believe that to one
not to both Of these committees he has submitted the
draft of bill intended to carry his suggestions.
do not mean to discuss the proprey Of these suggestions
they may not be sufficient for the purposes intend
but that the Secretary has taken this step sufficient
to indicate that he is quite sensible Of the Importance
and by Indifferent to the necessity, of removing
these abuses.
may mention another fact that am very sure is not
within the knowledge Of the gentleman from Virginia.
because 1t communicated to but very recently
The gentleman from Virginia has spoken frequently Of
the delays in the return of the Of the different
quartermasters; in regard to which, without any doubt
there has been in times past great deal of abuse much
more, believe than is the just With regard to
that have say that the Secretary Of War has, within
the last year. issued than hundred and forty
circulars addressed the dsbursng officers Of the army
calling upon them to render their accounts according
law threatening them If they did not do with being
reported to the President for Dismissal and am happy
to say that this course has had very good effect Since
those orders have been issued the Of the Quar-
termasers department have in with unprecedented
promptness
There is another reform which the Secretary Of War
has Ken Tn and IN
compish the very desirable object that suggested by
the Senator from Virginia but which, fear is not alto
gether practicable allude to system Of rests and
balances, by which ascertain precisely how we
stand at any given time The Secretary, about year
ago. directed that in recording the vouchers of accounts
of expenditures in the Department there shall be such
discrimination as shall indicate ct which Of those
accounts is chargabe the service Of the year.
and which is chageable to the preceding year. think
that is very good reform in system Of keeping army
accounts Other reforms will be necessary, doubtless at
least they will be advisable for entirely agree with the
Senator from Virginia in the propety of our endeavorng
to strcter accountability and more prompt
turns from the officers. But to accomplish that object
the assistance of legislation will be required indeed you
will have to remodel your whole system.
What is the of the impossbity of ascertaning
during any year. the expenditure proper for that
year? 1t is not merely disregard of duty by these
quartermasters 1t is not their neglect of the law which
imposes upon them the duty of reporting at particular
times, but it is the character of the law ITSELF Now,
what it? The quartermasters accounts returned
quarterly but then each quartermaster has certain
Rod of grace allowed him, and that period Of grace is
another entire quarter Now, suppose that quarter
master expends money in the month Of January in given
year, which is at the beginning of quarter. The
counts of that quarter ought be made up at the end of
the quarter but then he has three months
allowed him by law that is to say the accounts ought
be made up to the last of April Of any given year. and
after the close of June in the year he ought to
dispatch his accounts the department
Well if he is at distant post it may take six weeks be-
fore the accounts reach the Department. Thus it
might be months before the vouchers for expen
dture made in January would reach the Department If
the officer complied strictly with the requirements Of the
law say, then, that it is impossible, while that re-
mains the condition of the law that you should be able
establish system of rests and balances such the SEN
ator from Virginia DESIRES and such as admit to be de-
sirable, if practicable
But them if you amend the law do not know how you
tain the Of your liabilities and of your ex
penditures This is great country, sir Ii is not
little republic Of San Marine, which walk
in the course Of day 1t country Of more than two
millions of square miles, with thousands of disbursng
officers scattered all it, with expenditures amounting
to many millions years with operations of great extent
and Importance constantly going on How is it possible
that, at any given time Government in country such
this ascertain precisely what its fiscal condition
Why, no man Of varied and extensive business
compsh it. No lawyer who has trusts unsettled and in
progress; merchant who has argosies every sea
nobody engaged in business of any description which Is
any time say what his exact condition is Some APP
Proclamation to it may be effected to be think,
therefore, however desirable ii may be to
possible the accomplishment of the purpose which the
Senator from Virginia chershes II is not possible to ar
rive at it. to approximate very to it. In
TRUTH 1t very often happens that the expenditures Of
prior to the current year come in during the cur
rent year. and paid out Of the appropriations for that
year. If the appropriations Of the former year be deficient
Gentlemen may think this enormity and that is al
together wrong that services should be paid out Of fund
net specially appropriated for them but little observa
ton into the practice and workings OF this Government
win show that this is thing that is unavoidable and abb
solutey necessary.
Why, Congress to refuse to make appropriations
for any branch Of the army supplies take il that
the military service is not to stop Suppose Congress
should think proper not to appropriate dollar for the
subsistence Of the army, would il not be the duty Of the
military authorities to subsist the army Notwithstanding
Should the army be dsbanded starved Should the
country be left defeneeless Should the frontier be de-
sosted by predatory Indians because Congress had omit
ted to provide for the subsistence Of the army The sol
diers must be fed, they must be discharged What
authority would the President of the United have to dis
charge the army under such circumstances How would
he fulfil the duty which, Commander n-chef of the
Army and Navy, he to defend the country every
where with all the in his power, If he failed to
supply the army with that subsistence which Congress
had either Intentionally Internationally, withheld
Sir under the general authority given by acts of Con-
about the construction Of which the Senator and
myself differ, the President and the Secretary Of War
would have the power if there sufficient appropra
tons for other branches of the service provide for the
subsistence of the army and would be their duty to
dot
Mr. HUNTER never disputed the right Of the Sccre-
ry of War to provide for subsistence and transportation
stated expressly that there special act passed in
1920, which allowed such contracts to be made. n
Mr II nm awarp of a deal