The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-11

efficient administration OF public affairs ha, the accounts
Of the ds6nrsIng officers should be promptly and faith
| fully settled.
Ii was in connexion with this want OF efficient organi
zation somewhere IN the departments, Mr. President
that adyefled TO the fact o a resolution having beer
sent by The Senate more than year ago TO the executive
departments, and that the resolution then
ed II was sent 10 them at such lime allow them
the whole recess 10 prepare They had failed
70 make any response up TO the Time when speak
ing. And what is the senator's answer He seems "a
argue that se resolution itself idle and useless Tie
says that General Mckay bad passed bill OF that sort
through the House, which failed in the Senate Suppose
that this the that any for this admin
staon's failing for whole year 10 answer an inquiry
addressed TO II by this body Now il this commentary
upon the merits OF the resolution not given an
excuse for The failure oil the administration the
resolution, Tor what was il given Ii was entirely re
to any other issue raised by my speech The
Of the case convict the Executive oil great neglect oil
cred as Offering their apology they add TO that negec
positive dscour,esy to the Senate.
Al the commencement OF this session, Mr.. President
the Secretary OF the Treasury complained, bis annual
report that there frauds upon the treasury IN rea
on to valuations. In January the Senate passed
luton calling upon him for evidence in support OF This
seron THIS assertion made either with without
evidence III he had evidence 10 support it, then he
ought not TO have made the charge And he had such
least within his reach Why then, has he sent il 10
us long ago. in response TO our inquiry Shall il be post
poned until perhaps nest year, And when the an
comes shall we be told that il idle AMI
less resolution Sir, such aggrayae the neglect
and discouresy into positive insult.
But, Mr. President come to series OF practices
which exposed upon former occasion, and which
consider affecting lar vitality the interests OF the
counlry--aye, SIR. even the constitution selfhan all
those other matters OF which have been speaking for
believe that their ultimate effect must be TO transfer the
power of approprlang money from Congress 10 the Ex
ecutive. showed toe anxiety OF Congress feslfic,
the appropriations for the quaermas ers service at the
last session. The Commiltee Of Ways and Means, after
having asked the assistance of the Secretary OF War
N The work. and having been refused cut down the es-
Inmates arbitrarily, and were sustained By the House
When the bill came TO the Senate the Secretary the
senator from Maryland states, applied to the Finance
Committee for additional appropriation OF $4,000,
which not given Tor reasons satisfactory to The
ator himself The Secretary. however, did not
DO thus foed but by using the surplus OF old appoPri-
atious-some OF them more than two years od-lnd by
transferring them arbitrarily from one head 10 aaotbe
he drew from the treasury s730o00. Here sir, Is lis
oil the appropriations thus used and OF the transfers thus
made
T,ane' made sy ne aaeyy 9 ne tseyd section ef ne ae
ist On the 2ad April 1851, transferred from appropriation
Three months pay per IAN August i8i8.... $1,000
$4,000
To auartermaaiers department. $4,000
iaeasn expenses, aacimis,or. depart
ns%as.. %sai .::......::.:: sSSSS ssSSS
3D. on he i6 iaac s5i ioa iaie months extra pay
act I4th August 29leo
To To ss.ss,,aiss saay $4,000 SSSSs
Total 100000
J But that was not the only instance OF a misuse o
old appropriations and OF the power OF transerihat y
10 say, 10 my opinion at least claim Tor compensation
was made on The part OF the owners OF the seamboa
/ Watchman, for its in 1895 and 1896 This drnani
presented soon ailer that time TO Mr. Hagner, aa'
allowance OF something like 400 was then made
Once, and perhaps twice afterwards, attempt NAL,
to reopen the account during Mr. Hagners term OF Of
hce He said that the only effect OF the evidence
TO make him doubt the propriety OF the original al
lowance, lie said, too, that the claim was closed Both
he and the Comptroller gave opinions against t. Bat on
September Is, 1850, II allowed by the present Audi
tor, and amount OF S2l,75o found due BY him
The question then 10 The means ot payin IN,
claim. A balance found OF old appropriation
made 23i August 1912, for the payment OF Fiorja
militia for services IN 1899 and 1910. This balance
was transferred 10 the head OF another old appro
praton--'the suppression OF Indian hostites"-anc
thus paid But the last appropriation for any such
service which could find was Ia 1874 and the whole
OF u had been expended except le balance oi ab0u
600. Thus have that they not only retain th,
Of appropriations for than two years ami this il
4 violation OF the act OF 1925, 10 relation 10 the sur
plus fund but we that IN each department except thu
navy they transfer without the OF the President
from any head Of appropriation TO another. Bu, TIN
i not all was not aware, when speaking on uiis Sub
Iect a previous occasion, OF what have sgcs dls
covered that they only do this, bat they 20 hack Il
the surplus fund itself, and withdraw appropriation
which have been carried TO H. Thus 10 December, lst9
the sum OF Sl522ig was Withdrawn from the sufplu
fund TO which had been carried on the 30h June, 1877
for the purpose Of removing The Seminole Indians
Now, do not mean 10 say that these prsclices com
menced under the administration Of Mr. Ewing On tn
contrary, have been informed by Mr. Whittlessy tha
they originated under Mr. Mc.ane only referred to lh
system with the view Of showing bow far the Executive
under these prscces IS enabled 10 dispense with appro
priaions by Congress
Now air. think can show that these practices nnl
fy, in spirit least the provisions Of the constitution
which require thai mo money shall be drawn from tn
treasury but in consequences OF appropriations mad
By law y and violates, in the spirit merely. but ii
the very letter. that provision which prescbes that Con
gress shall have power 10 raise and support armies tu
no appropriation Of money 10 that shall be for
longer term than two years
Sir, what the meaning OF this provision Of tn
constitution, which declares that no money shall b
drawn from the treasury but IN consequence Of appropra
/ lions made by law = II given for The purpos
OF dividing the power the public purse betweer
the executive and the legislative branches OF The gov
eminent. II necessary 10 guard thus The right
OF Congress 10 order TO prevent the concentration
use the public money al pleasure he would, indeed
be supreme II is Indispensable, therefore, 10 the prop
er existence Of the legislative department that mone]
shall be drawn from the treasury without ts consent Bu
10 give Congress this CONTROL u necessary that the
should possess the OF saying ho much money sha
he expended, and for thf oes Tor, II Congress sPpro
pated 81 900 900 and The Executive expended 100000
Il would be manifest that the would be expende'
without their consent II is also necessary that Congress
shall say how and for what purposes. II shall be used
because II Congress should appropriate 10 the War De
partment 81 900 900, which should be expended by tn
Executive the navy j would be an appropriation o
the money not Authorized By law, and without the con
OF Congress The necessity for such 10
bic Congress exercise this vital and fundamental powe
ted 10 the establishment Of two sets OF laws OF which
in relation 10 the surplus fund. II provided
no doubt, IN analogy with that provision OF the cons