The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

fore which tho appropriation bill then pending insert
an additional sum Of $729,l72 presume tbs senator from
Virginia has copy OF that letter have That would
make the appropriations for the year ending June &c. 1851
amount TO Ss542000 which the amount expended for
the previous year. This however, not done In order
TO supply the Deficiencies found necessary to transfer
snndry balances Of old appropriations To the amount OF
$4,000. making the available Of the department
N,oi5,0O0 In justice to the Commuee on Finance
should state that they were enanged WIN difficulties almost
day before the close of the last session We found such
condition Of things the House OF Representatives made
extremely doubtful, whether, II we undertook 70 amend
the BILL at least ia any important particular II might not be
defeated altogether The honorable senator from Virginia
the chairman of that committee did feel to be his duty 10
amend il in particular think he had additional
appropriation made for the clothing department Is II not
MIR. HUNTER. think believe moved an
amendment which adopted, making an additional APP
Mr.. PEARCE. That conforms with my recollection
and believe the senator under the circumstances, would
have consented report the bill as If he had not
known that the ensuing session OF Congress- the deh-
cheney could have been supplied by dehcency bill There
additional why this letter Of the Secretary Of
War should be acted upon by appropriation being
inserted in the appropriation bill LII
The Senate will recoect that the bill which intro
dneed by myself in relation to the civil fund Of California
had passed this house, and gone to the House OF Repre-
sentaves and had the bill passed the House OF Represent
atves did this body there would have been ample au-
ho,y Of law for bringing this money, derived from the
civil fund Of California, into settlement at The treasury,
which, wi bout law, not possible. Such bill has
passed this body, and to the House OF Represent
atives, where il is pending. Should not pass that
House, however, hope the chairman Of the Committee on
Finance will consent when the general army appropriation
BILL other general appropriation bill shall DO under
introduce single clause TO provide Tor the
settlement accounts which ought to have been settled
ago. but which cannot be settled for the want OF egs
ation.
few words in regard the appropriations for the
present year for this department The regular estimates
for this year were $l7500OO The appropriation act Of
March the Sd, 1851 under circumstances explained APP
proprated 50 ABS 000a reduction by Congress- OF 81
600 from the estimates. In preparing the deficiency es
which submitted at the present session Of Con-
gress the quaremaste general thought the expenditures
this would not equal those Of the past year. and he
reduced his estimate $20660O0 And there is proposed
be appropriated ia the deficiency BILL under the
sideration of the Senate the amount Of 81
with the appropriation heretofore allowed, something like
1871 900 less than the original estimates Of last year. If so
that would bring the expenditures for the year down to
made the calculation infinitely But if correct in this
and there should turn be unexpected deficiencies,
the expenditures of this department during the current year
will be less than those of the year BEFORE according
the statements which have made to the Senate the
case SUCCESSFULLY for each year up to ls49
The senator spoke Of the necessity of modifying the
ganizaton Of the departments in regard TO the clerks He
spoke Of resolution which he had submitted the last
Of the Senate and which he thought ought to have
been answered before As to that subject have to
that various projects for organizing the clerks 10 the
various departments classifying them properly, providing
proper system Of salaries and perhaps for ausht know
holding regular plan Of promotion, have been suggest
gina was member Of the other House. such project
attempted and report was called for In the time OF Mr.
Van Buren, Reports were submitted to Congress by the
heads of departments of that day They never acted
upon. They met the common fate Of such things They
went the tomb of the Capuets, where believe went the
project of Mr. Mckay, which originated IN that House.
Mr. HUNTER McKays bill passed the House, but
failed here
Mr. PEARCE. At all events it did not become law
agree with the that there is great evil win not
say the system of appointing ceksbut there is evil
prevalent in regard to clerks in the departments believe
springs of the doctrine which was promulgated here
good many years ago. that to the victors belong the
spoisa doctrine, ssrry to cay, that has gained con-
siderable ground used to be repudiated by my own
political friends but they have not been able TO withstand
entirely the outward pressure and although we do not
practice prescription much as our opponens we have
INDUCED in extent II is practice more hon
ored in the breach than the Observance" should be
ceensly happy to return to the conduon OF things
which prevailed before the year 1928 should be very
glad TO practice prevailing in the various departments
by which appointments should be made according merit
and not according political influence and by which
motions should be made according to efficiency and fidelity
am very gad say that in of the departments there
is an approximation to such system as that know that
there are clerks of both political parties in the Department Of
War and the Office Of he Secretary of the Treasury who
have been there for nearly twenty They efficient
and valuable who are not only be respected as
clerks but who have character gentlemen ms men Of
honor and persons Of intelligence which would make II a
pleasure to nybody enjoy their association should be
very reluctant any time to see such manno matter
what where his politcs-removed from ONCE because he
/
single individual of that character, and never will.
know the pressure OF political influence on these Score
tares know that, through political influence persons
entirely incompetent fosted into these departments
ceks and that the public service suffers in consequence Of
H. But whether any general plan submitted by the Execu
tive 10 Congress remedy these evils very much doubt
doubt whether you adopt any system by which you
can dispense with that control the clerks which the
President and heads Of departments exercise II would
no, do to make them independent Of the heads OF depart
mens most undoubtedly. This is rcpudiated by almost
everybody. do how you could such sys
tenn OF appointments would the desired ends,
unless both the great parties of the country and all the
parties into which tho country may hereafter be divided,
| shall determine that they will 20 down TO low water
mark md remove those inferior agents Of the public
unless they incompetent or unworthy e.
understand that most Of the Secretaries have agreed
upon general report and that they will also send in special
reports in few days in TO call made by the
luton of the from Virginia at the special session Of
the Senate year These reports have been delayed be-
cause OF the absence Of Of the Secretaries and
they are delayed because Of the Secretaries has
after frequent conference with his associates determined
10 Join in the general report nasmuch they cannot make
any general report which will the cxigences Of all
the different Departments He will therefore, make his
special report and told that these reports msy be
pcced in few days doubt whether any good Will come
OF IT, any than from the attempts made during Mr..
Van Burcn's administration and from that time TO this
There is subject TO which will call the atten-
ton of the Senate. The from Virginia, in his
speech made illusions TO the Navy Department 10
one place he called the attention Of the from Illinois,
chairman OF the Committee Military Affairs and that Of
the senator from California chairman Of tho Committee
Naval Affairs the consideration Of things properly be-
longing TO their committees He called upon them 10 look
into the condition Of their respective departments. In