The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-11

collect that the Secretary of War does not audit
accounts. They do moi come before him IN the
ordinary discharge of his duty. They go before
the bureau of the Quartermaster General, and from
him 10 the Third Auditor, and as ! before stated,
they never brought TO the notice OF the Secre-
tary unless the head of bureau thinks there is
some special reason for bringing them TO his notice
Thus il may very well happen that malpractice
may exist during the administration of a most
faithful and jealous officer, and may continue
during his Administration, without his being in
any manner censurable for 1t. Unless you gift
him with omnlscience, he cannot know everything
that is going OH IN the different bureaus Of his De-
partment. He cannot know in relation TO their
operation more than his subordnates commune
cate TO him; and 1t is their duty to inform him of
anything that requires his attention.
The Senator from Virginia alluded 10 certain
DEFICIENCIES said lately to have come from Cali
fornia. have made inquiry about the point, and
think the Senator is somewhat mistaken IN regard
TO il. Accounts may have come in from Callfor-
mia, but do not see how Deficiencies could come
in. The accounts, when they come in, are paid
II is very true, however, that accounts for pay
ments made applicable TO the service of a prior
year, may come ~ during the current year, and
may be found 10 have diminished the funds IN the
hands of the disbursng officers so as 10 limit the
amount at the command Of the Department, appi-
cable to the service of the current year. That Is
very true, and do not know that anybody here
would be to blame for it, unless that state of things
could be anticipated The truth is, however, that
sums paid for the service of one year are always
falling upon the appropriations for another year.
Under the system of accounts established by the
authority of the Government and which has pre-
vailed from the very beginning, the origin of which
is almost lost in obscurity, il happens, and cam
not but happen, that expenditures for prior years
not kpn ~ thaD mt ay
become charge upon the appropriations of the
current year.
If we look at the system OF receipts and eXpen-
ditures in the Quartermaster Generals bureau, we
shall see how this thing works. Yet, much as
has been said about the enormous expenses in the
Quartermaster's Department, the Senate will per-
haps be surprised to see that there has been a
regular diminuton of these expenditures since the
war. | have in my hands statement Of the eX-
penses of the Quartermaster's Department for the
years ending June Both, 1919, June 30,h 1850,
and June Both, 1851 and the estimates for 1852
have also a statement of the funds which went
into the hands of the quartermasters for disburse
ment during these wears. | submit the paper as
more satisfactory than my statement oft:
Statement funds trck cnt into the hands Of quarter
masters for disbursement.
In the year ending June 30, 1872
Balances in their hands July |, 1873 81 az IL
From sales of property, .......,...... s2l }i3 e.
Sc military contributions ,,,........... 62473 81
the Treasury. 1000, SOP A
Total .............,........,.s sos ,o66 s.
In the year ending June 30 e.,U--
From sales and rents OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Sr09 .O36 ~
g civil fund OF California. .......... SOS .l34 IS
g the Treasury, drafts, Sc ......a.. 3,s2a67I SO
Total. s4,74l.2la 81
In the year ending June 30 ISL
From sales and rents SlIl.5I5 50
the Treasury. 5.asl,a76 81
,S5,aal, 8ql s.
Expenditures made By The Qacrterraasers
In the year ending June 30 lo4g--
Reported thai year. gAj 90
since reported as prior 10 july /, isi9 1850 %
Total. 49,. .6,o9og76 50
In the year ending June 30 1850
Reported In that year..., ,tj2. ,2 y
Since reported, as prior 10 July ], la6.. 9e5tG 10
Total...,.:..........z.......,....s5.a..2 c9 .
In the year ending June 30, ls.l--
Reported IN that year. 81 12l Os1 o.
Since reported. TO April -, lsj2......... aj,O3 05
Total. si956.5s9 10
For the year ending June 80 s.a-
ESTIMATED tor this year, (see Estimates,
Appropriated per act OF ID Of March. ISL
claws, D. sf35.0O0 90
First reduction. 2al5ooo 90
-
Estimated for deficiency, January :, ls5a 0i6 46o 90
Reported in deficiency bin, ". u. 2O5... 1914 900 %
second Reduction. ................. .ial,46o %
ApPropna,ca for ,hi. year. by the act ofad
March, lsil... -2.fkb.U OD 90
Reported IN deficiency b ......... l931,0Ol 10
Total, appropriated aud reported. - 77a oO0 90
-=
Difference between the appropriations ~ The
current year and the lowest Expenditures IN
any Of Tie preceding years. lsi &C.,. j5sis3 10
n. q. The Estimates for the Gluarermas,er.'
Department tor the t.1J0 900 %
For the year commencing july ], l-i9 .... 4,i3s0 90
---
Inference. ..........,..........s... s6i6..la 90
---or s646, go less Than those % l-s2
Mr.. HUNTER How does tie Senator state
the expenditures for the years 1850 and lr5l.
Mr.. PEARCE. The expenditures IN the GUAR
termaser's Department for the year ending tie
30th Of June, 1880, amounted 70 .5,33- 900.
Mr.. HUNTER. According TO the statement
which have from General Jesupi the expendi-
lures for that year, IN the Quarternasier's De-
partment were Si,9j0,0G0. What is the Senator :
statement of the expenditures for the year ending
June Both, 1851
Mr. PEARCE. -Four mipn nine hundred
and ffty-slx thousand dollars
Mr.. HUNTER. The statement furnished me
puts them down at S5,2s6,000. IL would seem,
from this that there had been an increase instead
Of dlnInutlon. ] can tell the Senator how be