The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-17


addressed the Senate, by way of personal expia,
nation In defence of his course while member OF
the Committee on Printing. He xplaned the ac-
ton OF the committee on the several propositions
which had been submitted before it, and his action
also He referred 10 and read an editorial article
which appeared in Thursdays Union, and also :
Tactsirom speeches made in the House OF Represen-
tatvcs by Messrs STAsros, OF Kentucky, and Con
MAN, oil Indiana, nd he pronounced certain state
ments made therein, as far as they concerned him.
10 be false.
The CHAIR said that il was not in order thus to
speak OF what had taken place in the House OF Re-
preseItatiyes.
MIR BORLAND resumed, and for time
unued his explanation upon the course which the
committee had pursued with regard 10 the Con-
gressional printing.
MIR. UNDERW WOOD moved that the considera-
ton of the private CALENDAR be further postponed to
enable the mo rning business to be transacted; and
The motion was disagreed to-
THE pEFiCIENcY BILL.
AIr HUNTER moved that the Senate postpone
The private calendar, and take up for consideration
the Deficiency bill
Mr.. DOUGLAS expressed the hope that the Sen
ate would TO- morrow meet for the purpose of TAX
ing up and acting on several territorial bills.
Ms. ATCHlSON, desiring To submit motion that
when the Senate adjourn IL be to meet on Monday
moved TO lay Mr.. HuNrER's motion on the table,
which was not agreed to-ayes 10, noes 20
MIR. SHIELDS suggested that the Deficiency bill
he postponed 10 and made the special order for
Mr.. HUNTER explained the necessity for pass
ing the bill, and his motion was then agreed to
ayes II, noes II.
MIR. HUNTER then proceeded to explain the
bill, and 10 meet objections which had been raised
10 the necessity ana propriety Of there being any
such bill n Deficiency bill. Ii had been con
tended that enough ought In the first instance be
estimated, and the Govcrnu ent ought then TO con-
tine its expenditures to the amount actually ap-
propriated by Congress. The Deficiency bills
grew out OF the change which bad in the year
ls42 been made in the time for the commencement
OF the fiscal year. Previous TO that time the
fiscal year commenced on the frat OF January;
II was then changed to the first Of July. Before
this change, II usual TO pass what was called
partial appropriation bill, 10 enable the Govern.
lnont to 20 and withhold the great body appro
priations to debate upon. This faculty of the House
10 pasS deficiency bill was a power which was
useful, and very expedient. II afforded Congress
the opportunity of testing whether the estimates
OF the Departments for appropriations could be
duced or not. This was illustrated by the action
OF the House Of lust year. They, as 1t was said,
struck in the dark and reduced the appropriations
for the Commissary and Quartermasier's Depart
Inents TO oneh bali the sums estimated. That bill
TO the Senate. He would never have recon-
inended its passage, with the estimates reduced
one-half, bad he not known that If any mistake or
error should cnsue, il could be remedied by de-
fciency bill The effect had proved beneficial.
The appropriations of last year, and the estimates
10 meet deficiencies, were, added together, consid
eTaoly less than what was asked tor last year.
could not be at thi. time ascertained. lie then
read the law of 1920, which gave the adniinistra-
ton power to make contracts for supplies and
transportation for the army, &c, even without
appropriations therefor by Congress-. The items
OF thls bill on that account were warranted by
law.
He then proceeded TO examine the nature and
character OF the expenditures made by the Quar-
termaster's Department, and pronounced them
any thing but economical. He attributed the
iargepcss OF the expenditures TO want OF the pro
per adaptation of the forces by that branch OF the
service TO the wants and requirements necessary
20 their position in the newly acquired and distant
Territories.
The Administration responsible to the peo
pie for The manner IN which the public money was
expended 1t was impossible for Congress, when
making an appropriation, TO provide regulate
the particular manner in which, in all cases, il
should be expended.
He also commented upon the great want of
proper system Of settling accounts In the Quarter
masters Department, and the difficulty OF lscer-
tanning or settling the accounts Of officers Of that
branch Of the service under the present system.
In the Third AUDITORS office the accounts of quar-
tcrmasters were IN arrears since lsiI. The
not the fault Of the Auditor That officer asked
fOr additional clerical force, but what he want.
cd was men OF ability aud experience. MIR. ii.
dvelt upon the necessity Of reorgan zation Of the
clerical corps, and IL. establishment upon terms
and conditions which would insuTe the employ ment
only Of efficient clerks. There many clerks
In the Department. who would discharge the du
and profit TO the oounuyi but there were alec
ldiers and inefficient men, whom II would be
benefit 60 get rid Of More than a year ago he had
made call upon the Exec utiyc and heads OF De
partnents for some plan Of Classification Of the
clerks which would insure proper degree Of at
tcnt,ou and interest in the public business. But no
response bad ever been made
iie alec complained of the system Of transferring
the balances OF ono appropriation 10 Deficiencies in
other appropriations. He pointed out the evils nf
this sysem, and urged the necessity OF its being
put cnd TO by law. Many OF these evils, he
said had been Inherited by the present Admins
aion from its predecessors but they had not lost
any thing 10y falling into the hands OF the preeeut
Administration.
Mr. UNDERwo bD asked if by this bill the Sen.
ator propCsed any remedy for the evils OF hich he
had complained.
Mr.. HUNTER said that be would test the sense
of the Senate upon come amendments which he in
tended 20 move 10 the bill.
Mr. UNDER WOOD szid that, from the general
tone OF tho Senator'S rcnarks IL would appear that
he meant 10 be Understood as holding the Admin.
istfaton responsible for the many and abuses
Of which he had complained, when, in fact, Con
grcss, and not the Administration, was responsible
Tor the most Of them.
The great evil of the inciiciency Of the clerical
corps engaged in the Departments the Senator
must not attribute 10 the present Administration.
tot 70 that system Of removal from office which
bad been commenced by the Senator'S own polii
cal party. Allinoentye 10 obtain meritOrioUs pro-
motion by faithful discharge Of duty taken
AWAY D'thNtt VIC 0leF DIE by tenure
Of merit or qualification; he liable 10 be re-
moved upon any and every charge Of the party in
power. lie would vote with the Senator Tor any
system TO remedy ihis evil; lac would vote for put
ting the ClcTks in tho Departments upon the same
footing as the army aud navy.
lie tbcn referred 10 many efforts made by him
on ircqu MT occasions IN Congress TO have commit
tees appointed 10 examine the mode Of keeping the
accounts IN the several Departments, but he coulI
never btan the appointment Of such n committee.
Mr.. HALE said the idea Of attempting to reform
abuses a; THIS time idle one. Did gentlemen
think that the DemOcra party, whcbwas the dom.
Iuant one In Congress, would reform any Of thea
abuses rO1r2 They will 90 no such thing They
may condemn them, but they will allow them 10
continue, that their friends may have the and
cnjoymen nj Of them.
lie then commented upon what he considered a
great abusc-ODe not only without authority Of
law, bot in direct opposiuOn 70 Law. lie meant
thc'c1pcndiiurcs made for furnishing the Govern.
nn.nt houses for the accommodation Of the naval
oficcrs stationed at the several navy yards.
Mr.. BADGER replied; and Nr HALE rejOncd.
Mr.. BEEHlEN said that he wac much aston shed
at The course Of debate pursued by the chairman Of
the G, mmittec on Finance. This was a Deficiency
bill: ono making appropriations to meet toe pre-
rent c1igsncios IT the Government Upon such =
bin be surprised that the Senator should on
a a f,ft H.,