The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-25

General ought 10 change the forage that
furnished TO the animals we have there 10 the service. III
the commanding officer makes a requston upon the
Quarermaser's department Tor forage, specifying VIVA
that forage shall beeither grain fodder, or what not
the Quaftemasters department bound by that requis
ton, and has no discretion change it, II he calls oI
gram the Quartermaser has right to supply the de-
mand with long forage. The regulations allow to a
mule eight quarts OF for each day, and II the COM
manding ocer requires it the Quarenaster General has
right to say that but four or six quarts shall De gwen
and the idea that the quarermaser is responsible for
these nings delusion. Il is erroneous IN all s ens'
but my friend from New York. [Mr. BRooks,l on Sat
utiay last, argued TO show (and was astonshed at ~
that Congress, and not the Executive was responsible
fox these expenditures Now has il come to this has
icome TO this, ask, that administration, with the
exclusive power of making estiinales-wh the power
ures-sla attempt 10 shrk and evade the responsibility
Incident TO such actions aer myself that the gentle
nan from New York Mr., BRooKsl has spoken without
authority hatler myself that those in power-the ex-
eeulve branches OF the goyernment-Ne not 40 COW
ardyI will not employ that angnage-are not so lost
all OF magnanm.y OF honest responsibility as
Of their expenditures. II Is a most unhearl-of
proposition, thai Congress is responsible for the care
less and wastefnl disbursement OF The funds which
il has, by law, placed in the hands OF the President
Congress may unwsely besiow money upon an unneces
say object but if the President carries out the law as
to make the expenditure unnecessarily LARGE the respon
sibiIiy is his and he cannot evade IT, 1t may, or may
not be wise for Congress to appropriate moneys to man
tain ,imes suppress Indian hostes but. after ma
King appropriations FTetuenl aiOhe
il het hall waseIully expend money in carrying out tbe
Infections of Congress Ii the President in carrying into
execution the laws Of Congress- adopts was,efu inei-
cie and datoy Methods he and not Congress, is sole
y rssponsibe art avail him TO escape II, and he
ought not to desire TO escape II II be could
tits true that the Executive eypend dollar with
out authority Of law; but when the aw-maklng power we
ec he is bound, in making that expenditure 10 be gov
erned by principles OF economy. will illustrate Be-
cause Congress by law authorizes him TO build fort al
ula nj o. i'm
in the erection OF that fort II by no means lo-
lows that he shall expend all OF the $1,000 but II 10
othr portion Of the sum appropriated he is bound TO
saw 1.-THE object and purpose o Congress ~ making
Incorporation is to enable the Executive to build the
fort il he can do it, cost not to exceed the sum ap.
proated The law does no. require him TO expend all
Of he 100000, but oaly so much-withn the appro'
prlton-as the public interest," consulting true econ
ony may requires and il he shall extend his expend.-
tuRs beyond the point of true economy, he, and he
alme, is responsible for such abuse, ~,
An appropriation serves check or restrain within
limits the expenditures but never increase them Con
gross neither expends the money nor does fqare the
President 10 expend it Congress passes law by wbich
i allows him 10 do it, II the public good require 4 An
honest Executiveand would like 10 believe all TO be
hooes,a faithful ExecuiIveone who is disposed 10 dc
his whole duty TO his country II seems TO me- would no.
like 10 make an improper or waslelu expenditure OF
money. but that he would look 10 the wants OF the coun
try and whenever the country wanted less than the ap
propriaon, he would feel II bis duty to make Inc e8
pendiures lessI that he will nogo up TO the ap
i
i DC possible that the President OF the United States
who has the right 10 expend $4,000 or Sl0oo0o VA
say q" is have expended that money, and II asc
true that il necessary but you are responsible
because you gave me the power TO expend it, knew
was unnecessary and wrong but did II because
couls." II he knewH TO be wrong u was vioiauoh
duty and good faith in hun to make the expenditure
Mr Charman there never has been, and never VIII be
Congress OF the United States that make all neces
sary and proper reforms in the government either in ht
appropriations anything else, without the Co operation
OF the executive department. We may reduce thus ant
that em bnt, with exceptions, we will not be like
to act understandingy when the departments iai
sympaihze with us in the movement. To be success
full and do good 10 the country, must bave Tespon
sve feeling from the other end OF the avenue. We may
cut of estimates. We have the power TO do 1t, but W.
never may know until we try II, whether we cut pre-
csely rghtdeep enough, and not too deepand whether
not striking at an estimate we should not touch
unless have hearty cooperation IRON The execu
tive br anch OF the government The estimates made
and laid upon desks; but what do we know abon
ihem What can we know about them With Their essi
mates they give their scan those reasons
we investigate hen and do everything in power with
the view making them correct we find show
that they are nproper we make the approPriaupf am
we should make IL. The President OF the United Staie
responsible for his estimates and Congress has nothing
TO do with them until they received. They are mad
alone upon the responsibility OF the Executive Bu ih
gentleman says that Congress by voting IN aceordanc
with these estimates thereby endorses ihem and thus be
comes responsible Let us testh Let us see whehe
it is sounda correct principle The estimates are sent
us, and, as contend constitute what lawyer would cal
prna fsee for appropriation. desire distinctly e
be understood upon this point The estimates make pn
tace case for appropriation They come TO and ar
referred to committees Ii is the duty oil those com
nees TO investigate and examine carefully into the esti
majestic scrunze TO correct and TO do everything to de
tect and improperly, 10 expose and op OIL II though
necessary The committees then report 10 Congress- am
il becomes alike the duty OF all the members 10 inves
gae and probe the estimates 10 the full extent that thei
facilities will enable them to do and ii after all this
cannot give good reason for reducing refusing them
we should, in my opinion make the appropriation esii
mated for state that as the principle which will ordl
narily govern my action in such But, them wha
sort Of responsibility does the gentleman from New Yor
attempt give Congress' We called upon daily 10 re
pose confidence in the executive department oil the govern
nent We told by his friends that must rely upo
him to extent; that should not cut down thei
estimates without and then, ii we agree TO CIV
them the appropriation the gentlemen turn imme
daely round and say Congress aud not the Executive
lpesd nor direct the expending Of dollar This
strange reasoning
4 Here wish TO say few words upon the blunders th
gentleman from New York Mr.. BRooKs] has endeav
ored establish upon President Polk's administration
to estimates and deficiencies Now, agree with tina
gentleman, that estimates are appfoxlmates, IN som
Sort to the amount that will be required under the
rous heads OF expenditure but then the gentleman di
not do Mr. polk's administration justice when he al
tempted establish before this committee that that ad
minstra,on bad estimated for large deficiencies for th
army upon objects and items which had been estimates
for previously Take up all the bills OF which he spoke
and examine what they The OF the sth OF Maj
1916, five days previous 10 the war with Mexico, wa
called deficiency for that year Our relations with Mex
co had become Of that delicate and interesting characts
that indicated TO the administration that war might 500
break out and consequently large numbers OF troops
directed towards the frontier of Texas and Mexico
which made necessary therefore, in May, of 1916, fc