Weekly national intelligencer., 1852-05-22

agree with the Senator that there is great evl i will
not say in the system of appointing clerksbut there
evil prevalent in regard clerks in the Departments
believe it springs Of the doctrine which was promu
gated here good many ago, that to the vctors
belong the spoils-a doctrine, sorry to say, that
has gained considerable ground 1t used to be repudated
by my political ends they have not been able to
Withstand entirely the outward pressure and although
we do not practise prescription much as our opponents
we have ndulged in it to some extent II practice
more honored in the breach than in the observance
should be exceedingly happy TO return to the cond
on Of things which prevailed before the year 1873
should be very glad practice prevailing In the
departments by which appointments should DC made
according to merit and not according to political inu
ence, and by which promotions should be made according
to efficiency and fidelity very glad to say that IN
some of the Departments there is approximation to
such system that. know that there are clerks OF
both political parties in the Department ofWar and in the
oce of the Secretary of the Treasury who have been
there for nearly twenty years They are efficient and
valuable menmen who not only to be respected as
clerks, but who have character gentlemen men OF
honor, and persons of intelligence, which would 1t q
Pleasure to any body enjoy their association should
te very reluctant at any tune to see such man--no
natter what were his potcsremoyed from Office because
tne differed from in opinion. have sought to
remove Of character and will
know the pressure of Political incence these Sec
retaries through potca influence, persons
entirely incompetent fosted into these Departments
clerks and that the public service suffers in consequence
OF it. But whether any general plan submitted by the
Executive to Congress canremedy these evils livery much
uOuDt u0uDt Wnetner you can Edopt any system Dy
which you dispense with that control the clerks
which the President and heads Of Departments
cse 1t would not do to make them independent of the
heads OF Departments most undoubtedly This is repu-
dated by amest every body do not how you could
such system ofppointments would the
desired ends unless both the great parties Of the
try and all the parties into which the country may here
after be divided shall determine that they will not go
down to lcw-water mark, and remove those inferior
agents Of the public service unless they incompetent
| or unworthy
understand that most of the Secretaries have agreed
upon general report and that they will also send in
special reports in few days. in call made by
the resolution of the Senator from Virginia. at the special
of the Senate last year. These reports have been
delayed because Of the absence Of Of the Secre
aries and they delayed because of the Sec
has, after frequent conference with his associates
not to join in the general report nasmuch
they cannot make any general report which will answer
the exigencies Of all the different Departments He will
therefore, make his special report and am told that
these reports may be expected in few days. doubt
whether any good will of it, any than from the
attempts made during Mr.. Van Buren's administration
| and from that time to this.
There is subject to which will call the atten
ton of the Senate The Senator from Virginia, in his
speech made alusions to the Navy Department In
place he called the attention of the Senator from m
nois, chairman of the Committee Military Affairs and
that of the Senator from California chairman of the Com
mittee Naval Affairs, to the consideration Of things
properly belonging to their committees. He called upon
them to look into the condition of their respective Depart
ments In another place he spoke of transfers being made
by these Secretaries" without discriminating Now it
turns out that the Secretary of the Navy does pos
the same power the other Secretaries in regard
the transfers of appropriations. The act Of 1842 to
which have referred, passed the 26h of August
five days after which bill passed for the reorgani-
cation Of the Navy Department. The former bill
ported by the Committee Ways and Means in the
House. and the other by the Committee Naval Affairs
The Committee Naval Affairs framed their bill
deprive the Secretary of the Navy Of the power which
otherwise would have been conferred, which con-
farra Inn i'm hvx xrn af he Is
We know how that We know that very large appro
priatons had for long series of years. been made for
the increase and repairs Of the navy And know that
charged that great abuses had prevailed by divert
ing those funds to other objects contemplated by Con-
gress When the Naval Committee of the House, there
FORE reported the bill for the reorganization Of the navy
the object to put end to those abuses forever by
deprvng the Secretary of the Navy Of the power Of
fers. 1t done by that act.
know that the Senator from Virginia did not intend
to charge that these transfers had been made by the Sec
retary the Navy and still less did he intend charge
that they had been made in violation Of law yet ii
perhaps be inferred from his speech because he did
discriminate. am making complaint of it at all am
merely stating the act because otherwise it might be
inferred by those who do understand the law that the
gentleman intended to charge the Secretary Of the Navy
with making illegal transfers Neither the present Secre
tary of the Navy nor his predecessors since 1872 have
made any transfers of Sort from head class of
appropriation another He has not had the legal au
thorty to do. do not know of any abuses in the
Navy Department which require strict examination by
the CHAIRMAN OF the committee ON Naval Afars have
not heard Of believe that there has not been
tary contract made by that Department during the adj
mnisaton Of the present Secretary Of the Navy his
immediate predecessor in violation Of law am inform
ed that both the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary
Of War challenge investigation in regard to the making of
contracts They challenge the production Of single in
stance in which any contract has been made by them in
violation Of law.
Something said by one of the Senators from Cali
orna about the act Of 1920 which gives authority to the
Secretary Of War to make certain contracts without
propratons and without special authority for the Quar-
termasters Department. Now, / understand that the
Of that power that he has used it when Congress
was in session The Navy Department has not the same
authority that of the War; and say it without fear of
contradiction that not instance be given where
the present Secretary his predecessor has made
tracts expenditures in advance Of appropriations
Mr.. HUNTER. made no such charge against the Sec
reary of War On the contrary, produced the law to
show that he had authority to make these contracts
Mr.. PEARoE. am aware Of that Butthere some
thing said by the Senator from California in regard to
this. recollect that there difference of opinion
between the Senator from Virginia and the Senator from
California that subject believe that the Senator from
Virginia did rather defend the Administration from the
charge which the Senator from California seemed disposed
to make / affirm that there has been violation Of
law in the making of contracts by the heads Of either Of
these Departments and the Secretary Of War is at the
present tme refusing to exercise the authority which he
possesses under the act of 1920, because while def
cheney bill is pending before Congress- he thinks that it
might be ndecate, il not improper, in him to exercise
that power. There are troops in Philadelphia,
route to Oregon, that want horses to carry them
their journey and the Secretary Of War refuses to make
contracts in advance Of the appropriations which he is
now soliciting from Congress.