The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-20


nament ii accounts not presented and settled al
aspas times and fixed periods. is impossible to make
hs rests and strike the balances often enough for strict
Il = indispensable that rests and balances should be
made periodically, and every exeron should be made to
cause Them 70 report promptly y IS a much more mpor
h. no due degree OF responsibility was shown al the
Third Auditors Office payroll upon which clerk
Saed his receipt for his pay by making his mark
Another person, leamsteI signed his IN the same way
.nd vet there certificate stating his account, in
which his name was sigaed in good clerical hand.
was also told that none account there was found
II s25 900 in addition Another quariefmaster brought
IN during The Mexican war, the accounts for al least
eleven and perhaps thirteen quarters at time. The
consequence that the accounts all behndhand. and
M man tell what the real amount oil the deficiency
4 do not believe there Is a man inside outside OF
The department who can pretend 10 make reasonable
approximation to the real amount Accounts Of deficiencies
have come in from California since this bill was report
al which will probably add largely TO the amount al
ready estimated. asked General Jesup how much these
would add, and he said he could not tell till the accounts
were settled know that II IS difficult thing to enforce
order and strict regularity in those distant States and Ter
u,oes and il is matter 10 be accomplished by degrees
il t. however. time 10 endeayor TO enforce strict and
nomp accountability Without il the Executive cannot
tnow The condition Of the public treasury nor can Con-
gress know in what manner and in what to appro
erae money as shall show more fully presently. As
lam az this is the case, they are indeed stkng in the
darR as as was said in the House of Representatives
when they cut down an appropriation one-half. And
who can blame them Tor striking in the dark under I'M
der
nav we are compelled to act without proper light and in.
But why it that these quariemasters accounts are
il arrear; in the Third Auditors office since the year
is47i know that Auditor to be an honest Industrious
hard working man. and that he found the accounts in
arrears when he in, and has had force enough
since enable him TO bring them up Hetold me that it
was useless to give him any additional foce unless he
could have that kind OF experience which required
10 make out these accounts. How can we know what
force add where TO add 1t, unless We have
frnaa iba fiya dana n
more than year since the Senate, my motion, order.
ed call upon the Executive TO present some plan for
eqnazng the salaries in the same grade OF service, and
for recognizing the clerks IN the several departments
for the purpose of making the force efficient and
up TO this day have had no answer 10 The call al
though these facts and Others staring them in the
face.
know something about the clerks in tho executive
departments. Some of them, | know, have genius and
talent and character enough TO fill any post in those de.
parments, from the highest to the lowest know that
incompetent and idle men also 10 be found there
men who incumber the departments and live as useless
pensioners upon government. Good men are labofing
there oling sometimes by night as well as by day, un,
der the heart-sckening CONSCIOUSNESS that degree OF
merit can insure them promouon always preserve the
places which they already fill, but that idle and incom
eent may be placed over them merely because they
command more political influence II these depart
mens were reorgaaized-t their modes of iransactins
business were more syslemazed, and the machinery
adjusted as TO show by its working both the competent
and incompetent hands which u employed-and, above
ALL II this organization held out proper prospect OF re-
ward and promotion to ment-the public business would
be better performed, and by fewer PERSONS aud at less
expense.
Sr LET the clerks know that merit will be reward
ed, and that dleness will be punished and you will
see another and different spirit animalng them. There
talent enough in these departments, ii they prop
ey organized to make them such models OF business
adjustments any Secretary who presided over them
might well contemplate with pride and pleasure But.
sir, to effect this desirable end these departments be
organized 10 do justice; the employees mus, know
every American citizen in any other occupation knows,
thai the road 70 promotion is open TO Them if they in
dasrous and honest and capable; and that if worthless
and incompetent they leave the places for better
men to supply In doing this, we would mol only insure
asss than The present cost much more efficient SER
nee, but should elevate the character and respect
ability and increase the happiness of the corps OF clerks
themselves and submit il this be any small object Is
not corps oil efficient and experienced clerks essential
TO The good government oil our country as army a
navy; and yet SIR, notwithstanding these circumstances
which appeal so strongly not only to the of policy
but to The humanity OF those who administer the gov
eminent, The call 10 which have referred has been
slumbenng IN The executive departments for than
year, and no answer has been given 10 il as yet Sir
surely the condition OF these departments calls for
some amendment and reform. The Third Auditor re.
CURES some additional force, and we ought to give
HIN iorce enough to settle the current accounts
promptly as they come in and TO bring up the old
rearages OF accounts rapidly well be done Ii
is shame that With Overlooking treasury we cannot
state what is It's true condition, settle promptly the
counts OF our public servants What is likely TO de-
moraze the public service as the want OF strict and
prompt accountability on the part OF the agents OF govern
menil
But, Mr.. President. this is not the only difficulty
There have been Innovations upon old usages, in my
opinion upon old laws which have been highly de,rl.
mental do not say that these innovations originated
with this administration. Some OF them ready made
to Their hands, and some OF them. 80 far
tam. dd originate with thus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
which Congress ought 10 suppress i shall show you
some oil the Tor the present consased OF
public accounts. and how 1t is that act ntei-
gently ~ relation to them
We all know that 10 1895 a law was passed requiring
all balances Of appropriations, with certain exceptions,
which unexpeDded after two years from their date
10 be carried to the surplus fund Then. in 1870, we
passed law covering cases IN which these appropriations
were drawn by the Secretaries OF War and Navy and
curing that They should be returned TO the fund within
two years. Well. how have they regarded that law
they nave been acting IT, am told, for eight years
past, under the ideaand how they derived IL know
nothai unless the Secretary OF War, or of the Navy,
said the purpose was accomplished for which The appro
praon made, il would not 20 into the surplus fund
and that in opposition TO lucid and cogen opinion oil an
Attorney General, gwen upon the very TO which
reer-l mean that OF Mr.. Berrep Attorney General of
The United States the 18th March, 1884, when his
opinion was taken in reference 10 this very natter and in
which be gives as his clear and decided opinion that
me money must go into the surplus fund Ii is too long
70 read here, but wish had time TO do so and submit
toi every person who does read il must come TO the
conclusion mat Is the correst construction OF the law
bul permit me TO 20 one step further before proceed
Illustrate how this practice OF reservog appropriations
working IN the departments We all know that when
e sysem Of specific appropriations adopted, there
vas nothing about which Congress showed so much
raioosy as he power OF transfer. II power that
m icy confined to the President alone II power
Ia Mey restricted TO certain appropriations for the War
SUI Na'y Departments. In this same act OF 1870 there
are Two sections qhree and four which forbid transfer
" any appropriation made for one year in a succeeding